The Upper Kibalang Agro-forestry Farmers Association (UKAFA) in Barangay Marilog, Davao City is well on its way at realizing a nursery project that will help its members succeed in implementing a sustainable re-greening project in a 500 –hectare logged over area.
This developed as the Aboitiz-owned Davao Light & Power Co. released last Friday, a financial subsidy to help the association complete a nursery located right in their community. Upper Kibalang is one of the few areas in Davao City that has been designated as site of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR’s) Community-based Forest Management Program (CBFM) area.
Davao Light, according to the company’s Community Relations Department, has entered into an agreement with DENR whereby the former adopts a 500 -hectare area that will be converted into its permanent tree-planting site with a long term objective of developing the place into an Aboitiz Park.
According to the company’s Comrel Department the trees that will be planted, when grown up, are seen to sequester carbon emissions coming from the operation of Davao Light facilities.
The cash grant amounting to P45 thousand will supplement UKAFA’s budget for the setting up of the nursery. Specifically, part of the fund shall be used to buy net to cover the area in the nursery where newly planted seeds are awaited to grow. The money will also help procure planting bags, and even the seeds for planting.
UKAFA officials led by chairman Idilfonso Pama said they hope to supply seedling requirements for succeeding tree planting activities in the 500 hectare area, as well as other groups who would want to buy seedlings for their own tree planting activity.
Davao Light Exec. Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Arturo M. Milan handed over the check to UKAFA chairman Pama. Witnessing the release were DENR’s Fred Zarasate, DENR’s Chief of the Forest Resources Management Division, UKAFA officers Emiliano Payusan and German Arcadio, and Davao Light Comrel Manager Vic Sumalinog.
