Ubay Agro Forest maintains 1-hectare of coffee plantations
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Oct. 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 with the Ubay Federated Tree Planters Association Inc. (UFTPAI) has maintained a 1-hectare coffee plantation with 1,500 seedlings within the 16-hectare forest land in San Pascual, Ubay, Bohol.
The project is in line with the DENR Agro Forestry Development Project with the help of UFTAI aims to benefit the communities consistent to the objectives of the National Greening Program (NGP).
The San Pascual Agro Forest in Ubay is part of the 20,749-hectare inside the Carood Watershed Model Forest (CWMF).
DENR 7 regional executive Director Dr. Isabelo Montejo said, that aside from promoting the sustainability of the model forest, the project also intends to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people living within the watershed.
In a related development, the Philippine Mining Service Corporation (PMSC) with Bohol Limestone Corporation (BLC) in Garcia-Hernandez, Bohol has planted around 7,542 native and agro forestry seedlings covering 38.6 hectares within its mining contract area.
Supporting the NGP, the Vice Mayor League of Bohol will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to contribute P100,000 to the UFTPAI that will be used to provide additional seedlings for possible expansion of the coffee plantation.
“Through this and with the active assistance from our various stakeholders, additional livelihood enterprises will open up while meeting the targets set for the NGP,” Montejo said. (HFG/PIA-7/DENR-7)
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AFP–PA Reserve Command initiates move to intensify academe link
CEBU CITY, Oct 29 (PIA) -- The 7th Regional Community Defense Group–Army Reserve Command base in Cebu City is set to boost the link and coordination of the forces with the academe here.
Deputy Chief of Staff for Reservist and Retirees Affairs Major General Marlou Salazar along with the 701st (Cebu) Community Defense Center, 7th Regional Community Defense Group, Army Reserve in Lahug Cebu City met with officials from colleges and universities here in the city on October 26 at DepEd , Ecotech Center, Lahug.
The same meeting was also attended by Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) alumni and National Service Training Program (NSTP) coordinators.
Officer-in-charge of the Philippine Army, Lieutenant Colonel Leandro Mayop said the main purpose of the meeting is to gather update, enhance, and support ROTC program advocacy.
The Army Reserve Command has been supportive in the advocacy to train students in a military type of discipline, behavior and practice, gesture and the best and proper way of reaching to the public and community.
This falls under the academe program on NSTP where ROTC and Civic Welfare Training Services (CWTS) are open to first year up to second year college students.
In CWTS, students are trained to be more attached to the community but still in a military type of discipline and practice by conducting, participating and organizing civic welfare activities or any other related practices that are essential to oneself and the community.
ROTC, meanwhile, trains students to be part of the military by instilling in their minds the proper discipline, love of country, and community.
They are also trained on other military practices and behavior important for an individual to acquire self discipline, love and patriotism for the country and have harmonious relationship with the community. (AYS-PIA 7, Cebu with PA PR)
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DENR-7 strictly implements policies for wildlife species
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Oct 29 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 (DENR-7) has strictly implemented the “no hunting, collecting, killing and harvesting of wildlife species” including its by-products and derivatives within the 10,452.60-hectare land of the Rajah Sikatuna National Park (RSNP) in Bilar, Bohol.
“Our wildlife species play a very important component in preserving the state of balance of an ecosystem and its presence to a certain habitat contributes to the overall integrity of the environment,” DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said.
Known for its rich wildlife resources, the RSNP recorded 195 faunal species, 25 species of bats, 13 species of non-flying mammals, 120 species of birds, 20 species of frogs, seven species of wizards and 10 species of snakes. It also covers about 9, 136 hectares of good secondary growth forests.
A major portion of the present RSNP was comprised of natural forest stand dominated by several dipterocarp species and several natural and scenic attributes that were potentials for educational, scientific and recreational use, study and assessment said.
At present, nearly 40 tamed long-tailed Philippine macaques are living inside the RSNP which attract a lot of local and foreign tourists.
By protecting and preserving through the active involvement of the communities themselves, Montejo said the wildlife species present there would be able to increase its population on its natural habitat.
Meanwhile, it has also a 1,000-square meter wildlife rescue center that serves as an acclimatization facility before the once captive species would be released to the wild after six months or more or when its health condition permits.
The RSNP is formerly part of the Loboc Watershed Reforestation Project and was proclaimed as a national park by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 129 on July 10, 1987 through the recommendation of the then Bureau of Forest Development (BFD-7). (DENR7/HFG-PIA7)