Antique upland farmers get DENR aid for refo projects
Upland farmers in the towns of Bugasong, Barbaza and Patnongon in Antique recently received checks from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as assistance for their various agro-forestry projects.
The turn-over ceremony was held during the launching of Central Antique Local Convergence Agro-Enterprise Program in Barbaza with Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat and Environment Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio attending the occasion.
Vicente Sardina, provincial environment and natural resources officer, said the farmers are beneficiaries of Upland Development Program and Community Based Forest Management-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform program and Livelihood Project (CBFM-CARP).
One hundred families availed of P588,420 for the upland development project–assisted natural regeneration in Brgy. Pangalcagan, Bugasong. It covers 100 hectares of growing natural grown trees with a total project cost of P1.623 million for the duration of three years.
Also, 123 families in Brgy. Igsoro, Bugasong availed of P1.093-million assistance for Reforestation-Planting of Endemic Species covering 123 hectares with the total project cost of P2.702 million.
For CBFM-CARP livelihood project, an amount of P945,297 was released to MALALUBI Upland Farmers Association for the establishment of 70-hectare abaca plantation for fiber production intercropped with nitrogen fixing tree.
In Brgy. Patlabawon, Patnongon, an assistance of P990,366 was released to 87 members of Patlabawon Integrated Social Forestry Association Inc. for the project, “Enrichment Planting of 50 hectares of Rattan Plantation and Agroforestry Development.”*
