LOPEZ-LED Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has allocated P10 million to rehabilitate a 7.79-hectare wetland in Boracay that it “adopted” in a three-year plan that is expected to turn the area into a money-earning venture for the community while reviving an important ecosystem in the popular tourist destination.
“Wetland No. 2,” one of nine wetlands identified for environmental rehabilitation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is being transformed by EDC into “Boracay Wetland Conservation Park” (BWCP).
“Under our memorandum of agreement with the DENR, the BWCP is a three-year project,” Allan V. Barcena, EDC head for corporate social responsibility, told reporters over the weekend.
“We plan to invest P10 million during this period. Aside from the walkway and view deck, a visitor information center and other visitor amenities will be built here in the future,” he added.
Southwest of Diniwid beach, Wetland No. 2 is a brackish water swamp that has been turned into a construction dump through the years when Boracay was experiencing rapid visitor growth and construction expansion.
The wetland will serve as an arboretum for threatened native tree species under the BINHI reforestation and greening initiative. The project was launched in October 2018, coinciding with the island’s reopening.
EDC said the move to adopt a wetland was in support of the government’s continuous rehabilitation efforts as well as to further stimulate eco-tourism in Boracay. It entered into the partnership with DENR by bringing the geothermal energy company’s flagship environmental program Binhi to Boracay.
EDC is the largest diversified renewable energy firm in the country, with installed total capacity of 1,456.8 megawatts (MW) of RE. Binhi is its forest restoration program that prioritizes the propagation of 96 identified rare and threatened native tree species.
After thorough assessment of endemic flora and fauna in Boracay, EDC said it had planted the “appropriate” native tree species that thrive in a wetland environment and that can support existing marine and land animals.
“BWCP is rich in rare plants, including threatened species like Sander’s Alocasia, Narra, Ipil, Kubi, Antipolo, Isis, Sakat, Balakat, and Bakauan Dagat,” EDC said.
EDC said its partnership with DENR is a continuing initiative “that goes beyond just rehabilitating the wetland and planting more trees in the area.”
“At present, visitors can also commune with nature from the scenic view deck and delight in observing local and migratory birds,” it said.
Now on its 10th year, the Binhi program has reforested 9,196 hectares across EDC’s geothermal sites located in Leyte, Bicol, Negros Oriental and North Cotabato. The program now has 162 partners across 16 regions in the country. — Victor V. Saulon
