STRENGTHENING LOCAL GOVERNMENT COLLABORATION.

Director Bambalan discussed with Santa Fe Mayor Liwayway Caramat the status of the National Greening Program (NGP) implemented; and the intensification of protecting the Malico's pine forest which is proposed as future ecotourism hub in the municipality.

 

She also appealed for support on forest protection and law enforcement activities along the forest areas where the new Pangasinan-Nueva Vizcaya road is situated. “We earnestly request the assistance from local government officials to help us protect our natural resources, ” the regional environment chief plead.

 

Meanwhile, RED Bambalan talked with Bambang Mayor Benjamin Lloren Cuaresma III on the operations management of the town's sanitary land fill.

 

They also discussed the need for the LGU to secure environmental clearance for development undertaking initiated by the local government to establish a training facility of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority within the agro-ecotourism farm of the LGU.

 

As part of the commitment of Oceana Gold Philippines, Incorporated to reforestation program, they also agreed to identify an NGP site covering 80-100 hectares which will be developed from the tree replacement scheme of the DENR.

 

In 2020, the DENR and major mining companies in the region signed partnerships agreement for the tree replacement program as part of the mining companies' compliance with the terms and conditions of the tree cutting permit issued by the DENR.

 

The permittee is required to replace each tree cut with 100 seedlings of indigenous species.

 

RED Bambalan recommended for this area development initiative in support of the NGP to yield better impact rather than producing, buying and donating seedlings.

 

She also visited the 25-hectare NGP site in Villaflores, Sta. Fe, funded out of the tree replacement requirement of FCF Minerals. “You have to nurture the plantation so that this will become a mini forest later,” she said to the association members while discussing the importance of protecting the area.

 

The 15-hectare plantation in Nagcuartelan, Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya was also visited during the NGP site monitoring.#