Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATASHEET APPRAISAL STAGE I. Basic Information Date prepared/updated: 05/11/2007 Report No.: AC2360 1. Basic Project Data Country: Philippines Project ID: P096174 Project Name: National Program Support for Environment and Natural Resources Management Project Task Team Leader: Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihou GEF Focal Area: M-Multi-focal area Global Supplemental ID: P091147 Estimated Appraisal Date: March 27, 2007 Estimated Board Date: June 19, 2007 Managing Unit: EASRE Lending Instrument: Sector Investment and Maintenance Loan Sector: General agriculture, fishing and forestry sector (85%);General public administration sector (10%);Mining and other extractive (5%) Theme: Other environment and natural resources management (P);Other rural development (S) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 50.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 7.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: BORROWER/RECIPIENT 30.00 30.00 Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment Simplified Processing Simple [] Repeater [] Is this project processed under OP 8.50 (Emergency Recovery) Yes [ ] No [ ] 2. Project Objectives The program's overall development objective is to assist the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to improve efficiency and effectiveness in its service delivery. More specifically, the project would aim to strengthen the allocative efficiency of DENR's limited budget resources, through better prioritization and partnership arrangements, facilitating scaling-up and better linking of plans and budgets. The program?s approach based on targeted expenditure support is also consistent with the CAS strategy for improving fiscal and expenditure discipline, mainstreaming support for the regular programs of the Government and developing broader sector based approaches. The GEF will partner the Bank in meeting these higher level objectives by providing incremental funding for operational GEF priorities with anticipated global benefits. The global environment objective of the program would be to enhance ecosystem services for global and local benefits. The global environment objective of the program would be to enhance ecosystem services for global and local benefits. Specific global objectives would be addressed Page 2 through GEF financing in strategic areas to enhance ecosystem services for global and local benefits. 3. Project Description Project components have been designed to support a time slice of DENR's core mandate and regular program. This approach constitutes a move away from projectized approaches generally employed by donor assisted projects in the past, which established parallel structures and had problems of transition to regular programs on completion. Project interventions will also be fully consistent with the attainment of Major Final Outputs (MFO) that agencies are adopting in a move toward results based budgeting, and adoption of an Objective Performance Indicator Framework (OPIF). Component/MFO 1: Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (total cost US$28.14 M - of which GEF US$1.90 M): Due to the construction of DENR's MFOs, a wide range of activities are included under MFO1, including those which are more operational in nature, supporting investments in MFO 2 and 3, (e.g., preparation of maps, development of full rehabilitation plans for abandoned mines, surveys and development of detailed watershed management plans). More importantly, however, the design of the project maintains conformity with the MFOs, and therefore the GAA. That said, an important element of Component 1 is the support for DENR's institutional reform agenda which is based on the institutions Rationalization Plan. In line with the DBCC requirement that DENR "flesh-out" and "implement" its Rationalization Plan under the loan, a Framework Rationalization Plan has been developed (Annex 18: Table 2 - Rationalization Plan and Action Framework) which identifies the specific actions and outcomes expected under the project, and the longer-term steps to be undertaken by DENR to fully implement its Rationalization Plan. Progress in implementing the Rationalization Plan would be reviewed annually as part of the oversight agency review of DENR?s work plan and budget, included as a dated covenant under the loan. Subcomponent 1.1: Rationalization of ENR Plans and Policies: a) Strengthening the efficiency of DENR's organization and operations: Key activities include: i) development of a framework for rationalizing and prioritizing the wide ranging ENR policies and legislation; ii) streamlining the delegation of approving authorities at the different hierarchical levels of the organization; and iii) restructuring EMB to be functionally- based, rather than sub-sectoral. Expenditures would be for technical assistance, facilitation of action plans for planning and budgeting, and some computers and software necessary to support the activities; b) Strengthening the service delivery functions in the provision of data, information and M&E: The project would support a baseline survey which, inter alia, would provide measures of client satisfaction with DENR's service delivery, and on the level of perceived transparency in the access to data and information. A follow-up survey would be done by June 30, 2011. The Policy and Planning Office would be strengthened to more effectively monitor DENR's program implementation and to undertake periodic evaluations. Support would also be provided for strengthening key databases, and the establishment of a more effective MIS system. By December 31, 2007, it has been agreed an MIS strategic plan and budget would be approved which inter alia would establish and thereafter implement the action plan for the design of a program Page 3 to improve the quality, public accessibility and links between the key databases of the DENR. Expenditures would be for the baseline surveys, setting-up and upgrading of the MIS system, and purchase of goods as required, and c) Strengthening DENR?s overall project management processes: The programmatic approach being supported by the project would entail expenditures for conducting the internal audit, and for PCU/FASPO for project management and associated costs such as computers, data collection and compilation. Subcomponent 1.2: Surveys and Mapping: Survey and maps would be prepared to better demarcate forest lands, watersheds, protected areas, foreshores, geo-hazards (high risk areas for landslides and flood-run-off) and groundwater. To the extent that the project provides for the location of boundary markers/survey pegs, it has been explicitly agreed that, under the project, the placement of such markers shall not support nor encourage in any way, actions which would lead to the displacement of people occupying lands within the demarcated areas. Expenditures will include the costs of maps, surveys, GPS units etc. Subcomponent 1.3: Watershed Development Planning. Expenditures would include the preparation of watershed management plans, including the characterization of land-use patterns, delineation of forest and protected areas etc., and their ground truthing. This will be focused on the priority watersheds identified for support and discussed in detail in Component 2 below. Subcomponent 1.4: Remediation of Risks: Support would be for (i) site investigation and analysis and development of environmental rehabilitation and remediation plans for selected abandoned mines; (ii) implementation of interim mitigation and remediation measures to manage immediate risks posed by the abandoned Bagacay mine site, while the final rehabilitation and remediation plan is being prepared; and, (iii) development of environmental and social policies and guidelines for current and future mining. Subcomponent 1.5: Public Awareness and Environmental Education: Support, in particular from the GEF, would be provided for review and assessment of DENR's IEC strategy and framework, structure, roles and functions, drawing upon the experience from other donor-project supported IEC plans and programs and identifying best practices in ENR for dissemination and replication. Expenditures would be for strategic public awareness and education campaigns, goods, services, some technical capacity, preparation of the campaign materials etc. Component/MFO 2 Integrated Ecosystem Management (total cost US$14.09 - of which GEF US$4.43): This component targets watersheds facing severe risk of further degradation, and particularly those in critical ecological areas. It focuses the support on participatory actions with stakeholders who are directly influenced by the state of the natural resource degradation. Subcomponent 2.1: Integrated Ecosystems Management: a) Promoting participatory watershed management. The focus would be on prioritized integrated watershed and Page 4 wetlands management strategies in priority areas facing severe risk of further degradation or in sensitive ecological areas. Specific activities to be supported would include: community organizing, stakeholder analysis and mobilization, formulation of IEM/IWM guidelines, IEM/IWM plan formulation; conduct of specific and focused IEC (see subcomponent 1.3 above), land use zoning planning and boundary delineation. Support would also be provided for strengthening communications systems and strengthening partnership/ collaboration with other sectors in environmental compliance. A specific focus would be on strengthening LGUs to undertake responsibilities in ENR management. The watersheds agreed to be supported under the GEF and the SIM areas follows: i) Angat Watershed Reservation (55,709 ha), Ipo Watershed (6,600 ha), Dona Remedios Trinidad-Gen. Tinio WFR (20,760 ha), Kanan Watershed (39, 160, 83 ha), Bicol River Basin: Libmanan-Pulantuna Watershed (70,924ha), and Ligawasan Marsh (46,798 ha). Additionally, it has been agreed that funding under the SIM would be directed to support integrated watershed protection activities in Abulog (CAR), Matutinao (Region 7), Pola (Region 4-B). For these additional watersheds, before investments are made it will be necessary to follow the up-front work on stakeholder/social and environmental assessments, as well as site descriptions. These activities could be included as part of the watershed management plan work to be done under the project in 2007; b) Habitat Rehabilitation and Restoration. This would support: i) restoration and rehabilitation of convergence watershed (with GEF support) and non- convergence watersheds (with SIL support); ii) capacity building (LGU, local communities, DENR); and iii) IEC campaigns. Prioritized degraded ecologically sensitive areas would be rehabilitated primarily through rain-forestation. Biodiversity conservation and management would be supported within priority PAs and other biologically important areas; and the assessment of key conservation areas, including resource-base assessments and mapping of wetlands. Subcomponent 2.2: Agro-Forestry and Livelihood Support. Communities would be supported to implement demand driven livelihood activities that achieve sustainable land management and/or biodiversity conservation, identified in micro-catchment plans. Guidelines for project proposals would also emphasize linking sustainable land and natural resources management practices and tenurial instruments with community participation in local ENR monitoring systems and resource protection. Proposals would be financed on a competitive (such as community willingness to provide in-kind contributions) and best practice basis, and would be screened and endorsed by the Watershed Management Councils and or LGUs. Carbon finance activities will be explored as a means of providing recurrent financing in exchange for the establishment and maintenance of forests in eligible areas. Financing for this is envisaged to be provided through Carbon Funds, the details of which would be worked out at a later time. Component/MFO 3 Strengthening Environment and Natural Resources Management (total cost US$4.77 M - of which GEF US$0.67): This Component targets the regulatory and oversight functions of DENR. Subcomponent 3.1: Monitoring Systems for ENR Laws and Regulations: Support would be for: (i) strengthening of key regulatory functions related to the issuance of Page 5 tenurial instruments, and encroachment into forest areas; and (ii) strengthening the implementation of regulations, relating to air and water quality, solid waste management, and environmental impact assessment (EIA), which inter alia, would include greater transparency, improved partnerships with both the public and the private sector and the use of market-based and command and control instrument. This component would fund capacity-building for volunteer enforcement and local natural resource monitoring in priority sites. On the compliance of environmental laws and regulations, the Program would finance the following priority activities: (i) air quality management: purchase of air quality monitoring equipment to upgrade DENR?s monitoring tools and capability; monitoring of private emissions testing centers to ensure they perform according to the guidelines and standards set by the DENR; monitoring of firms issued with permit to operate to ensure that they comply with the standards; inventory of firms with hazardous air emissions and stack sampling, among others; (ii) water quality management: establishment of at least three priority water quality management areas that will pave the way for the implementation of the recently enacted Clean Water Act, including the implementation of the environmental user fee/discharge permit system, an economic instrument, to complement water quality regulations; operationalization of the multi- sectoral water quality management boards (WQMBs); implementation of the environmental user fee/discharge permit system; and capacity building activities for EMB Central and Regional Offices and the WQMBs to implement the discharge permit system; (iii) waste management: inventory of firms that manufacture and/or import toxic and hazardous wastes; and technical assistance to LGUs on solid waste management to increase compliance and adoption of the ecological solid waste management act by the LGUs; (iv) EIA: development of guidelines to strengthen the implementation of an EIA system, which inter alia would include provisions for bio-diversity and capacity building of Regional Offices and LGUs. Subcomponent 3.2: Community-based Participatory IWM Monitoring System: On the basis of the existing DENR Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS), a local level priority participatory land, water and resource use monitoring system will be developed to be used in IWM. DENR has, with funding from the World Bank, developed a successful BMS for protected areas over the past 10 years. GEF funds would, through the financing of TA, assist DENR in scaling-up this existing monitoring system so that it can be used as a participatory monitoring tool in targeted watersheds and PAs with a critical and urgent need for conservation action, across the Philippines. It will be further developed so that it can be used as a simple monitoring tool for IWM and with added monitoring components such as water quality and soil. 4. Project Location and salient physical characteristics relevant to the safeguard analysis The Project will have a nationwide coverage, particularly in terms of the reforms to be effected. However, Component 2 will be implemented in the priority watersheds located within the Southern Sierra Madre Watershed Cluster that includes the Angat watershed reservation, Ipo watershed, Dona Remedios Trinided-General Tinio watershed forest reserve, Umiray watershed forest reserve and Kanan watershed all in the island of Luzon, Libmanan-Pulantuna watershed in the Bicol Region (Region V) and the Liguasan marsh Page 6 in Mindanao. These areas were selected based on their global and local biodiversity significance, rate of degradation and the existing activities and interventions currently being undertaken. Additional watersheds have been proposed for inclusion once the environmental and social aspects have been assessed. These activities would be in Abulog, Matutinao and Pola. The rehabilitation of an abandoned mine site to be supported under Component 3 will be carried out in the Bagacay mine in the island of Samar in the eastern Visayas. The abandoned mine site is in public land, uninhabited and idle. 5. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists Mr Josefo Tuyor (EASRE) Ms Victoria Florian S. Lazaro (EASSO) 6. Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X Pest Management (OP 4.09) X Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X II. Key Safeguard Policy Issues and Their Management A. Summary of Key Safeguard Issues 1. Describe any safeguard issues and impacts associated with the proposed project. Identify and describe any potential large scale, significant and/or irreversible impacts: The Program will finance a slice of the DENR's core priority activities to meet its mandates and strategic goals in managing, conserving and protecting the country's environment and natural resources. It will not finance any activities related to mining of mineral resources, but will instead assist Government address the legacy of the past by supporting the preparation of a comprehensive mine rehabilitation and remediation plan, implementation of interim measures to contain immediate risks posed by the abandoned mines to the environment and the community and strengthening enforcement of environmental and social policies for current and future mining. Environmental issues. There are no environmental issues for year 1 priority activities since these are mostly "soft" activities, with the exception of the interim measures for the Bagacay mine site. Year 1 activities include stakeholder mobilization and consultations, surveys and mappings, trainings and capacity building, seedling collection and establishments of nurseries for indigenous tree species, formation of Water Management Councils in priority watersheds, formulation of watershed management plans, advocacy Page 7 and IEC works, review of programs and policies, among others. The interim measures for the Bagacay mine site include construction of diversion and limestone channels to prevent and neutralize acidic water from flowing into Taft river; construction of drainage canals, fences and berms, slope stabilization measures and installation of signages. Environmental issues related to the interim measures include siltation of waterways due to civil works, management of silt materials from de-silting and maintenance activities and the potential increase in acid mine drainage during construction. These impacts, however, are assessed to be localized and manageable and would only occur during construction and during periodic de-silting and maintenance work. The possibility of tailings ponds (TPs) failure is highly unlikely due to the already compacted tailings materials, the absence of water impounded along the TP structures which reduces the pore pressure in the dam, the low height (3 m or less) and gentle slopes of pond embankments and the construction of proper drainage canals within the tailings ponds which strengthen its stability. This is confirmed by a separate geotechnical assessment report of the TPs conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. For years 2-5 of the Program, negative environmental impacts are envisaged to be minor and manageable given the very strong Program emphasis on sustainable natural resources management and integrated ecosystem management approach. Minor impacts, if any, would relate to some livelihood activities that may pose added pressure to the already stressed ecosystems, if not designed and implemented properly, and if these are not consistent with the watershed management plan. Other impacts may relate to perverse reforestation activities such as monoculture of species, introduction of exotic species in conservation areas and non-sustainable agro-forestry practices. Social issues. The Program envisages having positive impacts on communities with the introduction and implementation of sustainable livelihood activities and sound integrated watershed management programs which are prepared in a participatory manner. The Program is not expected to involve involuntary resettlement and land acquisition or restrict community access to resources. The program has opted to use OP12 (GEF) ecosystem management as opposed to OP2 - biodiversity management as the focus; the underlying argument being to improve management by creating the right incentive structures to reduce threat to the resources. Through the implementation of demand driven alternative livelihoods activities, communities would be encouraged to participate in activities that also benefit NRM and biodiversity management; a process to increase buy-in. The program does not envisage demarcation of protected areas into strict biodiversity - no go areas - with a surrounding buffer area which would result in some restriction. Rather, by offering communities a menu of feasible alternative livelihood activities the assumption would be that in the medium term the pressure would be reduced through a voluntary change in the communities' use of resources. This more "relaxed" approach is guided by previous lessons learnt, which have shown that restriction results in animosity and limited benefits to the threatened areas. Page 8 Indigenous peoples/indigenous cultural communities are present priority watersheds and are expected to benefit from the program by way of increased income and greater social inclusion. These IPs/ICCs are the Dumagats of the Southern Sierra Cluster, composed of the Angat, Ipo, DRT-Gen Tinio and Kanan Watersheds and the Agtas of Libmanan- Pulantuna Watershed. The interim measures for the Bagacay mine site are implemented to protect communities from the health risks and danger posed by the mine site. 2. Describe any potential indirect and/or long term impacts due to anticipated future activities in the project area: Long term and future impacts of the Project are envisaged to be highly positive that will contribute to the overall improvement of the country's environment and natural resources. 3. Describe any project alternatives (if relevant) considered to help avoid or minimize adverse impacts. The alternative is "business as usual", where the DENR continues to centrally implement ENR laws with little LGU involvement and where planning is disconnected from the budgeting process. 4. Describe measures taken by the borrower to address safeguard policy issues. Provide an assessment of borrower capacity to plan and implement the measures described. Two separate environmental assessment (EA) studies were conducted by the DENR as part of the Program preparation. One assesses the impacts of year 1 activities and the other assesses in great detail the impacts of the interim measures. The two EAs confirm the negligible negative environmental impacts of the year 1 activities due their ?soft? nature and the manageable impacts of the interim measures. Environmental issues related to the interim measures include siltation of waterways due to civil works and the potential increase in acid mine drainage during construction. Siltation will be addressed by constructing silt traps/ponds within the drainage channels and downstream of the limestone channels and other strategic areas and by doing the construction during summer/dry months. The construction of proper drainage canals as well as stabilization of the tailings dam will prevent any movement of tailings materials downstream. Also, most of the tailings materials are already compact thus eliminating movements downstream. Possible tailings materials that will be moved by the flow of surface water during rainy days will be contained along the silt traps/ponds, thus preventing them from flowing to Taft River. Regular monitoring, de-silting and maintenance activities will be conducted to ensure efficiency of the silt traps. Silt materials that will be generated during de-silting and maintenance works of the silt traps/ponds will be temporarily deposited in tailings ponds until full measures to manage and dispose them are identified. The increase of acid mine drainage volume during construction is considered remote during the dry season, but could be different during the rainy season. As such, construction will be done during the dry season/summer period. Upon completion of the interim measures, the volume of acidic water will be reduced since all neutral water from the different tributaries will flow directly to Taft River and only the rainwater which Page 9 falls into the surfaces of the mining areas will form acidic water. Any acidic water generated from the rainwater that gets in contact with the areas will, however, be subjected to neutralization process through the limestone channels before this flows into the Taft River. The EAs also formulated environmental guidelines, including a negative list of activities/subprojects with adverse impacts and those that are not sustainable, that will be followed for priority activities for years 2-5 and these guidelines are made part of the Operations Manual. The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR, with the mandate of implementing the Philippine EIA, will ensure that these guidelines are followed by the other Bureaus and LGUs, who will be implementing their respective priority activities. The other Bureaus of the DENR (MGB, FMB, PAWB) have the capacity to prepare and/or review EAs based on their involvement in reviewing EAs as part of the EIA Review Committee convened by EMB to review EAs of projects. LGUs, on one hand, will be capacitated by the Program to screen activities for environmental impacts and to prepare their respective EAs or EMPs for their priority activities assessed to have environmental impacts. Finally, EMB?s capacity will be further strengthened under Component 3 of the Program. A Social Assessment report was prepared for each of the six watersheds. The SA defined and analyzed the respective key internal and external stakeholders their capacities and assets, constraints and liabilities and degree of influence. They also include respective demographic and socio economic baseline data of affected communities and framework for micro enterprise development. Recommendations were provided for the preparation of Integrated Ecosystem Watershed Management programs for greater social inclusion, equitable distribution of livelihood opportunities, accountability, transparency and greater ownership of the program by key stakeholders. A separate social assessment report has also been prepared for the interim measures for the Bagacay mine site. The SA validated the divide between the parochial interest of the upstream communities to reopen the mine and those downstream along the Taft River whose head water flows below the Bagacay Mine. The Samar Catholic Church, the academe and local officials are supportive of the closure of this and other mines in Samar. The SA report also provides recommended arrangements to ensure meaningful participation of the stakeholders and accountability of implementers in the implementation of the interim measures, and factors to consider in the preparation of the full scale rehabilitation plan. An Indigenous Peoples Policy Framework was developed to ensure that IPs/ICCs are informed, meaningfully consulted and mobilized to participate in the identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the activities/subprojects in the priority watersheds. It gave detailed provisions on principles and operational strategies in the preparation of Indigenous Peoples Development Plan in tandem with the Integrated Ecosystem Watershed Management Plan. The integration of completed ancestral domain sustainable development and protection plan (ADSDPP), which when verified to have Page 10 genuinely represented the interest of and done by the IP community, will facilitate implementation under the Integrated Ecosystem Management(IEM)approach. 5. Identify the key stakeholders and describe the mechanisms for consultation and disclosure on safeguard policies, with an emphasis on potentially affected people. The key stakeholders of the program, particularly the component on integrated eco- system management, include DENR, the participating LGUs, communities, IPs/ICCs and other agencies. The program is designed to increase the participation of these stakeholders in environment and natural resources management. The multi sectoral Coordinating Council and/or the Protected Areas and Wildlife Boards (where they are active) are the two mechanisms through which this can take place. They will be involved in the planning, design and implementation and monitoring stages. Specific capacity building activities shall be undertaken to strengthen consultation and participation skills of the stakeholders. The government agencies involved by virtue of their mandate or activities in the watersheds are the National Irrigation, DENR, DA, DAR, MWSS, NAPOCOR and NCIP and DENR-ARMM and DTI (for the development of alternative livelihoods). Traditional Muslim institutions are a key stakeholder of the Ligawasan Marsh IEM while Bagacay Rehabilitation Project will involve the Samar Catholic Church. Private business dependent on the upland water for their enterprises are also among the stakeholders like the big plantations and processing plants. The preparation of the different working papers and other studies were done using consultation meetings with the stakeholders. Completed studies are disclosed in the website of DENR and have been circularized to the different regional offices and bureaus. B. Disclosure Requirements Date Environmental Assessment/Audit/Management Plan/Other: Date of receipt by the Bank 11/29/2006 Date of "in-country" disclosure 12/12/2006 Date of submission to InfoShop 01/19/2007 For category A projects, date of distributing the Executive Summary of the EA to the Executive Directors Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework: Date of receipt by the Bank 12/22/2006 Date of "in-country" disclosure 12/12/2006 Date of submission to InfoShop 01/19/2007 * If the project triggers the Pest Management and/or Physical Cultural Resources, the respective issues are to be addressed and disclosed as part of the Environmental Assessment/Audit/or EMP. Page 11 If in-country disclosure of any of the above documents is not expected, please explain why: C. Compliance Monitoring Indicators at the Corporate Level (to be filled in when the ISDS is finalized by the project decision meeting) OP/BP/GP 4.01 - Environment Assessment Does the project require a stand-alone EA (including EMP) report? Yes If yes, then did the Regional Environment Unit or Sector Manager (SM) review and approve the EA report? N/A Are the cost and the accountabilities for the EMP incorporated in the credit/loan? Yes OP/BP 4.04 - Natural Habitats Would the project result in any significant conversion or degradation of critical natural habitats? No If the project would result in significant conversion or degradation of other (non-critical) natural habitats, does the project include mitigation measures acceptable to the Bank? N/A OP/BP 4.10 - Indigenous Peoples Has a separate Indigenous Peoples Plan/Planning Framework (as appropriate) been prepared in consultation with affected Indigenous Peoples? Yes If yes, then did the Regional unit responsible for safeguards or Sector Manager review the plan? Yes If the whole project is designed to benefit IP, has the design been reviewed and approved by the Regional Social Development Unit or Sector Manager? N/A OP/BP 4.36 - Forests Has the sector-wide analysis of policy and institutional issues and constraints been carried out? Yes Does the project design include satisfactory measures to overcome these constraints? Yes Does the project finance commercial harvesting, and if so, does it include provisions for certification system? No OP/BP 4.37 - Safety of Dams Have dam safety plans been prepared? N/A Have the TORs as well as composition for the independent Panel of Experts (POE) been reviewed and approved by the Bank? N/A Has an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) been prepared and arrangements been made for public awareness and training? N/A The World Bank Policy on Disclosure of Information Have relevant safeguard policies documents been sent to the World Bank's Infoshop? Yes Have relevant documents been disclosed in-country in a public place in a form and language that are understandable and accessible to project-affected groups and local NGOs? Yes Page 12 All Safeguard Policies Have satisfactory calendar, budget and clear institutional responsibilities been prepared for the implementation of measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have costs related to safeguard policy measures been included in the project cost? Yes Does the Monitoring and Evaluation system of the project include the monitoring of safeguard impacts and measures related to safeguard policies? Yes Have satisfactory implementation arrangements been agreed with the borrower and the same been adequately reflected in the project legal documents? Yes D. Approvals Signed and submitted by: Name Date Task Team Leader: Ms Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough 01/08/2007 Environmental Specialist: Mr Josefo Tuyor 01/08/2007 Social Development Specialist Ms Victoria Florian S. Lazaro 01/08/2007 Additional Environmental and/or Social Development Specialist(s): Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Glenn S. Morgan 01/24/2007 Comments: Sector Manager: Mr Rahul Raturi 01/24/2007 Comments: