The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Digos City, Davao del Sur is set to embrace another public-private partnership (PPP) with a mining firm which signified to adopt an almost 2,000-hectare community-based forestry management area in two municipalities of Davao del Sur.
DENR regional executive director Jim O. Sampulna said the adoption by the Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) of two CBFM areas in Kiblawan and Matanao of the province is a welcome development for DENR in line with its reforestation program.
Sampulna told Davao media n an interview last week that SMI would be like to be a foster parent to the communities that would not only engage in reforestation program but would also take care of the well-being and livelihood of the residents.
He said this endeavor would improve President Benigno Aquino’s National Greening Program in the province.
Provincial environment and natural resources officer Adonis Rico said SMI plans to adopt CBFM areas in Barangay Balasiao, in Kiblawan and Barangay Dongan Pekong in Matanao where the mining firm is proposing infrastructure components for its Tampakan Copper-Gold project in South Cotabato.
Rico explained that the three-year (2011-2014) duration of the adopt-a-CBFM program would take up reforestation, improvement of the communities’ livelihood, environmental protection and as an effective steward of the environment.
The program would be implemented by the peoples’ organizations Balasiao Integrated Social Forestry Association (BALISFA) in Kiblawan and Dongan Pekong Tree Farmers Association, Inc. in Matanao, according to Rico.
“We really need the PPP to roll the seriousness of the program,” he told stakeholders, referring to the NGP during the supposed signing of emmorandum of agreement (MoA) involving SMI, DENR and the provincial local government unit.
However, the anticipated MOA signing last week was deferred due to the refusal of Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas to affix his signature, asserting that he wanted a bigger responsibility for the provincial government to undertake in this partnership.
“I don’t want to be a mere decoration in this agreement,” Cagas said, referring to some provisions of the MOA as to the role of the LGU which were not yet clear to him.
However, the governor said during the aborted MOA at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall that he supports the project except for that some some provisions need to be ironed ou first.
Cagas stressed the need for his support and close involvement with the adopt-a-CBFM project, and he called for an intensified reforestation program to address the concern on landslides.
He said Davao del Sur is among the top five landslide prone provinces in the country, citing the municipalities of Kiblawan, Sulop, Matanao, Don Marcelino, Sta. Maria and Jose Abad Santos as landslide-prone areas.
“We need a budget for the reforestation of thousands of hectares in the province,” he said. [Carina L. Cayon]
Cameron Pocknee, SMI’s safety, health and environment manager, said reforestation is a significant event of SMI citing their stakeholders’ great interest in reforestation.
Pocknee said SMI is willing to negotiate an agreement on the terms in the MOA with DENR and LGU, adding “Hopefully, we can the MOA.”
During the discussion, Sampulna suggested that SMI grow robusta coffee plants in the areas which he said is a more lucrative undertaking for the communities.
He added that the project should be long-term and sustainable to cover improvement of the economic, social and spiritual aspects of the people in the areas.
Sampulna noted that SMI is the first mining firm to engage in the adopt-a-CBFM project in the region.
