NATIONAL GREENING PROGRAM

YEAR END REPORT IN NATIONAL GREENING PROGRAM

OF PENRO SULTAN KUDARAT

FOR CY 2014

 

For the 4th year implementation of National Greening Program (NGP) with an objective to pursuit sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, environmental stability, and climate change mitigation and adaptation wherein it seeks to plant trees over 1.5 million hectares in six years ending in 2016. This year pursued to meet 164 million seedling production and planting an area covering 300,000 hectares nationwide. The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Sultan Kudarat together with the two field offices of CENRO Tacurong City and CENRO Kalamansig contributed total of 3,354 hectares and approximately 1,677,000 seedling produced.

 

Since, there were new People Organization (POs) involved in the project, continuous Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign were conducted with the aim of educating the beneficiaries for deeper understanding and effective implementation of the project.

 

Implementation of NGP had gone different phases, i.e identification of NGP sites, the Survey, Mapping and Planning, production of quality seedlings for PO Based, Plantation Establishment and lastly the Maintenance and Protection. Each activities requires funding, thereby, every activity conducted had a corresponding contract thru Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for seedling production and Letter of Agreement (LOA) for Plantation Establishment with Php3,000.00/ hectare  and Maintenance and protection (Php 1,000/hectares) contract cost.

 

Along the implementation of NGP CY 2014 the “TreeVolution: Greening Mindanow” that was held September 26, 2014, is a joint initiative of Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to attempt in breaking the record of India in Guinness World Record for the most number of trees planted in an hour at multiple sites. The activity is designed to encourage massive participation by various stakeholders and sectors in an effort to hit the Mindanao target for the National Greening Program (NGP). It is also part of the long-term campaign by DENR and MINDA’s to instill among Mindanawans the consciousness in the sustainable management of our environment and natural resources as part of the larger effort for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The said activity ended successfully with 1,401 planters based on the wristband returned but the participant/planter registered about 1,652 and the total seedlings planted is 18,576 rubber seedlings based on the tally of the stewards.

For CY 2014, the Highlights of Accomplishments relative to NGP implementation are the following.

 

 

B. CY 2014 Physical and Financial Report

 

          1. Information, Education and Communication (IEC)

 

            Last June 11-12, 2014 we had conducted Information, Education and Communication Campaign held in Grand Ficus Hotel, Kidapawan City. The participants of the seminar/workshop were the 40 People Organization Chairman/Member/Beneficiaries and 20 DENR Employees of PENRO and CENRO’s. The training aim to build the capacity of its partners and stakeholders to enable effective participation in the implementation process of the National Greening Program (NGP).  We believe that capacity building programs are effective tool in making program players aware of systems they can use to participate in program implementation and to some extent enhance their participation in monitoring the program. As such, this activity aims to develop and upgrade capacities of Peoples Organizations through technology transfer by providing them technical knoledge in nursery establishment and the same manner increasing their level of awareness on the benefits of these available technologies.

 

            On the 1st day of training the participants were recognized individually. The resource speaker for the 1st day training was Dr. Noel Dungca, the Chief, FRDD wherein he tackled the right way in producing quality seedlings. Quality seedling comes from good mother tree. The high quality seedling has minimal plantation cost because of minimal mortality and less intensive management needed. Further, the resources speaker discussed thoroughly the Nursery establishment preparatory activity the factors to be considered in the establishing nursery that includes soil, freedom from weeds, accessibility, source of water, slope and aspects and size of the area. Other pre-treatment of the seedlings and sources of germplasm were also discussed.

 

For the 2nd day of training the participants visited the budwood garden in Capitol, Amas, Kidapawan City in which Engr. Agustino Arances shared his knowledge in the techniques in harvesting of budwood and the proper handling of it. The participants also visited the Regional Clonal Nursery of Region XII, situated in Amas, Kidapawan. The clonal nursery raised different tree species namely molave, toog, narra, and some disperocarps species. In behalf of For. Fernand Orena Project Manager of Regional Clonal Nursery, For. Escote was given the tasked to orient the participants in nursery practices and techniques. She demonstrated the macrosomatic clonal propagation. In the afternoon of the 2nd day training, Engr. Arances shared his knowledge in rubber tapping and its techniques. The rubber became tappable when it reaches the girth/circumference of 46 cm and 170 cm 1.7 m height from the ground. He also demonstrated the proper handling of equipment to avoid waste extraction and continued production of latex.

 

            The training was concluded by given the closing remarks of For. Muripagar T. Umpar Regional Technical Director for Forestry.

 

2. Maintenance and Protection CY 2014

 

Once a plantation has been established, the work should not be considered finished. It takes necessary action to maintain and protect the plantation from various agents of destructions.  Plantation to be maintained and protected for this year under the target of PENRO Sultan Kudarat is 1,000 hectaresconsisting of 436 hectares and 564 hectares Buttom-Up Budgeting (BUB) project.

The plantation should be protected from fire that imposes serious threat to plantation especially the cogonal area like the Bangsamoro Upland Farmers and Fisherfolks Association located at Telafas, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. 95% of the site dominated by cogon (Imperata cyclindrica). Fire may occur as a result of mans unmindful activity. The insects and fungi are another agent of destruction. They will attack in selective host species particularly on less resistant plantation species. The plantation that are monoculture with rubber (Columbio Upland Farmers Association, Baluan Resources Farmers Association, Purok Kinokot Farmers Association, LGU of SNA and Esperanza) are relatively high risk of infection if the host species will attack than those of multi-culture site. With these, each association had allocatedd budget to procure fertilizer/pesticide to maintain the project. Another agent of destruction are animals in the form of browsing or de-barking. This can be avoided in the use of fences, hedges or trapped to prevent the intrusion of domesticated animals. Some of our people organizations start to fence their projects.

 

For the 1st year maintenance and protection the intended budget per hectare was Php 1,000.00. PENRO Sultan Kudarat the has an area of 1,000 hectares schedule for the maintenance and protection.

 

2. Seedling Production CY 2014

For this target, the People Organization had produced a total of 504,586 seedlings consisting of 289,706 rubber, 198,380 coffee, 5,000 cacao, 9,000 bamboo and 2,500 mahogany seedlings. The species produce is basically based on the demand/request of the PO’s and site suitability.

 

Cost of the seedlings was based on the FMB Bulletin no. 10 wherein the PO Based contracted seedlings were produced by PO beneficiaries. The DENR and the said People Organization entered into contract thru a Memorandum of Agreement that the contracting party (PO) submit the Work and Financial Plan (WFP) for the approval of the DENR. The POs propagates/produces quality plantable seedlings, and deliver these plantable seedlings to NGP planting site. Likewise the DENR conduct survey and geo-tagging of the nursery established, provide technical and financial assistance based on the approved WFP and regular monitoring and evaluation. Prior to payment of the accomplished seedling production, subsequent ocular inspection/validation of PENRO FMS(Chief, FMS, PMO and EO), accounting representative and COA were conducted to validate the veracity of the accomplishment.

 

Moreover, BUB project falls under the regular target whereby the said POs are the one producing the planting materials for their projects. BUB projects, are those project requested by the local government units.

 

Accomplished 100% seedling production for CY 2014 were attained by 15 people organization under the target of PENRO Sultan Kudarat as working PENRO.

 

3. Social Mobilization and Site Preparation CY 2014

 

Another phase of NGP implementation is the Plantation Establishment, the critical aspect of implementation. Activities includes strip brushing, hole digging, staking and planting including seedling transport. The PO beneficiaries needs to acclimatized themselves in the heat of the sun to accomplish the intended area. They had paid 15% Mobilization Fund (MF) to mobilize for the site preparation of the project. Planting site were prepared by removing any debris and grasses followed by staking and holing. Then outplanting were conducted usually at the onset of the rainy season.

 

For this year, the people started to plant late of 3rd quarter. The Lagandang Multi-Purpose Cooperative with the PO Chairman Garuda Ampatuan had 1st accomplished the plantation early of the 4th quarter. Payment of the accomplished Plantation Establishment is made possible after inspection/validation of PENRO FMS, accounting representative and COA. Billing documents and other attachments after inspection were prepared by the FMS personnel for payment.

 

In collaboration with the different agency from government and private sectors planting of 50 hectares within NGP site within one (1) hour had made possible at Marguez, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat under the NGP area of the Local Government Unit of Esperanza. The participants includes LGU of Esperanza, Department of Education, DPWH, 601st Brigade, National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Food Authority (NFA), Philhealth, Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), Bureau of Jail and Management Penology and PENRO personnel. The participants planted 18,576 rubber seedlings within one (1) hour. This activity were conducted last September 26, 2014 in tandem with “TreeVolution: Greening MindaNow”.

Accomplished 100% plantation establishment with attached geo-tagged pictures had been submitted to the NGP Regional Office. A total of 1,000 hectares NGP site had been planted with corresponding budget of Php 3,000,000.00.

 

 

4.Hindering Factors and Recommendations

 

• Mobility of the Project Management Officers

 

• : Provision of vehicles and logistics

 

• Top-Bottom Approach on Commodity Allocation

 

• : Site-Species matching shall be adopted Commodity   

       allocation Or species preference comes from the POs and

       or DENR field offices.

 

4.      Mentality of the PO members towards harvesting issues

• : Harvesting rights and privileges pursuant to E.O. no. 26  

        shall be resolve/specified by the higher authority

        particularly on public land areas without tenurial instruments

 

• Insurgency issues In the NGP areas/upland

 

• : Upland farmers shall be considered as beneficiary in their 

                                respective occupation/land claims.

 

• Areas below 50 hectares

 

• : Considers below 50 hectares NGP sites. Most of the  

                              Denuded Forest lands are spotted which are below 50

                               hectares.

 

                                                  

C. Treevolution: Greening Mindanow

 

The “TreeVolution: Greening Mindanow” that was held September 26, 2014, is a joint initiative of Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to attempt in breaking the record of India in Guinness World Record for the most number of trees planted in an hour at multiple sites. The activity is designed to encourage massive participation by various stakeholders and sectors in an effort to hit the Mindanao target for the National Greening Program (NGP). It is also part of the long-term campaign by DENR and MINDA’s to instill among Mindanawans the consciousness in the sustainable management of our environment and natural resources as part of the larger effort for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

 

            The activity was materialized through series of meeting/orientation among the DENR personnel and its partner agencies. With the given guidelines and instruction from the higher office, PENRO Sultan Kudarat headed by OIC Renato C. Domingo in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Esperanza jointly spearheaded the Big Day activity at the identified site for the Treevolution located at Sitio Ogis, Marguez, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat.

 

            It was in 2nd week of September, 2014 wherein our Chief, FMS Wilfredo F. Cacayan called a meeting together with the partner agencies namely LGU of Esperanza, Department of Education, DPWH, 601st Brigade, National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Food Authority (NFA), Philhealth, Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), Bureau of Jail and Management Penology and other private agencies. They had tackled/strategized important aspects of the activity that includes commitment on the number of planters from their office, transportation, security, medics, foods, parking area, assembly area and time of registration. The said meeting end-up with various commitments from the partner agencies. Preparation of the planting site that includes geo-tagging, site preparation, staking, hauling of seedlings and installation of signage’s/tarpaulin were done by the Local Government Unit of Esperanza with the supervision from PENR Office.

 

            September 25, 2014 the final briefing of the stakeholders and the steward and in the same day the putting-up of registration booth are made possible. On the day of activity it was September 26, 2014 early in the morning the PENR Officer of Sultan Kudarat together with selected Regional Officers (secretariats) arrived on the registration booth at around 6:00 AM. Planters started to arrived around 6:30 and the registration started. Around 7:00 AM more participants coming. The marshal, medics and rescue team are already positioned on their designated areas. The Army was already deployed on the planting sites around 3:00 AM to  secure the area and safety of the participants/planters. After the registration of the planters they were guided by assigned PO Personnel to their designated planting site together with the steward from the Department of Education and personnel from the LGU of Esperanza. Instruction and safety precautions are announced repeatedly. The videographer and photographer were already positioned at the entrance and exit and at the different planting site. The Vice-Governor of Sultan Kudarat Hon. Dr. Ernesto Matias, the highest ranking official of the province present also joints the tree planting activity together with Mayor of Esperanza Hon. Helen Latog, OIC PENR Officer Renato C. Domingo, and Dr. Rolando F. Hechanova, the SKSU President. The participants/planters were already positioned before 8:30 in the morning. The tree planting started at exactly 8:30 in the morning thru the blowing of sirens of an ambulance. The witness of the said activity was the representative of SGV Mark Senen P. Jerez who was commissioned by the Guinness World Record. Due to the wide scope of the site, the witness conducted sampling at planting site 2 with the steward assigned Sir. Romulo C. Ventura. He (Mr. Jerez) stated that the planters actively participated during the planting time and all participants were registered and wearing wristband on that site. The total planted seedlings counted on the sampled plot of more or less one (1) hectare is 507 seedlings.

 

            The said activity ended successfully with 1,401 planters based on the wristband returned but the participant/planter registered about 1,652 and the total seedlings planted 18,576 rubber seedlings based on the tally of the stewards.