DENR Biliran prepares renewal of CSC for ISF

By LANIE PITAO-TUPAZ, PIA Biliran
January 25, 2011

NAVAL, Biliran  –  More than 25 years after “kaingineros” were given the security of tenure by way of giving them the certificate of stewardship contracts (CSC) under the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), its Biliran provincial office has been evaluating these farmers and preparing for the renewal of their contracts some of which has expired in 2009.

Issuance of the the CSCs under the ISF program started in 1984 for 25 years of stewardship renewable if the tiller is found to be qualified.

Forester and designated coordinator of Community Based Forest Management Bonifacio Polinar of DENR-Biliran revealed in a telephone interview the 1,124 beneficiaries of the ISF program in the municipalities of Almeria, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, and Naval who are occupying a total of 1,879.8 hectares of forest lands.

These beneficiaries were once “kaingineros” whose lash-and-burn farming method destroyed the forest and environment, thus, impelled the agency to give them a long term security for 25 years on the lands they till to make them effective agents in food production and in the rehabilitation of forest lands.

The 25 years security of tenure for these “kaingineros” is provided in the Letter of Instructions (LOI) of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos dated July 28, 1982, recognizing the less privileged sectors of the society, the “kaingineros”, and other occupants of forest lands who could be effective partners of the state in economic development.

These farmers were then given capability building trainings, livelihood projects, seeds, and seedlings to meet the mandate of the law.  They were also allowed to utilize 20% the land they till for agricultural crops but 80% of it must be retained for forest trees.

Since DENR-Biliran is still waiting for the guidelines for the renewal of the CSCs, their office under PENRO Herminigildo Jocson, is now evaluating the qualified beneficiaries and the utilization of the lands.