The two officials inspected the four reforestation sites established under the National Greening Program (NGP).

 

Through the NGP, the local government unit (LGU) developed in 2012 a 53-hectare coffee plantation in Barangay Villaflores. In 2013, another 100 hectares were planted by the LGU with timber and agroforestry species in Barangay Dalton.

 

The two NGP sites with a total area of 150 hectares established in 2014 by the Kalahan Educational Foundation in Barangay Imugan were also visited. During the visit, Director Bambalan recognized the people's organization for the high percentage of survival of the plantations based on the cross validation conducted ealier by the DENR in August.

 

Impressed with the full support of the LGU to NGP and in response to the request of Mayor Benito, Director Bambalan committed another NGP partnership in Sta. Fe. "Nakita ko na mas mataas ang chances of survival dito. This is a manifestation of your capability to manage our plantations," she said adding how she is amazed by the natural beauty of Sta. Fe having a good forest cover.

 

Director Bambalan also said that while the DENR is beefing up its conservation efforts through the NGP, forest protection is also intensified with the improved partnership with law enforcement agencies, local communities and the cross sectors of the society.

Mayor Benito and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer John D. Simeon also toured Director Bambalan and the DENR Nueva Vizcaya officials to the solid waste management facilities of the local government.

 

PENR officer Edgar T. Martin, Aritao CENR officer Giovannie M. Magat, conservation and development division chief Enrique Q. Pasion and regional NGP coordinator Edmund S. Malupeng accompanied Director Bambalan in the visits.#