DENR-7 to strengthen its environmental program

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=8&rid=771564
• Thursday, June 11, 2015

(PNA), LAP/EB/RSM

CEBU CITY, June 11 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 7 is focusing its celebration of the agency’s 28th founding anniversary on reducing the country’s poverty rate through its environmental program.

Dr. Eddie Llamedo, DENR 7 information officer, said the agency’s National Greening Program (NGP) will provide alternative livelihood for the marginalized households through seedling production and care of newly-planted trees.

“It (NGP project) helps since it provides livelihood opportunities. We are employing the members of the people’s organizations in the seedling production planting and maintenance,” Llamedo said.

The six-year project, which started in 2011, is a massive forest rehabilitation program established through Executive Order No. 26 that seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares across the country.

The DENR-7 Technical Services report showed that the total accomplishment from January to June this year reached 13,165,607 seedlings, which exceeds by some 14 percent the 2015 target production of 11,557,500 seedlings.

The same data reveals that Negros Oriental, which was recently separated from Central Visayas through Executive Order 183 creating the Negros Island Region, has the highest seedling production with 7,214,185.

Cebu province produced 2,870,406 seedlings; Bohol with 2,954,000 seedlings; and Siquijor with 127,016 seedlings.

DENR 7 Director Isabelo Montejo assured they have produced quality seedlings in various tree planting and growing programs in the region.

He said the mild El Niño has not stopped the agency and its partners from producing quality seedlings.

Llamedo said they have partnered with various government agencies, private stakeholders, the academe and people’s organization to synchronize all reforestation efforts in the region.

Llamedo said 352 people’s organizations partnered with DENR this year to establish around 15,115 hectares of plantation of timber, crops and mangroves, among others.

More than 65,000 hectares in Central Visayas have been reforested after four years of implementing the program, he said.