DENR ASSISTANT SECRETARY VISITS REGION 10 ENGP SITES

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Secretary (ASEC) for Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs Joan A. Lagunda visits some of the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) sites of Region 10 last January 28-29, 2020 at Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

This is in compliance to Special Order No. 2019-956 issued by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu directing some officials of the department to conduct periodic site visits to established ENGP plantations in order to reinforce efforts and address issues on the ground to ensure the accomplishment of targets set for the ENGP.

It can be recalled that ASEC Lagunda made her first ENGP site visit in a bamboo plantation managed by Ernesto Pelaez Ranch, Inc. on December 23, 2019 in Malasag, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City. Subsequently, ASEC Lagunda was able to monitor and validate 3 ENGP sites during her two-day visit together with the key officials and personnel of DENR 10.

On the first day, ASEC Lagunda visited the plantation site of Peoples Organization (PO) - San Jose Agro-Forestry Farmers Association, Inc. in Brgy. San Jose, Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. She personally validated the existing timber (Falcata) and fruit bearing trees (mangosteen, durian, lanzones, and rambutan) planted in the area. Thereafter, she proceeded to Brgy. Pangasihan of the same city where the plantation of Nipa Palm managed by PO - Lantawan Agroforestry and Developers Multi-purpose Cooperative is situated. She also went to Brgy. Maluko, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and visited the plantation of timber (Brazilian Fire Tree and Falcata) and fruit trees (guyabano, lemonsito, jackfruit, durian, lanzones, avocado, apple guava, rambutan, marang and cashew) of PO - United Rural Women of Maluko, Inc.

Among the issues encountered by ASEC Lagunda during her site-visit were the policy issuance on the harvesting of planted trees within untenured areas and the considerably high required survival rate of planted trees which is 85%.

According to the members of the PO in-charge of the said ENGP sites, the program helped them convert their idle lands to become productive areas, uplift their way of living through the employment it generates and extra income it provides, and improve the environmental condition of the area by means of the increased forest cover.

A forthcoming ENGP Focal Persons Consultative Meeting and Workshop will be conducted this February 2020 where ASEC Lagunda is expected to take part in the activity. #TayoAngKalikasan RSCIS MR No. 02-038-2020

• Prev
• Next