VSU leads launching of environment restoration and livelihood program for Southern Leyte

By Bong Pedalino

Maasin City (September 7) — Visayas State University (VSU), formerly ViSCA, located in Baybay, Leyte, took a central role in crafting a comprehensive measure that attempts to connect the people’s need for sustainable livelihood and a functional scheme for environmental restoration.

Dr. Jose Bacusmo, VSU President, discussed the salient framework of the proposal that has the twin objective of caring for the environment while at the same time instituting livelihood for concerned sectors, during the 58th birthday celebration of Cong. Roger Mercado held last week at barangay Bogo, this city.

The program, titled “Restoration and Good Government (RGM) for the Environment and Livelihood of Southern Leyte,” aims to mobilize some twelve implementing agencies and the support of eleven cooperating agencies to undertake a massive “restoration of Southern Leyte’s environment and building-up of environment-based livelihood opportunities through genuine community participation,” according to the program’s stated goal.

Among the implementing agencies, which also serves as the RGM Core Group, included the Office of Cong. Roger Mercado, the Institute of Environmental Governance, VSU, ACIAR Q-Seedling Project, VSU, Department of Agroforestry, VSU; DENR 8-CENRO/PENRO So. Leyte, Department of Education, Bogo Women’s Association, Southern Leyte Provincial Jail; Philippine Red Cross Volunteer, GTZ, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office.

The cooperating agencies were the local government units, Non-Government Organizations, Church and other Religious Organizations, People’s organizations; Private Sector, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Information Agency/KBP-Southern Leyte Chapter; Local Water Utilities Authority (LWUA), Department of Trade and Industry, and TESDA.

The program has a duration of six years, from August 1, 2009 until December 31, 2015, and the project sites included Maasin City, Sogod, Hinundayan, and Liloan municipalities.

In an interview, Dr. Bacusmo told PIA the concept that he outlined still needed more brainstorming and fine adjustments so as to concretize the next steps to be undertaken. (PIA-Southern Leyte)