New forestry roadmap targets more investors

Expanded national greening program

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is  crafting a Forestry Investment Roadmap with the aim of reviving the ailing industry.

Mailene Laviña, planning and programming section chief of the National Greening Program, said the DENR, together with the Forest Management Bureau, would create a roadmap that will focus on the established plantations from 2011 to 2016.

The said roadmap will be implemented next year and will last through 2028.

“The DENR aims to revive and sustain the forestry sector through the Forestry Investment Roadmap, which will also be an additional economic opportunity for the country, Laviña said.

She said DENR Region 4 Office would anchor its Implementing Rules and Regulations on social justice which is the main thrust of the agency under the leadership of environment advocate Gina Lopez.

“Secretary Lopez said the NGP should become the ring of economic growth. Her concern is the involvement of the civil society organizations, so the contribution of DENR is also in line with poverty alleviation,” Laviña said.

As to how to encourage the CSOs to participate, Laviña said the agency aims to make the expanded NGP “investment-friendly.”

“Right now, harvesting is still prohibited under Executive Order 23,” he said.

“We will ink a partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry with regard to capacitation and trainings and agreement with private sectors, including coming up with certain tenurial instruments good for 25 years to be able to achieve high return of investment,” Lavina said.

Laviña said the DENR really wants to extend assistance so it could also enjoin support of the people in the protection of the country’s natural resources.             

Meanwhile, NGP regional coordinator Annaliza Junsay said aside from providing assistance to the people, the expanded NGP would also be following the principle of convergence and area-based management.

“Following the principle of convergence, we will have tie-ups with other government agencies and CSOs,” Junsay said.

She said the DENR enjoys the support of 135 People’s Organizations spread in the CALABARZON area.             

Junsay likewise stressed the importance of the participation of each Filipino in the development and protection of the country’s forests.

The NGP is an initiative of former DENR secretary Ramon Paje, which aimed to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 billion hectares from 2011-2016. It is now being expanded by Lopez to ensure the program’s sustainability, also taking into consideration the needs of the Filipino people.