Question & AnswerQ&A (LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS NO. 1002)
Under Letter of Instructions No. 1002, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is authorized to manage, protect, develop, and rehabilitate the watershed areas of the Pantabangan and Magat Multi-Purpose Dam Projects.
The watershed areas specifically mentioned are those of the Pantabangan and Magat Multi-Purpose Dam Projects.
Schedules "A" and "B" are annexed maps that describe the specific watershed areas of the Pantabangan and Magat Multi-Purpose Dam Projects and are legally considered part of the order.
Yes, harvesting of forest products and other agro-forestry products is allowed as an exceptional case, but logs and timber from presently growing/existing trees are not permitted to be harvested.
Yes, industrial tree-farming and dendro-thermal projects of about 5,000 hectares in each big watershed, particularly on hilltops, can be included in the development projects.
Any instructions, orders, rules, and regulations inconsistent with Letter of Instructions No. 1002 are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
The recipients include the Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Minister of the Ministry of Public Works, the Administrator of the National Irrigation Administration, and the Director of the Bureau of Forest Development.
The purpose was to achieve sound and more expeditious erosion control and watershed development in the dam areas.
Watershed protection is essential to conserve, rehabilitate, and optimize the benefits derived from critical watersheds supporting multipurpose dam projects and other water-oriented projects.