DENR, other stakeholders join hands for NGP

By Hazel F. Gloria

Sunday 19th of August 2012

CEBU CITY, Aug 19 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7), municipality of Ayungon, a people’s organization, and the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the country’s leading producer of geothermal energy joined hands to achieve the objectives of the national greening program (NGP).

This came after the four parties signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) recently for a P12 million budget set for seedling production, planting, growing and maintenance in a 300-hectare rehabilitation and reforestation within Sitio Sangay, Barangay Banban, Ayungon, Negros Oriental.

Signing the MOA are EDC’s Watershed Management Department manager Atty. Allan Barcena, Ayungon Mayor Edsel Enardecido, and Asosasyon sa Katawhan sa Lamigan, Banban ug Nabhang nga Nagkahiusa (AKALABANAN) President Felicisimo Bolongaita.

DENR-7 regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo welcomed the partnership in pursuing the “green” agenda of Pres. Benigno Aquino III and Secretary Ramon Paje.

“This partnership will definitely boosts our collective intention for a massive greening program aimed at reducing poverty in the countryside while ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation and address climate change,” he added.

Under the MOA, EDC will provide P12 million for the implementation of the project for five years.

It will also engage the services of the Akalabanan (a local people's organization) in all aspects of reforestation project such as seedling production, plantation establishment, maintenance, plantation protection, and other activities that may be necessary for its success.

DENR on the other hand is responsible for providing technical support and geographic information system (GIS) data needed in the planning and monitoring phases of the project.

The municipality of Ayungon will provide support mechanism, assist in the conduct of information, education and communication (IEC), and issue or provide assistance for the necessary written permits needed.

On the part of Akalabanan, it will implement reforestation activities, as approved by EDC and DENR and ensure 80 percent survival of the planted seedlings.

In 2008, EDC started its “BINHI: A Greening Legacy” which is a ten-year program that aimed to contribute to the restoration of the forest cover, at the same time address the loss of biodiversity and contribute to the enhancement of the forest ecosystems.

“We are counting the support of our partners and other stakeholders including local government units in helping us out in tree planting, growing and maintenance so that we would be able to meet our target of planting over 1.5 billion seedlings in 1.5 million hectares of public lands nationwide in six years until 2016,” Montejo concluded.(mbcn/HFG/PIA-7 & DENR-7)