The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 has recognized Don Mariano Perez Consumer’s Cooperative (DMPCC), a People’s Organization (PO) in Diffun, Quirino, as 2022 best Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) implementer.

 

Awarded during the CBFM Regional PO Summit cum Trade Fair on Sept. 22 in Tuguegarao City, the DMPCC bested over 100 CBFM organizations in the region after garnering 96% performance rating based on Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Technical Bulletin No. 18 known as “Documentation of Good Practices in Forest Resource Management.” The selection criteria focus on the CBFM project impacts in environmental, economic, and social aspects.

 

The CBFM is implemented as a national strategy to achieve sustainable forestry and social justice as embodied in Executive Order No. 263 s. 1995.

 

“One of the CBFM objectives is to increase the income of upland communities through livelihood activities that support the enhancement of our natural resources,” said DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan as she commended the PO members for the gains of the project through their good practices for over 2 decades.

 

The DMPCC has been helping the community to uplift its economic condition through enterprise development and agroforestry establishment. “Bahagi po ng aming CBFM area ang Ganano Sub-watershed na pinakikinabangan ng nakararami sa probinsiya ng Quirino kaya nagsisipag po kami para mapangalagaan ito,” said Lito Bannagao, DMPCC chairperson.

 

Among other recognized CBFM POs sustaining forest management good practices were Federation of Vista Hills, Kalongkong, and Kakilingan Upland Farmers Assosciation, Inc. in Nueva Vizcaya; Tumauini Upland Farmers Greeners Association, Inc. in Isabela; and Three Diamonds Upland Farmers and Developers Association in Cagayan.

 

Director Bambalan encouraged the PO forest managers to prepare for the evolving challenges in CBFM implementation brought about by climate change. She said the CBFM is one of the programs that support the President’s call to improve agricultural productivity through agroforestry plantation establishment.

 

The regional environment chief also directed technical field officials to extend assistance to the POs for a science-based crop production as climate change mitigating measure. “We need to adapt to the new climate situation. We have to revisit the kind of crops we plant and follow planting calendar,” she advised.

 

In his message, FMB Director Tirso Parian said the bureau is currently updating the CBFM strategic plan for CY 2023-2032 to review programs and policies that are suitable for and adaptable to the changing climate.

 

Meanwhile, Undersecretary for Field Operations and Environment Juan Miguel Cuna thanked the POs for supporting the DENR not only in enriching the environment but also in improving the country’s economic development through their livelihood activities.

 

Aside from exchanging forest resource management good practices during the summit, the POs were equipped with organizational and marketing strategies to further empower their associations.

 

Renmark Marcelo, a specialist from the Department of Trade and Industry taught the participants on packaging development, labeling of products, and other marketing strategies; while Yakap Kalikasan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Pilipinas, Inc. Project Development Director Janet Martires strengthened the POs by teaching them on how to develop a resilient and more functional CBFM-PO governance.

 

In the two-day summit, a trade fair was launched showcasing various products such as fruits, vegetables, furnitures, handicrafts, softbrooms, coffee, fruit wine, and other processed goods in support of the organizations’ livelihood.

 

The Summit was also graced by Cagayan State University President Urdujah Alvarado, National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Dionisio Ledres Jr., representatives from other government agencies and local government units and DENR officials and personnel.#

In its 1st Regional Grazing Management Stakeholders Forum, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 has eyed grazing areas potential for ensuring food security and climate change resiliency through a science-based grazing management approach.

 

“We initiated the conduct of this forum to help our government in its efforts to increase social and economic development and mitigate the impact of climate change,” said Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR as she appealed for active involvement of FLGMA holders and government agencies towards an improved grazing management in the region.

 

The forum with the theme, “Ensuring Food Security and Climate Change Resiliency through Science-Based Grazing Management” aims to expand the benefits of grazing areas not only to improve the environment ecological functions and services but also to increase the yield of raising cattle, meat supply and dairy products which are mostly dependent from a well-managed grazing lands.

 

"The Philippines is an agricultural country and yet we are importing goods and other services. Inasmuch as the DENR is concerned, we have to capacitate our FLGMA holders of what better way they can improve management of their cattle and other grazing animals to become healthier and more productive," the regional environment chief added.

 

As the DENR is now implementing a science-based and climate-proof management in all of its priority programs, an interagency effort will be in the forefront to extend technical assistance for the grazing land owners.

 

Through the summit, the ranchers were empowered to maintain their grazing areas teaching them with the new technologies and climate-resilient methods of raising their livestock more profitable.

 

Dr. Charles Lim, President of Isabela Cattle Raiser Multipurpose Cooperative who served as keynote speaker, shared his experiences and practices he gained from visiting ranches both in the region and abroad. “Cattle farming has a lot of challenges. There were times for business loss. I incurred high maintenance but gave me low profit in return because only the middle-class buyer earns more. Until I practice fattening method for our cattle so that we can sell them for higher price,” said Dr. Lim.

 

In his message during the ranch visit in San Pablo town, Gov. Rodito Albano III of Isabela supported for the unified collaboration of all FLGMA holders in the region recognizing the need to address food security and the capacity of ranchers in livestock production. "We established hectares of Napier plantation that yielded an increase in our cattle production," he said as he related best practices and success stories on grazing management.

 

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor who represented Gov. Manuel Mamba of Cagayan stressed to protect the forestlands to sustainably provide ample food supply and other livelihood opportunities.

 

In Region 2, there are 51 active FLGMA holders who have at least 4,584 cattle recorded in their respective grazing lands covering a total of 9,122.45 hectares, as of Sept. 12, this year.

 

In the forum, resource speakers discussed grazing lands interventions such as livestock meat supply and demand and food requirement in Region 2 by Regional Director Marilyn Estrada of Philippine Statistics Authority; cattle and forage production by Veterinarian Jake Casbalido of Quirino Experimental Station; animal movement for domestic and international cattle by Regional Veterinary Quarantine Officer Benjamin Ike Paguyo of Bureau of Animal Industry Veterinary Quarantine Services; and dairy products technology transfer by Executive Director Liza Battad of Philippine Carabao Center in Nueva Ecija.

Update on latest grazing management policies were explained by DENR Enforcement Division Chief Joel Daquioag and Corporate Industrial Forestry Section Chief Ina Karissa Tobias of the Forest Management Bureau. Also, practical livestock handling and rancher’s champion were presented by Clod Firme and Richard Tan, both ranch experts.

 

The forum was also graced by Assistant Regional Director Marcos Dacanay, Conservation and Division Chief Eric Pasion; Regional Director Narciso Edillo of the Department of Agriculture; Tuguegarao City Councilor Reynaldo Ortiz representing Mayor Maila Rosario Ting-Que; and Santiago City ENR Officer Mario De Guzman representing Mayor Alyssa Sheena Tan. It was spearheaded by the DENR Licenses, Patents and Deeds Division headed by Engr. Remedios Pauig.

 

The participants especially the grazing management holders greatly appreciated the forum and requested to regularly conduct this kind of activity and to have related presentation from financial institutions. With their support including the other partner-agencies and institutions, the creation of the regional ranchers association was planned.

 

They also envision Region 2 to be one of the successful cattle industries with improved, quality and high production of dairy products.

 

As agreed during the summit, development activities transforming the FLGMA operations into viable grazing enterprise will be formally tackled in the next interface as proposed bi-annual meeting be done soon after the ranchers association shall have been formalized.

 

The FLGMA is a production sharing agreement between a qualified person, association and/or corporation and the government to develop, manage and utilize grazing lands. It has a term for 25 years and renewable for another 25 years.#

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has recognized the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 for obtaining Maturity Level 2 in four core areas of Program to Institutionalize Meritocracy and Excellence in Human Resource Management (PRIME-HRM).

 

These core areas include recruitment, selection and placement; learning and development; performance management; and rewards and recognition.

 

In her message during the recent awarding ceremony, Regional Executive Director (RED) Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR expressed her gratitude to the Commission for the accreditation of the Department’s PRIME-HRM Maturity Level II or process defined in all core areas.

 

She emphasized that having an excellent human resource is an assurance of excellent service delivery to the people. “I believe in the power of PRIME-HRM to transform public service. We uphold innovative, strategic and more systematic human resource management programs to fulfill our obligation to conserve and develop our natural resources,” Director Bambalan said.

 

Under the leadership of RED Bambalan, the Department has crafted customized guidelines and mechanisms to ensure equality, diversity, fairness and transparency in recruitment, selection and placement.

 

Human resource interventions through learning and development program were provided for continuous improvement on performance where all employees are given at least one learning and development intervention per year.

 

The performance of the offices from the region down to the field and the performance of every individual is regularly assessed and monitored.

 

Through the rewards and recognition program, outstanding and high performing employees are recognized.

Aside from these milestones, DENR Region 2 developed automated systems to promote transparency and improve efficiency at work.

 

“We in the DENR Region 2 will remain steadfast in our pursuit for excellent human resource management to provide the highest quality of service to the public,” the regional environment chief emphasized.

 

The awarding of the certificate of recognition was held during the 2022 Parangal at Pasasalamat Regional Recognition Rites of the CSC in celebration of its 122nd Anniversary graced by CSC Commissioner Atty. Ryan Alvin Acosta.

 

DENR Region 2 is one of the16 agencies and local government units accredited for HR Maturity Level 2.

 

Joining the RED during the awarding ceremony were Assistant Regional Executive Director Ismael Manaligod and Administrative Division Chief Patricia Liban.

 

PRIME-HRM is a mechanism that empowers government agencies by developing their human resource management competencies, systems, and practices toward HR excellence. It entails greater engagement not just of the human resource management officer but also of the officials and the rank-and-file employees of the agency.#

In an interagency effort to promote bamboo for environmental and economic development in Region 2, a simultaneous bamboo planting activity was conducted today in line with the celebration of Philippine Bamboo Month and World Bamboo Day.

 

With the theme “Industriyang Kawayan, Para sa Paglago ng Ekonomiya at Kalikasan,” the bamboo growing activity was spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with national government agencies and other institutions.

 

More or less 33,000 bamboo seedlings and propagules were planted by government employees and other volunteers covering a total of 189 hectares in 27 sites in the entire region.

 

Of the total sites, the DENR planted more than 7,000 in 16 sites covering a total of nearly 40 hectares.

 

“We promote bamboo because this is proven effective climate change mitigating crop. Bamboo plantations are carbon sinks and aid riverbank stabilization,” said DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan during the program briefing before the planting activity held in Lannig, Solana, Cagayan.

 

She added growing bamboos are source of livelihood and can eventually boost economic development through the production of bamboo lumber which is now considered a growing industry. “We look forward that Region 2 will soon become supplier of bamboo lumber to our neighboring regions,” she hoped.

 

DTI Regional Director Leah Pulido-Ocampo claimed that with the interagency efforts in promoting the bamboo industry, both the environment and the economy will be restored.

 

“Let us make Cagayan Valley Region more vibrant and we aim for a more sustained participation in the bamboo value chain globally,” the Director enthused.

 

For the part of the Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Director Joel Gonzales committed to deploy graduates from their Government Internship Program for the monitoring and maintenance of the planted bamboos.

 

“Bamboo is a sustainable alternative resource for wood and it has a great potential in addressing economic needs,” said Cagayan Provincial Administrator Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor who also supported the activity on behalf of Governor Manuel Mamba.

 

Solana Mayor Jennalyn Carag represented by municipal ENRO Mary Jane Camayang also supported the growing of bamboo in Solana town.

 

Aside from the government agencies, partners who joined the activity regionwide include local government units, members of the academe, people’s organizations and other non-government organizations.#