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July 11, 2005 |
ALABEL, Sarangani — It was a rainy afternoon but for residents of this town, the downpour was a shower of blessings.
Identified as the site of the second DBP Forest project, the town is finally off to a running start in its efforts to address the alarming state of its forests. Recent reports cite Alabel’s enormously denuded forestland.
The forestation of a 100-hectare project site in Barangay Paraiso was initiated under the DBP Forest Program. Launched last April 22 through the first forest project in Abucay, Bataan, the program supports and encourages the forestation of open and denuded areas through the planting of relatively high value fruit trees and other useful plant species.
For its second forest project, DBP has partnered with the Provincial Government of Sarangani, Municipality of Alabel, the Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DENR), and a community-based group. The project involved the planting of 250 grafted mango seedlings which are projected to yield fruits in five years.
Notwithstanding the uncooperative weather, a simple launching ceremony was held in a makeshift nipa hut some two kilometers away from the planting site. The brief program was highlighted by the ceremonial turnover of seedlings to the farmer-beneficiaries headed by Dionisio Lacay, Jr., chieftain of the B’laan tribe, a group of indigenous people living in the area.
Chairman Vitaliano N. Nañagas II, Sarangani Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez and Alabel Municipal Mayor Narciso Grafilo led the ceremonies. Also present were Sarangani Vice Governor Bridget Chiongbian-Huang, Sarangani Provincial Board Chairman for Environment and Natural Resources Art Lawa, former DENR Undersecretary Rolando Metin, and DENR Region 12 Executive Director Jim Sampulna.
In his message, Chairman Nañagas said, “This is a partnership, and we are one in this project — we in DBP, the province of Sarangani, the DENR, the local government unit of Alabel, and you (the farmer beneficiaries). If you will protect this, you will get livelihood someday.”
Governor Dominguez reiterated the significance of the project: “DBP and the province of Sarangani joined hands to provide seedlings of ipil-ipil, mango and durian to ensure that in the future, all of you can generate income and livelihood. However, we must protect this project.”
Mayor Grafilo, on the other hand, welcomed the support extended by DBP through the project, citing its benefits for the community and the Bank as benefactor.
Speaking in behalf of the DENR, Director Sampulna said, “We will plant for the future and we will do it right. DENR will support you. I’ll be instructing the Provincial Environment Regional Office to prepare the development plan of the area.
 Chairman Nañagas, B’laan Tribe Chieftain Dionisio Lacay, Jr., Alabel Mayor Grafilo, and Sarangani Governor Dominguez during the ceremonial turnover of seedlings for the DBP Forest project
 Some of the farmer-beneficiaries of the DBP Forest program
DBP FOREST LAUNCHED
ABUCAY, BATAAN- Key officials of the Bank and the Provincial Government of Bataan led by President & CEO Reynaldo G. David launched the “DBP Forest” last April 22. The DBP Forest is a reforestation program that seeks to support and to encourage the forestation of open and denuded areas through the planting of relatively high value fruit trees and other useful plant species.
For its first DBP Forest project, the Bank is partnering with two community-based forest management people’s organizations (POs), with the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the local government of Abucay, Bataan, for the reforestation of a 20-hectare mangrove area in Barangay Mabatang. The POs – the Kinikilalang Mangingisda ng Mabatang, Inc. (KIMAMA) and the Balikatan ng mga Mangingisda para sa Bakawanan, Inc. (BAMABA) -- will undertake actual planting and cultivation of the identified project site.
President Reynaldo G. David said that the DBP Forest program is being launched in consonance with President Arroyo’s call, in light of recent natural calamities, to preserve the environment and to step up reforestation efforts.
“The DBP Forest, we hope, will not only prevent further loss of lives and properties, but more importantly, preserve livelihood and the overall economic strength of our country. The DBP Forest program is indeed a reforestation effort for open and denuded areas all over the country,” he noted.
He added that with an initial seed fund of P50 million from the KfW of Germany, the Program is envisioned to contribute to the protection of coastal areas and the conservation of soil and water in the uplands, while improving spawning grounds for terrestrial and marine aquatic life. In the long run, it also aims to help in the development of downstream industries in the countryside.
Livelihood Opportunities
President David said that aside from the benefits they provide to the environment, forests have been proven to create rural livelihood opportunities. He cited that a 50-hectare bamboo plantation can support a cottage industry while a 50-hectare plantation of ilang-ilang can stimulate a cottage-size essence project.
“We want the DBP Forest to be self-sustaining,” President David stressed. “We want our forest partners to produce their own planting stocks, to produce harvest, and to reap economic benefits from the sale of said crop. In other words, we want the DBP forest to provide livelihood opportunities for surrounding communities.”
Partner Organizations
Under the Program, the Bank shall tap as forest partners state universities and colleges, local government units, and people’s organizations that have been awarded with Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) agreements. It will also work with other government agencies such as the National Irrigation Administration, National Power Corporation, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“We see the urgent need to develop your mangrove resources to enhance and support livelihood in Barangay Mabatang,” he told residents of Abucay, Bataan. “We foresee that this project will enable the KIMAMA, BAMABA, and the other beneficiary communities to increase their yield as each reforested hectare is projected to result in a corresponding increase of one ton in fish catch.”
DBP likewise signed a memorandum of agreement with its forest partners to formalize their collaboration for the mangrove reforestation project. Based on the agreement, DBP shall provide funding for the reforestation project. Its forest partners, on the other hand, shall prepare and implement a DBP-approved planting and maintenance plan. They shall also regularly monitor and report to DBP the progress and improvements in site preparation and project implementation activities.
“Thank You”
Bataan Governor Enrique Garcia, Jr. thanked the Bank for choosing the province as one of the beneficiaries of the reforestation program. He cited that the project would help fishermen in restoring mangrove plantations. “ This is important for rehabilitating mangroves in the province,” he quipped.
Abucay Mayor Liberato Santiago meanwhile expressed happiness over the project. “I was interested in this project because this concerns the environment. This is the answer to our environmental concerns,” he noted. |
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