DENR inks MOA to co-manage Basey forests

By PURIFICACION S. DALOOS
February 19, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  The forest lands of Basey, Samar shall now be jointly co-managed by the local government of Basey and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The joint undertaking was recently sealed by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the DENR represented by Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual and Mayor Wilfredo O. Estorninos of Basey, Samar.

Covering 15,000 hectares of forest land within 12 villages of Basey town, the co-management agreement recognizes that these forest lands and the resources within are critical to the ecological balance of the watershed, agricultural areas, coastal communities and the sustainable development of the town. The 12 villages identified are Mabini, Inuntan, Guirang, Del Pilar, Loog, Basiao, San Fernando, Catadman, Sugponon, Palaypay, Cambayan, Tiangoan and Capungturan Island.

Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) and Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity resources in the context of sustainable development shall be the development framework of the agreement. It shall likewise be guided by the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) which was drawn up in coordination with the Samar Island Biodiversity Project of the DENR and subsequently approved for adoption by the Sangguniang Bayan of Basey.

In implementing the MOA, the participation of various sectors of society, groups or individuals and stakeholders is encouraged particularly in the protection, development, conservation and sustainable use of the identified forest lands and its resources.

RED Alfredo Pascual reveals that a similar co-management program was successfully implemented in Region 2. “Starting today the management of the forests includes LGUs and other stakeholders,” RED Pascual said in his short message during the MOA signing held at the Basey Municipal Gymnasium. “From hereon, the DENR will strongly consider the vital role of the LGUs in its program implemenation,” Pascual added.

RED Pascual also said that the stand of DENR Secretary Lito Atienza is to help the LGUs as partners of the Department. “The people here know better what programs will be implemented to suit their needs,” said RED Pascual.

Among others, the DENR agreed with the LGU of Basey to simplify requirements and streamline harvesting, permitting and transporting for timber/wood and non-timber, non-wood forestland resources. It shall also assist the LGU in identifying other sources of funds for financial assistance to implement the over P32 million budget under the 5-year investment plan set forth in the FLUP.

For its part, the LGU shall identify areas within the 15,000 forestland that would be delineated as protection forests and production forests. With the assistance of the DENR, the LGU agrees to protect from destructive human activities the 15,000 hectares and the adjoining forest ecosystems within its administrative jurisdiction.

Basey Mayor Wilfredo Estorninos gave his assurance that the joint undertaking will succeed “as we are serious in implementing the co-management scheme.”