Wednesday, November 29, 2006 Tree plantation contract junked
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Angelo Reyes cancelled the industrial tree plantation lease agreement (ITPLA) in Barangay Tawan-Tawan in Baguio District, citing the company's non-compliance with the agreement's conditions.
Reyes ordered Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Director Ricardo Calderon to "serve the order, take over the jurisdiction of the area, determine the best end use of the land, and take appropriate measure to protect the same."
The decision, Reyes said, was based on the memorandum of Calderon dated July 10, which recommended the immediate cancellation of the ITPLA after finding that the company, supposed to be holder of the agreement, failed to comply with the terms and conditions set.
Over the last years, ITPLA-holder Carmen Hills Corp. failed to conduct any activity in the area. The company obtained the permit to plant and harvest trees in the area on February 10, 1986. The agreement was to expire in October 31, 2010.
"This office considers the above findings sufficient grounds to warrant cancellation of the lease agreement in question," Reyes said.
The decision was welcomed by residents of the village, mostly inhabited by lumads (tribesmen) who have claimed the area as their ancestral domain.
The ITPLA covers at least 1,000 hectares of land, part of which is located in Mt. Tipolog, considered as Davao City's lost volcano. The forest is currently occupied by hundreds of lumads and their families.
The volcano is part of the headwater of the Panigan-Tamugan Rivers, which are said to be Davao City's future source of drinking water.
The tribal council in the village passed a resolution asking the government to cancel the ITPLA as it violates the lumads' claim.
Also, the barangay council passed a separate resolution calling for the cancellation of the ITPLA.
Councilor Danilo Gumapac said they could not allow any outsiders to do their activities in their area, much more if these activities threaten the environment and the people.
The residents also fear dislocation of the occupants of the area had the ITPLA not been cancelled.
"We are really happy that the government saw the justness of our position. We are thankful for they have seen and felt our struggle for this land that means so much to all of us," Gumapac said.
The community is now working to secure their tenure in the area and conserve and manage it themselves through a community-based forest management agreement (CBFMA) or other tenurial instruments.
"If there's anyone who is supposed to manage the area, that would be us...the people who have toiled and taken care of the land through sweat and blood. Our forefathers have been here long before and we are continuing the struggle," Gumapac said. (JMT)
