DENR allots P357 M for Central Luzon reforestation

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has earmarked P357 million for the reforestation and rehabilitation of watersheds in Central Luzon.

Maximo Dichoso, executive director of the DENR here, said the money will be used for the National Greening Program (NGP) to increase the forest cover of Central Luzon.

“Our region is vulnerable to strong typhoons and we are bracing for the worst. Increasing our forest cover is one of our best defenses,” Dichoso said.

He said about 20,000 hectares of forestlands, watersheds, riverbanks and urban areas are earmarked for reforestation this year, double last year’s target of 10,204 hectares.

The province of Tarlac will get the biggest chunk of the budget with P67 million; followed by Nueva Ecija, P52 million; Bataan, P51 million; Aurora, P50 million; Bulacan, P50 million; Zambales, P49 million; and Pampanga, P35 million.

More than 12,000 hectares of public lands in Central Luzon have been planted with 7.5 million seedlings of forest and fruit trees, mangrove propagules, nipa seedlings and bamboo cultivars, Dichoso said.

The DENR also aims to rehabilitate at least 44,000 hectares of forestlands at the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed in Nueva Ecija through the 10-year Forest Management Program, which is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Executive Order 23, which created the anti-illegal logging task force, resulted in the confiscation of 258,427 board feet of assorted forest contraband and conveyances worth at least P6 million in Central Luzon.

Four persons were also convicted for illegal logging last year, bringing to 22 the number of illegal loggers convicted for violation of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines.