DAVAO ORIENTAL— Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, representing the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, and falcata farmers who are the program beneficiaries have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) strengthening the implementation of the Provincial Government’s flagship program in restoring forest resources while providing sustainable livelihood called the Nagkakaisang Lingkod-Bayan ng Davao Oriental Forest Landscape Restoration for Sustainable Development (NLD-FLRSD).
The ceremony held on Wednesday, March 4, at the Honey’s Hotel, City of Mati saw the attendance of the program beneficiaries from Barangay Don Mariano Marcos and Barangay Marayag in Lupon town, Barangay Don Salvador Lopez in the City of Mati, and Barangay Maputi, Batobato, and Sto. Rosario in the Municipality of San Isidro.
As stated in the agreement, the recipients will be provided with technical and financial assistance in the planting falcata in their farmlands. Financial assistance covers seedling production, plantation establishment, and plantation maintenance. In seedling production, recipients are provided with falcata seeds and poly-bags. Fertilizers will also be given under the plantation maintenance. Aside from that, the beneficiaries will also undergo training on how to grow falcata.
Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) Head, EnP, Ms. Dolores Valdesco, said that the program implementation has already started last year, following its institutionalization in 2018 through Provincial Executive Order No. 10. As defined in the order, NLD-FLRSD is “the provincial approach to ensure inclusive and sustainable development of the province’s forest resources and of the local communities in harmony with the national greening program and with global forest targets anchored on the united nation’s sustainable development goals.”
Governor Dayanghirang said that as the price of falcata has gone up, this will be advantageous for farmers when the harvest time comes. “The government has supported this program but it is in your hands to make it prosper,” he said.
While the province will conduct regular evaluation and monitoring on the recipients’ progress, Gov. Dayanghirang urged them to maintain and protect the said project as a way to combat climate change. “It is not the job of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources alone to preserve nature. Protecting the nature is our shared responsibility,” he added. By Riza M. Golez/ Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
