SOME P11,032,000 from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Office-Based Fund has been downloaded by DENR-CAR to its field offices for the implementation of the expanded National Greening Program in 2017.
The funds will be used to conduct of site assessment of NGP planting areas for 2017 which is expected to be completed by before the end of September this year.
DENR-CAR has a target area of 24,515 hectares to be planted on 2017 and will be distributed in the different provinces across the region.
Abra will have the highest area of coverage with 7,571 while Apayao will cover 2,803 hectares; 4,654 in Benguet; 1,452 in Ifugao; 4,644 in Kalinga; and 3,391 in Mt. Province.
The fund was accordingly distributed in the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources based on their target areas.
Planting areas for 2017 will be identified by the PENROs and CENROs in coordination with the local government units and villages that have potential areas for reforestation, bamboo, high value crops and agro-forestry plantations.
The areas to be identified should be at least 50 hectares and should not fall within alienable and disposable lands so as to prevent overlapping of sites already covered by other projects.
As much as possible, the identified areas should be free of dispute relative to political boundaries. If any, such should be reconciled by concerned local government units or village officials.
In addition, the sites should be properly assessed as to what are the suitable commodities that can be planted.
Although a combination of four commodities may be planted in an area, they should not be purely bamboo, high value crops or fruit trees. The commodities should be varied to harvest more benefits in the future.
As part of the assessment, shape files with complete attributes, commodity map and geotagged photos of areas should be submitted within the set deadline.
Apart from the site’s profile, the PENROs and CENROs shall identify and assess potential partner people’s organization within the village of proposed planting sites.
An education, information and communication campaign shall likewise be conducted for the POs and community people for appreciation and acceptance of the project.