7,733 families set to benefit from gov’t Upland Development Project in CAR

by Lito Dar

Baguio City (5 September) — Our country, one of the richest country in the world in terms of diversity, once boast 14 million hectares of forests lands, but due to illegal foresters, loggers, miners or destroyer of environment, now only have about half or 7.2 million hectares of forest help, thus stated by Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza during the briefing on Solid Waste Management and Climate Change that was held for city and barangay officials and hosted by President Arroyo, at the Mansion House last Friday August 28.

In the said briefing, DENR’s Forest Management Bureau Director Marlon Mendoza presented the current situation of the forests in the whole country and in Cordillera. According to Mendoza, the government boosts up its Upland Development Program, in response to the pressing need to protect and regenerate our country’s forest, not only to save our remaining water basins or watersheds but also to mitigate the effect of climate change.

According to Mendoza, the government have allocated P1.5 Billion fund for the Upland Development Program, which will be implemented through agro-forestry, reforestation, natural degeneration (of trees) and mangrove plantation. Mendoza also lauded the president, as he stressed that the P1.5 Billion is the biggest government allocation ever, for such purpose or program.

Nationwide, 52,800 hectares of forest lands are covered by the Upland Development Program and for every hectare there will be one family beneficiary which will receive a social equity for the reforestation.

For Cordillera, Mendoza said the region will receive a total of P250 million, the largest allocation, which will benefit 7,733 family beneficiaries, under the 1 beneficiary per hectare rule. Mendoza also reported that about P180 million have already been released and 35 percent of the target 7,733 hectares have already been planted.

“As the planting season is until October, we are on schedule as more than 90% of the contracts (with the family beneficiaries) are already in signed,” Mendoza added. To protect and ensure that there will be no more degradation of our remaining forest, the DENR are also hiring “Bantay Gubat” or forest guards.

Mendoza also reported that here in Cordillera 16 percent of the more than 11,000 “Bantay Gubat” targets are already hired, as he stressed that the remaining challenges will be an effective management regime and the joint efforts of the national government, various line-agencies and the local government units, not only in planting but also in addressing the socio-economic aspect of reforestation for the marginalized upland communities.

Mendoza also stressed the need to address the social pressure on forest land conversions and the need to cope up or adopt to climate change induced disasters. (PIA)