DAR-Agusan Norte conducts orientation on National Greening Program

By Gil E. Miranda

BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 19 (PIA) - The Agusan del Norte Agrarian Reform Office in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted an orientation on the continuing implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) to two organizations in agrarian reform areas in Las Nieves on September 11.

The project covers two organizations, namely, San Isidro Farmers Association (Sanifa) and Kahugpongan sa Katawhan sa Subait (KKS) in Rossanim and Katimalibon agrarian reform communities (ARCs), respectively.

According to Ester T. Cabalan, DAR OIC-Chief, DAR intensifies its effort to implement NGP to alleviate poverty among agrarian beneficiaries in agrarian reform areas within the municipality of Las Nieves.

Cabalan further said that ARBs can generate additional sources of income through caring and maintaining responsibly planted seedlings to ensure acceptable survival rates.

Rodelio Mendez, DENR forester, said ARBs are provided with fruit and forest tree seedlings to raise as well as the technical know-how and financial support.

The Sanifa and KKS have pledged an estimated 25 hectares each to be planted with different species of trees or any high valued commercial crops with an average of 1,667 seedlings per hectare.

The activity is in support of the National Greening Program (NGP) of President Aquino as mandated by Executive Order No. 26 that aims to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of land nationwide within a period of six years. (NCLM/DAR-Agusan del Norte/PIA-Agusan del Norte)