DENR allots over P150K
for agro-forestry
By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
March 14, 2011
TACLOBAN CITY – A
ten (10) hectare vegetable based agro-forestry project is set for
implementation in a forestland in Taft, Eastern Samar located inside
the Ulot Watershed Model Forest.
With a fund allocation
of P155,500 from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
the project shall be undertaken by the San Rafael Integrated Farmers
Cooperative, Inc. (SRIFC) in Barangay San Rafael, Taft,
Eastern Samar. The project is expected to be completed within the
year.
In a Memorandum of
Agreement set to be ratified by the DENR and the People’s Organization
(PO) SRIFC through its President Jesus Cabujat, the DENR shall
facilitate and provide technical assistance to the
PO in the
implementation of the project. This shall include determination of
species to be planted in accordance with site species suitability and
market potential for the commodity.
For its part, SRIFC
shall conduct activities for the ground implementation of the project
to include site preparation, sowing, planting and nurturing of the
vegetable farm. A nursery shed house/bunkhouse which shall also serve
as bagsakan center will be constructed from the allocated funds.
“With this vegetable
based agro-forestry project, we hope to veer the upland people away
from further destruction of our forests,” says DENR Regional Executive
Director Primitivo Galinato, Jr. “Sadly, we are seeing our forests
being opened up as upland communities engage in charcoal making which
provides them immediate income,” RED Galinato laments.
RED Galinato
reveals that the project is in consonance with the National
Convergence Initiative of government which calls for collaborative
efforts of the local government units, people’s organizations,
non-government organizations and other stakeholders towards poverty
reduction and environmental protection.