DENR forms body to check refo activities

Saturday, February 4, 2012

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 created a team that will monitor the progress of government-initiated reforestation activities.

DENR 7 Executive Director Maximo Dichoso said monitoring the National Greening Program (NGP) would promote transparency and accountability.

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The monitoring team was created in accordance with a directive of Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

"Secretary Paje also sought the help of the Commission on Audit to audit some 1.5 billion tree seedlings that would be planted on 1.5 million hectares under the NGP between 2011 and 2016," he said.

Random

Dichoso said the validation team will conduct random verification of the reports submitted by DENR field offices.

The NGP accomplishment reports also need to be notarized before they are submitted to the DENR central office.

The NGP was established through Executive Order 26 issued by President Benigno Aquino III on Feb. 24, 2011. The program aims promote a sustained environmental awareness campaign nationwide.

The NGP in Central Visayas has a budget of more than P65 million, Dichoso said.

The DENR 7 reported a 109.16-percent accomplishment under the NGP, which translates to 6,148 hectares. The region’s target was 5,632 hectares with three million seedlings.

Survival

The team is also tasked to look into the survival rate of the seedlings planted to ensure these are properly maintained and protected.

"By ensuring close monitoring and coordination among various stakeholders and articulating clear definition of roles and accountabilities and deliverables, the project will be executed in accordance with its purpose of greening and environmental protection," Dichoso said.

The six-year reforestation program will be carried out following a people-centered development framework, with objectives that include the stability and productivity of watersheds; improved farm level productivity and stability; improved household incomes; and increased production of food crops and timber and non-timber forest products.

In Central Visayas, the DENR identified 631 planting sites for validation. These sites include Barangay Nangka in Boljoon, Gen. Climaco in Toledo City and Kambanog in Dumanjug town, all in Cebu Province.