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FOREST MANAGEMENT SERVICES
 For
CY 2007 the Forest Management Services has significantly implemented programs
and projects vital for the conservation, rehabilitation and proper management
of our country’s natural resources by tapping the assistance and support of
other government agencies, local government units, peoples
organizations and private individuals. The following were the major
activities undertaken during the year.
a.
Management of Forest Lands and Forest
Resources
1. Green Philippines Program
In support of the PGMA’s
Green Philippines Program; TREES FOR LIFE; TWENTY MILLION SEEDLINGS FOR PLANTING with the mission
to mitigate climate change, insure water supply security, conserve
biodiversity, establish agroforestry, provide
livelihood opportunity, sustain supply of forest-based raw materials and the
production of alternative source of fuels,
the Region shared the responsibility by targeting 1,482,734 seedlings
to be planted instead of 1.25 million seedlings as target distributed per
region. Out of the total target,
447,692 seedlings were sourced out from the regular fund of the region while
1,035,042 seedlings were produced in collaboration and coordination with the
different stakeholders. These include
the LGUs, Non-Government Organizations, Peoples
Organization and private sectors and individuals.
 For the year, the Region planted a total of 1,504,355 seedlings out of the target of 1,482,734
covering 1,132.78 hectares and 109
kilometer strips in the four thematic areas namely, Protected , Critical
Watershed and open lands (377,618 seedlings planted covering 147.04 hectares
and 5 kilometer strips), Agroforestry Areas and
Fruit Trees (292,404 seedlings
covering 218.55 hectares) and Urban Parks, Green Campuses, Camps &
Subdivisions with (182,803) seedlings planted by concerned stakeholders. Those areas funded by DENR were maintained
and protected by the concerned contractors while those areas with Memoranda
of Agreement were maintained and protected by the concerned parties and being
monitored by the region.
The Regional and Provincial launchings in the
four (4) thematic areas awakened the consciousness of the general public on
the need of planting trees and the value these trees would bring to the
environment especially on the issues of climate change, global warming and
environmental degradation.
The Province of Aklan
has a total target of 111,054 seedlings and planted a total seedlings of
111,604 of which 91,650 for the Protected Areas, Critical Watershed and open
lands covering 53.0 hectares, 8,354 seedlings for the Agroforestry
covering 15.30 hectares, 6,600 seedlings for Urban Parks, Green Campuses,
Camps and Subdivision covering 6.75 hectares, 5,000 seedlings for Mangrove
and Coastal covering 4.50 hectares.
 The
Green Philippines Program
for the four (4) thematic areas were completely launched by the
DENR, Province
of Aklan. The theme PA/Watershed and open forest
lands was launched on August 30, 2007 at Tangalan
River Watershed in Barangay Panakuyan,
Tangalan with Mayor Gene Fuentes, Vice Mayor Jed TIrol, Regional GPP Focal Person Salvador Manglinong, Jr. and RTD Rainer Ecang
leading the guest list of officials.
The launching of mangrove areas was held in New Buswang,
Kalibo, Aklan
on September 19, 2007 with Vice-Mayor Nilda Tambong PNP Provincial Director Durana
and Atty. Allen Quimpo former Congressman of Aklan as guest officials.
The Green Campus thematic area was launched in Aklan State University,
Brgy. Calangcang, Makato on September 28, 2007 led by Mayor Ramon Legaspi, Jr. The
agro-forestry and fruit trees thematic area was held on December 14, 2007 at Brgy. Julita, Libacao and participated by CBFM PO’s, Schools, PNP and Barangay Officials.
In the province
of Antique, the total
target was 216,912 seedlings and 248,621 seedlings were made available, 115%
accomplishment. The total seedlings
planted were 392,667 covering 165.93 hectares with 3,373 planters. For the Protected Areas, Critical Watershed
and Open Lands (40,324) covering 37 hectares, Agroforestry
Areas and Fruit Trees (73,087) covering 56 hectares, Urban Parks, Green
Campuses, Camps and subidivision 6,845 seedlings
covering 11.66 hectares and in Mangrove and Coastal Areas (272,411) seedlings
covering 61.27 hectares.
 The
launching was conducted on August 29, 2007 in the municipality of Pandan. There were 21,120 seedlings planted in two
(2) sites. In Barangay
Aracay, 11,120 Narra
seedlings were planted covering an area of ten (10) hectares while in Barangay San Juan 10,000, Narra
seedlings were planted covering another ten (10) hectares.
In the province of Capiz, it has a total
target of 131,438 seedlings and subsequently it has produced 133,253
seedlings. The total seedlings planted
were 86,513 seedlings covering 55.67 hectares in four thematic areas. For the Protected Areas, Critical Watershed
and Open Lands (13,815) covering 7.52, Agroforestry
Aeras and Fruit tres
(29,225) covering 18 hectares, Urban Parks, Ground Campuses and Subdivision
(42,848) covering 29.15 hectares, Mangrove and Coastal Areas (625) covering 1
hectare. The Launching was conducted
on August 24, 2007. The planted seedlings
totaled to 1,300 covering 6.52 hectares located at Barangay
Codingle and Agsirab, Dumarao, Capiz.
In the province of Iloilo it has a total target of
254,285 seedlings and were able to produce 270,385
seedlings. The total seedlings planted
were 270,405 seedlings covering 547.36 hectares in four thematic areas. For the Protected Areas, Critical Watershed
and Open Lands (154,925) covering 7.32 hectares, Agorforestry
Areas and Fruit Trees (4,180) covering 22 hectares, Urban Park, Green
Campuses, Camps and Subdivision (88,300) covering 500.04 hectares and
Mangrove and Coastal Areas (25,000) covering 18 hectares.
The launching
was held at Barangay Gutao,
Moroboro, Dingle on August
30, 2007 wherein the participants planted 200 seedlings of Kamandiis and Kobi.
 In
the province of
Guimaras
the total target was 412,174 seedlings.
The total seedlings planted were 366,264 covering 119.54 hectares and
90.80 kilometers. For the Protected
Areas, Critical Watersheds and Open Lands (2,000) covering 1 hectare, Agroforestry Areas and Fruit Trees (8,590) covering 3.44 hectares, Urban Parks, Green Campuses,
Camps and subdivision (26,810) seedlings covering 11.88 hectares and in
Mangrove and Coastal areas (328,864) seedlings covering 103.22 hectares.
The province
of Guimaras
conducted its Provincial Launching of the Green Philippines Program under the
Protected Areas Thematic Theme on September 1, 2007 in Barangay Hoskyn,
Jordan, Guimaras. The
activity was realized with the financial, material and manpower supports from
SMART Communications, Inc. as well as support and cooperation from the Barangay Council of Hoskyn Fisherfolks Association, Inc. (HOFAI). The activity was highlighted by a mangrove
planting inside an area of 2.25 hectares or equivalent to 10,000 propagules. The
planters were composed of 158 participants from executive and employees of
SMART Communication, Inc. from Manila, Cebu and
Iloilo, DENR regional and provincial executives and staff headed by RTD
Alicia L. Lustica and PENRO Oscar Oliveros, students from San Agustin University and
Western VIsayas College of Arts and Sciences, barangay officials of Hoskyn
and teachers of Hoskyn Elementary School. Likewise, a Memorandum of Understanding was
signed during the activity between DENR PENRO Guimaras,
SMART Communications, Inc., Barangay Council of Hoskyn, Jordan and Hoskyn
Fisherfolks Association.
In the province of Negros Occidental, the total
target was 307,247 seedlings and planted a total of 314,902 seedlings
covering 164.73 hectares and 5 kilometer strips in the four thematic areas
broken down as follows: Protected Areas, Critical Watersheds and Open Lands
(74,904) covering 41.20 hectares, Agroforestry
Areas and Fruit Trees (168,968) covering 103.81 hectares, Urban Parks, Green
Campuses, Camps and subdivision (11,400) seedlings covering 9.90 hectares and
5 kilometer strips and in Mangrove and Coastal areas (59,630) seedlings
covering 9.82 hectares.
2. Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting
In the strengthening of Forest Information System (FIS), the
Region maintained the 18 installed Forest Information Program in the
different offices regionwide. The program was operationalized in the Region Office and provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental. In the province of Guimaras, the updating was
done by manual entry form due to technical problem in its computer, 100%
accomplishment. Likewise, the Region,
in coordination with the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) conducted a refresher
Training on the Operationalization of the Forestry
Information System Component on November 27-28, 2007 held at Iloilo Grand
Hotel, Iloilo City.
It was participated
by 37 personnel from the
Region Office, and provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo
, Guimaras and Negros
Occidental handling the FIS in their respective offices. Moreover, the Region
facilitated the procurement of thirteen (13) units of computers distributed
to the Region and CENROs including PENRO Guimaras purposely for the use of FIS. The budget was provided
by the Forest Management Bureau funded by the International Tropical Timber
Organization (ITTO).
3. Generation/Collection of Revenues/Fees/Dues
In the generation/collection of revenues/fees/dues, the Region generated
a total of P2,262,218.87 revenues/fees/dues. These
fees were collected as fees and forest charges for the use of forest products
and the land itself.
4. Licensing
For licensing, the Region had processed and acted a total of 7,822
applications for CY 2007. These were  applications
for permit to transport forest products, Certificate of Registration of Chainsaws and
Registration of Lumber Dealers and Resaw Permits.
Most of these applications came form the province of Aklan where the
sources of forest products came from the different municipalities.
5. Scaling/Re-scaling
Under scaling/re-scaling activities, the Region had re-scaled a total of 8,482.78 cu.m. and scaled 88,158.92
cu.m for CY 2007. The scaling was done in
forest products generated from private plantations and those with appropriate
tenurial instrument in the region to determine
their legality while being transported and re-scaling was done in the lumber
shipment of forest products coming from other regions.
b.
Plantation
Establishment, Maintenance and
Protection
1. Plantation
Establishment
For CY 2007, the Region has a total target of 98
hectares for plantation establishment of which 55 hectares were under the new
contracts while 43 hectares were contracted in late December 2006. At the end of the year, these contracted
areas were fully planted, 100% accomplishment. These 55 hectare forest plantations were
located in Brangay San Jose, Ibajay,
Aklan covering 10 hectares and contracted by CHeril Balinario; in Barangay Aracay, Pandan, Antique covering 10 hectares and contracted by Josue Sabino; in Barangay
Tugaslon, Alimodian,
Iloilo covering 21 hectares contracted by the LGU of Alimodian
and in Barangay Kumaliskis,
Don Salvador Benedicto covering 3 hectares and
contracted by the Barangay Council of Kumaliskis represented by Ma. Fe Agravante
and 11 hectares contracted by the Barangay Council
of Pinowayan, Don Salvador Benedicto
in Negros Occidental.
2. Plantation
Maintenance and Protection
On area maintained, a total of 569 hectares was continually maintained by
the Region or 88% accomplishment for  CY
2007. The activities done were
brushing, ring weeding and foot patrolling in the newly planted areas. The
low accomplishment was due to the 75 hectares contracted by the Local
Government of Dumalag, Capiz
which was damaged by the typhoon in CY 2006.
The area was not yet re-planted due to changes in political leadership
in the said municipality. The issue was already addressed by the
management during its Regional
Management Conference held on December
3-4, 2007 and corresponding recommendations were already made. Expectedly, these recommendations will take
effect in the early part of the 1st quarter of CY 2008.
3. Seedling Production
At the end of the year, there
were 139,384 seedlings of various tree species produced, around 120% of the
target. Out of these seedlings
produced, 109,584 are being credited as backlogs of CY 2006.
c. Forest Protection Program
Law enforcement is very crucial activity in Forest Management Sector
which needs manpower, detailed information and rigid documentation in terms of
surveillance, investigation and the filing of case as the need arises.
Under Protection of Untenured Forest Areas, a total of 264,016.86
hectares was the subject of protection activities of the region. In line with this, 90 ground surveillances
were conducted by the forest rangers which were assigned into twenty six (26)
patrol sectors.
Likewise, 19 chokepoints were
maintained in the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental in order to regulate  the
flow of the forest products and also to minimize illegal transport of forest
products with the involvement of the Philippine National Police and Local
Government Units. For the province
of Capiz,
these chokepoints are located in Barangays Culasi, Roxas City
and Poblacion, Ivisan, Capiz. For the province
of Iloilo, these are located in the
municipalities of Guimbal, Santa Barbara, Zarraga
and Janiuay.
For the province of Negros Occidental these
are being maintained in Mandalagan, Sum-ag, Mansilingan
Bacolod City, Silay and Crossing
Messing Bago, Barangay Punao, San Carlos, Barangay Jonob-jonob Escalante
City, Crossing F1, Sagay City, Crossing
Cadiz City,
Brgy. XX1 Victorias City, Cauayan Town Proper and Brgy. Cartagena,
Sipalay
City.
Eleven (11) community fire
brigades/crews were strengthened/mobilized in the province of Antique in order to augment the police
force of the Office. These are located in the Barangay
Barusbus, Libertad, Brgy. Osorio Culasi,
Brgy Tuno Tibiao. Barangay Haguichikan, Laua-an Brgy
San Andres, Culasi, Brgy. Alujipan, Culasi, Brgy. Buenavista Culasi, Brgy.
Paningayan, Culasi, Brgy. Aningalan, San Remegio, Brgy. Tordesillas, Sibalom, Brgy. Imparayan Sibalom.
Three (3) hotspot areas in the province
of Iloilo were neutralized located
in Iloilo City
Wharf, Calinog
and Lambunao, Iloilo.
Seven (7) Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection
Committees were strengthened in the Region Office and in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras and Negros
Occidental. These MFPCs
are composed of inter-agency representatives who discussed possible measures
in the protection of the remaining forest. In line with this, the Region
conducted three (3) series of trainings on forest protection concerning
environmental laws, rules and regulations and one (1) Forest Protection Summit in order to
update the members on the new guidelines on forest protection as well as on
environmental laws, rules and regulations. These trainings were the following;
Training of the Peoples Organization (POs) coming from Nabas, Malay and Buruanga, Aklan and Libertad Pandan, Antique as Wildlife Enforcement Officers (WEO)
and prospective Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officers. The training was conducted on June 26-27,
2007 participated by 60 participants held in Jawili Training Center,
Tangalan, Aklan. It was
conceptualized considering that the area of Northwest Panay Peninsula
Natural Park
has still vast of forest resources but it is now facing all sort of human
destructions. The Office believes
that there is a need to educate and empower the people living to the adjacent
forest lands to protect and conserve the natural resources therein.
Enhancement Training of Forest Officers in Panay
on Forestry and Related Environmental Laws, Rules and Regulations held at DepEd
Regional Education
Learning Center,
Duran street. Iloilo
City on August 22-23,
2007. It was participated
by 75 participants composed of Foresters and Forest Rangers. The two (2) day training was conducted
purposely to develop competence of Forest Protection Officers in carrying out
their responsibilities and likewise, to identify issues and concerns in the
implementation of forest protection activities within their area of
jurisdiction. Based on the issues and
concerns identified by the participants, an action plan was formulated to
serve as a guide for the conduct of intensive forest protection activities in
the Region.
Training of some members of CBFM/ISF Peoples Organization of Libacao, Madalag and Malinao Aklan as a Prospective
Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officers was held at Jawili
Training Center,
Tangalan, Aklan
on September 20-21, 2007.
A total
of 23 participants attended the said training ,
equivalent to 400 participants. The main objective of the training was to
appraise and equip some members of the POs and ISF beneficiaries within the
DENR projects in Madalag, Malinao
and Libacao with the latest policies and
regulations of the DENR to effectively protect and conserve the
remaining forest resources within the said municipalities.
A
Regional Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Summit
was held at CAP building, San Jose,
Antique on November 19, 2007. This was
conducted to foster awareness among stakeholders of forestland areas of the
region and to muster support and cooperation, protection and preserving our
forest resources. Likewise, it was
conducted to address prevailing issues and concerns in the implementation of
forest protection activities. The summit was participated by 75 participants
equivalent to 570 participant hours composed of the Regional Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee, Provincial and
Municipal Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection
Committee, heads and representatives of the Local Government Units, National
Government Agencies, Non-government Organizations, Private Sector and Civil
Society.
A
total of 139.76 cu.m. of forest products
was seized during the year composed of lumber, casco,
banca, logs , charcoal and 128 pieces of rattan and
765 rattan splits and 91.65 cu.m. assorted forest products were confiscated broken down as
lumber/logs (57.93 cu.m), lumber (25.83 cu.m.) boat hull (7.89 cu.m) and
finished products composed of 1 set round table, 1 set oval table, 2 sets
matrimonial bed in the Province
of Capiz and
2 rocking chair, 3 side table, 5 center table, 9 oval dining table, 2
round dining table, 90 dining chairs and 15
pieces standard Cleopatra.
d.
Community Based Forestry Program
1. Agroforestry Development
Under Agroforestry
Development, a total of 89 hectares was developed for CY 2007. These areas were planted with forest and
fruit trees and also cash crops like peanuts and pineapple. Under the new
plantation, 69 hectares were established and 12 hectares were planted under
supplemental fund for CY 2006. These
plantations were established in the identified DA-DAR-DENR Convergence sites
located in Barangay Rosal,
Libacao, Aklan (15 hectares),
Barbaza Antique (21) hectares), Barangay
Traciano and Barangay Tabun-acan, Pilar (16
hectares), Barangay Nazuni,
Dingle (22 hectares) and Barangay Talacdan, Cauayan, Negros Occidental (16 hectares )
2. Orientation Workshop on CBFM
strategic Plan Preparation
An Orientation Workshop on CBFM Strategic Plan Preparation was conducted
by Central Office personnel at Iloilo Grand Hotel last September 17-18, 2007
participated by 39 personnel from DENR Regional Office, PENR Officers,
Planning Officers, and CBFM Peoples Organization. A Provincial CBFM Strategic
Planning Workshop was conducted at Jawili Training
Center, Tangalan, Aklan
for the provinces of Aklan, Antique and Capiz last September 25-28, 2007. It was attended by 69 participants from the DENR Regional Office, PENROs
and CENROs
of Aklan, Antique and Capiz,
Local Government Units, Non-government Organizations, Peoples Organizations
and Academic Institutions. Likewise,
the Provincial Strategic Planning Workshop for the provinces of Iloilo, Guimaras and Negros Occidental
was conducted on October 19-22, 2007, spearheaded by RTD Rainer M. Ecang to come up with the respective 10-year CBFM
Provincial Strategic Plan of the above mentioned provinces.
3. Capability Building of CBFM and other Community Forestry Programs
The Region conducted a training on Natural Farming Systems to the
Agrarian Reform Community
- Beneficiaries of Barangay Sebaste, Sibunag, Guimaras on November 27-29, 2007 and Barangay
Nazuni, Dingle, Iloilo on November 17-18, 2007. The trainings were conducted as a continued
technical support of the agency to the People’s Organization in CBFM areas in
the region.
It has also conducted Leadership and Livelihood Training to ISF
Beneficiaries of Barangay Sinugbuhan,
San Joaquin, Iloilo.
e. Soil Conservation and Watershed
Management
Under Watershed Characterization, three (3) watershed areas were
characterized for
2007 simultaneously with the preparation of the respective
watershed management plan. These were
the Mambusao River Watershed in Mambusao,
Capiz which was started in late December of 2006 and Aganan and Tigum River Watershed in Iloilo Province,
100% accomplishment.
Mambusao
River Watershed covers a total area of 44,815.14 hectares covering the municipalities of Mambusao (26 barangays with
11,870 hectares) Jamindan (29 barangays
with 22,160 hectares), Sigma (21 barangays with
10,170 hectares), Dao (2 barangays with 615.14
hectares)
The Aganan
River Watershed covers a total of approximate
area of 32,306.25 hectares encompassing portions of 8 municipalities namely Alimodian, Maasin and the City
of Iloilo
while Tigum Watershed has a total area of
25618.4607 hectares covering 5 municipalities namely, Cabatuan,
Maasin, Janiuay.
The conduct of watershed characterization was
done by the team from the concerned offices in close coordination  with
the covered municipalities and barangays.
f.
Land Classification
For the delineation of
forest lands, a total of 620.382
kilometers was delineated for
CY 2007 or 101% accomplishment against
the annual target of 613 kilometers.
These were conducted in the municipalities of Ajuy,
Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Lemery, San Enrique, San Rafael, Sara. It is expected that the province of Iloilo
will be completely delineated this coming CY 2008 once the needed budget will
be made available.
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