DENR, other stakeholders join hands for NGP
By Hazel F. Gloria
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)
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MGB-7 creates a multipartite monitoring team for sand and gravel projects
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, August 19 (PIA) --- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) created the multipartite monitoring team (MMT) for industrial sand and gravel (ISAG) projects along the four river systems in Toledo City.
MGB-7 regional director Loreto Alburo bared this after a resolution was approved on August 3 organizing the MMT for the six ISAG projects in the region with an aggregate approved applied area of 53.6311 hectares.
Alburo as chairman of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) and co-chaired by Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) regional executive director Dr. Isabelo Montejo approved the MMT project.
The four rivers where these projects pass through are Sapangdaku, Maypay, Abayan, and Guinguiotan, all in Toledo City.
Alburo said the composition of the MMT is pursuant to Section 185 of Department of Administrative Order (DAO) 2010-21 of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.
“The same law that states an MMT shall be deputized by the MRFC to serve as the monitoring on environmental protection and enhancement programs implemented by mining operators,” Montejo added.
The six ISAG covering portions of seven barangays in Toledo City with approved applied areas are: Maria Celeste Dolino, 13.5421 hectares; Carino Obiso, 9.5304 hectares; Ophelio Dolino, 5.24 hectares; Humphrey Benitez, 8.3619 hectares; Gina Besañes, 7.7640 hectares, and Mervin Teo, 9.1927 hectares.
Led by a division chief of Mining Environment and Safety Division (MESD) of MGB-7, the team is composed of representatives from Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Toledo City, Environmental Impact Assessment of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7, ISAG project proponent, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of local government unit (LGU) of Toledo City, and Toledo City Environmental Protection Association Inc.(TOCEPA).
With the establishment of the MMT, Alburo added that periodic monitoring on the compliance on certain environmental provisions will be ensured so that appropriate interventions will be readily executed based on the findings and observations by the composite team.
As indicated, the MMT head shall submit to the MRFC, at least five days before the scheduled regular meeting a report on the status or result of its monitoring activities.(mbcn/HFG/PIA-7 & DENR-7)