Central Visayas exceeds its 2012 NGP target by 7%
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Nov 12 (PIA) -- Central Visayas exceeded its mark in seedling production under the national greening program (NGP) by seven percent or equivalent to 6,087,255 seedlings produced against its target of 5,693,770 this year.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) Executive Director Isabelo Montejo revealed that they were able to meet their objective ahead of schedule and even surpassing it.
Montejo also said that almost 111 nurseries are operating and functional in the region.
The province of Cebu has produced a total of 1,720,226 seedlings or 89 percent of its target of 2,009,100 while Bohol with 1,053,785 seedlings or 102 percent of its aim of 1,034,721.
Negros Oriental also exceeded its seedling production to 3,115,931 seedlings or 128 percent of its target at 2,440,359 and Siquijor with 197,313 seedlings or 94 percent of its target at 209,600.
Based on the consolidated report as of October 30 this year, the Department of Agriculture (DA) grew 504,655 seedlings or 81 percent of its goal of 624,500 and the DENR produced 6,087,255 available seedlings now.
Targeted at greening some 1.5 million hectares of degraded forest lands, NGP will focus essentially at developing a sustainable forest resource base to accelerate the national greening campaign.
It is expected to also rejuvenate rural economies in parts of the nation’s most chronically poor areas in the uplands, ultimately providing livelihood opportunities for six million families in the upland areas across the country within six years, from 2011 to 2016.
“NGP also seeks to improve water quality in rivers and irrigation for farm lands, reduce the potential for flooding, soak up carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and lay the foundation for an expanded wood-products economy,” Montejo said.
President Aquino issued EO 26 on February 24, 2011 establishing the NGP not only to reforest 1.5 million hectares of land but also to promote a sustained environmental awareness campaign in the face of the deleterious effects of climate change.
One of the commitments of the DENR, DA and Department of Agrarian Reform in implementing the NGP is the establishment of nurseries and seedling production nationwide.
“We have been very happy that more well-meaning organizations or institutions are partnering with us in terms of seedling production to allow adequate supply of several tree species to be planted in the coming months,” Montejo said. (mbcn/HFG/PIA-7/DNR-7)
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Gov't, SUC to reforest denuded areas
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Nov 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Cebu Normal University – Main Campus (CNU-MC) and the local government unit of Barangay Gaas, Balamban Cebu for the establishment of a five-hectare forest plantations within the identified planting sites in these barangays in support to the national greening program (NGP).
DENR supports the noble endeavor of CNU and Barangay Gaas to reforest some of the denuded areas for the conservation, development, and sustainable use of the country’s environment and natural resources, DENR-7 Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said.
Under the MOA, the DENR agrees to initially provide 2,500 forest and fruit tree seedlings to be planted in Barangay Gaas and provide technical assistance on tree planting and maintenance activities; periodic monitoring and evaluation in coordination with the partner agencies.
The CNU on the other hand, will provide manpower and other material inputs in the establishment of a nursery and to produce the seedlings required in its tree planting and maintenance activities to ascertain their survival.
This five-hectare forest plantations will be completed within two years establishing 2.5 hectares annually with the intention of growing more than 8,000 seedlings, Montejo said.
“This project again marks the strong partnership and collaboration of the DENR with the academe and local government units in pursuing sustainable environmental programs not only in the province but in the whole Central Visayas,” he added.
The MOA signing was held on November 9 at the CNU with RED Montejo, CNU President Marcelo Lopez and Gaas Barangay Captain Willian Genel. Witnessing the event were Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer - Cebu Richard Abella and CNU’s College of Arts and Sciences Dean Floriza Laplap. (mbcn/HFG-PIA7/DENR7)
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Cebu to adopt tourism economy on mango, high value crops
By Amorganda A. Saludar
CEBU CITY, Nov 12 (PIA) -- The Philippine Mango Industry Foundation Inc. (PMIFI) proposes infrastructure innovation to help the mango growers in the province and to boost the mango industry and other crop production in Cebu.
The plan is to put up tramline in areas where mango and high value crops production are abundant, PMIFI President Virgie de la Fuente said during the Kapihan sa PIA.
De la Fuente said a tramline will cross areas where the plantation of mango and other crops are located and it is also intended for loading people and products.
This will boost the tourism economy in the mountain areas where tramlines are established. Through the tramlines, "We will bring buyers, specifically tourist buyers to the plantation areas of mango and other crops that are mostly seen in the market and malls,” de la Fuente added.
By this the tourist will experience the beauty of the farms and plantation here in Cebu, they will also have an opportunity to see how mangoes and other native crops are produced, maintained, and harvested, she said.
De la Fuente then said that the main goal of using this tramline in the farms and other crop plantation areas is to attract tourists because they are usually delighted to visit farms and ride in a tramline.
This will also serve as an adventure for the tourist-friends because they are given the chance to tour farms and plantations. We will let them experience harvesting crops on their own if they want, De la Fuente further added.
She pledged to implement this measure as soon as the PMFI acquires the budget and personnel to handle the facility since they already spotted the upland barangays of Cebu City where these tramlines are to be established.
These will include Barangay Busay and other neighboring barangays, De la Fuente said.
Department of Agriculture (DA-7), Regional High Value Crops Development Program Coordinator Nenita Seno also committed to support fully any measures to boost the status of mango and other high value crops not only in the province of Cebu but also in the entire region.
“As of now we are making roadmaps and program interventions target to benefit the small beneficiaries,” Seno concluded. (mbcn/AYS-PIA7 Cebu)