DBP expands reforestation project in Sarangani

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 28, 2011) – The Development Bank of the
Philippines on Monday (March 28) expanded its forest project with
another 400-hectare reforestation area through a memorandum of
agreement following a successful partnership with a small project in
the province,“I am very pleased to note that our small project multiplied to a
bigger coverage,” Senior Vice President Brillo Reynes said in a
launching program.

With its 36 forest projects in the countryside, the Calminda Watershed
has a survival rate of 90 percent according to Reynes. “We hope you
will provide the same enthusiasm with the expansion of this project,”
Reynes said.

Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez said the province started identifying
areas for forest rehabilitation immediately after he took office in
2004.

Calminda Watershed has a total of 4,701 hectares. With the expansion
of the project, the endangered Calminda Watershed ecosystem can be
saved and reforested. Mayor Corazon Grafilo and Paraiso barangay
captain Lally Lacay assured officials the support of the community.
“Today we are happy that we get another grant from DBP and we would
like to encourage more private partners,” Dominguez said.

Along with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office
(PENRO), SMART Communications’ Smart Trees, CONAL Holdings’ 7,500
reforestation project in Maasim hinterlands, Rocky Mountain Coffee
project in Kiamba, Platinum Rubber Corporation, and Department of
Energy’s Environmental Rehabilitation Project are some of the
province’s private partners in environment.

Paraiso has 77 recipient farmers of the 100-hectare forest project in
2005 who planted fruit bearing trees with a 30-70 DBP-farmer share on
harvest.

The new memorandum of agreement includes periodic monitoring of the
project by the provincial government and DBP, and the DBP to conduct
trainings and provide fund for the planting stocks.

Reynes also wanted acquisition of farm equipment to ensure farmers’
products to reach the market, establish schools and hospitals. “This
is what DBP wants to do. Development is nothing if it does not address
the need of the community,” Reynes said.

“This is not only about reforestation. We want to alleviate the
socio-economic condition of the people and perhaps the local
government can build fruit processing plants to really help the
farmers,” Senior Assistant Vice President Aurora Maghirang said.

“Many people are against the Conal Power Plant, but they do not know
it’s the massive charcoal production in town that contributes to the
destruction of the environment,” Board Member and Sangguniang
Panlalawigan committee chair on environment Eleanor Saguiguit said.
“We need a massive information-education campaign to protect our
forest. Slash and burn (kaingin) system destroys the natural
regeneration of our environment,” Saguiguit said.

The Association of Development Financial Institution in Asia and the
Pacific (ADFIAP) has awarded DBP in 2005 for its forest program.
(Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)