3,500 trees planted, a lot more targeted for Siquijor timberland

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, July 8 (PIA) ---At least 3,500 assorted seedlings from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Siquojor were distributed and planted in DENR-timberland areas in the province since the launching of the National Greening Program (NGP) in June.

Forester Joven Ando, in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said the count still excludes those produced and planted by each LGU, partner agencies and organizations in other identified areas in support to the NGP.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Antonio Cabrido, in the same PIA interview said, the DENR office is strongly advocating for the reforestation of all available timberland and mangrove areas, mine sites, watersheds, abandoned and other areas suitable for greening program to fight global warming.

Cabrido said the DENR has identified some 251 hectares of timberland areas and another 200 hectares of convergent-identified areas (DENR-DAR-DA) in Siquijor for  massive tree planting.

This involves planting of agroforestry, native and indigenous species of trees although Cabrido said he recommends planting of more fruit trees as they have double benefits.

To ensure good survival of seedlings planted, the DENR also conducted orientation on proper tree planting and advised planting of trees in DENR designated timberland areas for sure growth system.

This way, we will be able to monitor their survival, Forester Ando said.

He said schools and barangays are also encouraged to plant more with each student expected to plant at least ten seedlings per year and each barangay to plant 25,000 per year in their respective planting areas.

For those barangays that do not have available areas for planting, they may use the DENR timberland areas, he said.

Siquijor province, Ando said, has only 1,116 hectares of timberland or four percent of the total 27,888 hectares unclassified A&D lands in the province.

These, Ando said, are found in barangays Balolang, Canlasog, Bintangan, Sitio Bolod of Basac and Palingkod Hills and the mangrove timberland in Datag of Larena town. 

They are also found in Sitio Bolod and Sitio Cabugnayan and the Reforestation Projects of Bogo, Lilo-an and Minalulan in Maria town. 

Enrique Villanueva town has also unclassified A & D lands found in Parian, Cangmangki and the timberland mangrove areas.

Bandilaan and the mangrove timberland in Banban, Olo and Luyang of Siquijor town; and Canghaling of San Juan town, timberland mangrove areas in Banban, Olo, Luyang and Canal of Siquijor town are also unclassified A & D lands.

Ando said he is thankful for the cooperation of the people and hopes that the government’s call for prolonged tree planting will really be practiced.

Meanwhile, PENRO Cabrido said, the local office is also putting in place partnership agreements with government agencies and other stakeholders. He  admitted though that there is still a need to work with these concerned sectors for a collaborative greening and maintaining program.

Under the program, the DENR will provide planting materials and technical assistance like the assessment of the identified planting sites, conduct of training and orientation on the proper planting and caring of planted seedlings.(PIA-Siquijor/mbcn/RAC)

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Integrated irrigation dev plan for Siquijor mulled

SIQUIJOR, July 8 (PIA)--- The local offices of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Food Authority (NFA) met to finalize the plan for an Integrated Irrigation Development for Siquijor.

NFA Information Officer Elvira Calibo, in a press release said, Provincial Agriculturist Ramon Taroc, DENR Officer Antonio Cabrido, and NFA Manager Edgardo Garcia, in their meeting at the NFA compound in Nonoc, Larena first identified the sources of water in the six towns of the Province.

The group identified as untapped water resources are Tagmanocan and Senora River irrigation systems and Gabayan Spring in Lower Cabangcalan and Cangomantong in Lazi.

Also included are the Tag-ibo system and Capilay Spring in San Juan; Cang-agong, Ponong, Cang-atuyom, Sub sa olo and San Antonio system in Siquijor to Napo San Juan.

Finally, the water resources of barangays Helen, Canlambo, Canlasog, Bintangan-Basak to Licoan, Maria and Candiguman in Larena; and Lotloton in Enrique Villaneva.

Calibo said the meeting was an offshoot of the consultation for the local government unit of Siqujor province that was conducted by the Negros Orielntal-Siquijor Federation of Irrigator’s Association (NOSFIA) in May 27 at Dondeezco Beach Resort in Dumanjug, Siquijor.

The Integrated Development Plan will then be the basis for allocation from the available P93B irrigation system development fund of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

The team, Calibo also said has recognized that the success of the proposed development plan goes with it the preparation study, funding and actual rehabilitation and expansion of the multi-level irrigation system by tapping the source in the highlands down to the farm areas throughout the province of Siquijor.

Along this line, the Provincial Integrated Irrigation Development Council (PIIDC) of Siquijor will be organized under a memorandum of agreement with the various government and non-government organizations are assigned tasks and responsibilities.   

The PDIIC shall be composed of the DA-Offices of the Provincial and Municipal Agriculturists; Provincial Veterinary Office, DENR, NFA, DAR, BFAR, SSC, DOST, NIA, NOSFIA, PAFC; Provincial and Municipal Planning and Development Offices; the youth sector composed of the SK and 4H Federation President; Sangguniang Panlalawigan and Sangguniang Bayan chairmen on Agriculture; and the Provincial Legal Officer.

According to the NFA provincial director, the council intends to pursue activities which are geared towards the rehabilitation and expansion of various irrigation systems to serve arable areas for corn, vegetable and palay production. (PIA-Siquijor/mbcn/RAC & NFA-Siquijor/EMC)