The National Greening Program
(NGP) made its main kickoff of a reforestation activity in Central
Visayas, and it took the lead in tree planting at Barangay Jaclupan,
Talisay City, Cebu. The NGP launching simultaneously took place last
June 25, 2011 with different places in Cebu Province Division.
Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje joined
with Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas
(Cebu, 1st district), Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who has been
designated as Regional Development Council 7 chairman for said program.
Meanwhile, Pres. Aquino led also the launching of the National Greening
Program (NGP) at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) headquarters in Quezon City.
According to press
release, the program seeks to plant 1.5 billion seedlings in 1.5 million
hectares of public lands nationwide in six years, from 2011 to 2016.
Areas for planting under the program include forestlands, mangrove and
protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations,
urban areas under the greening plan of LGUs, inactive and abandoned mine
sites, and other suitable lands of the public domain.
It
added that the NGP also seeks to improve water quality in rivers and
irrigation for farm lands, reduce the potential for flooding, soak up
carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and lay the foundation for an
expanded wood-products economy.
It said further that all
government agencies and institutions, including local government units,
will provide full support to the program, not only in terms of tree
planting, but also in the production of quality seedlings, mobilization
of all government employees, including students from Grade 5 to college
level, to plant at least 10 seedlings each, annually. The private sector
is encouraged to participate in the program as well.
Division
of Cebu Province led by Dr. Arden D. Monisit called on the school heads
and the focal persons for the immediate implementation of the NGP and
sent Division Coordinator and Supervisor Mr. Romualdo D. Abella and Mrs.
Corazon Pumar to have a 1-day orientation seminar concerning the NGP.
In Division Memo No. 239 s. 2011 stated that in line with Executive
Order No. 26, signed by His Excellency Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III on
February 24, 2011--
Implementation of the National Greening
Program (NGP), students, government employees, private sectors and civil
society groups are required to plant and grow a minimum of ten (10)
trees per year.
Dr. Monisit said in his Memo that all
DepEd employees (teaching and nonteaching) of the Division of Cebu
Province shall conduct a tree planting activity in their respective
schools on June 25, 2011. Utilization of school lots should be priority
planting sites, but for those with limited space, coordination with
Local Government Unit (LGU) is required. However, a Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) duly signed by the Schools Division Superintendent and
the lot donor is needed for those utilizing private lots.
Guindaruhan
National High School teachers and students spearheaded by their school
head Dr. Ermetes Adolfo Jr. actively participated in the launch of the
National Greening Program on Saturday, June 25, 2011 in Barangay
Guindaruhan, Minglanilla, Cebu. The GNHS delegation planted tree
seedlings around the vicinity of the school where the semi-forested land
is situated. Every last Saturday of the succeeding month, Guindaruhan
National High School will plant more seedlings, in coordination with DAR
and DENR.
The National Greening Program is in accordance
with Executive Order No. 26 signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III on
February 24, 2011. It is one of government's priority programs geared
in attaining sustainable development for poverty reduction, food
security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and
adaptation.
It also consolidates and harmonizes all greening
efforts such as Upland Development Program, Luntiang Pilipinas, and
similar initiatives of the government, civil society and private sector
under a National Greening Program.
NGP aims to plant some 1.5
billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares of the country's
public domains such as the forestlands, mangrove, and protected areas,
among others, within a six-year period, from 2011 to 2016.
The
National Greening Program (NGP) is intended for: forest for people,
poverty reduction, resource conservation and protection, productivity
enhancement, climate change mitigation and adaptation (see MSPowerpoint
presentation).
On the other hand, in the press release dated February 24, 2011, President Benigno S Aquino III issued
Executive Order (EO) 26,
declaring the implementation of the National Greening Program as a
government priority program to reduce poverty, promote food security,
environmental stability and biodiversity conservation, and enhance
climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Executive Order supports and complements
EO No. 23, an earlier directive of President Aquino, which bans logging in natural and residual forests, as well as
Proclamation No. 125,
declaring 2011 as the National Year of Forests in the Philippines. It
mandates the DA-DAR-DENR Convergence Initiative to be the oversight
committee for the program, with DENR as the lead agency.
Pres.
Aquino led the launching of the National Greening Program (NGP) at the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headquarters in
Quezon City.
The program specifically seeks to plant 1.5 billion
seedlings in 1.5 million hectares of public lands nationwide in six
years, from 2011 to 2016--more than twice the government's
accomplishment for the past 25 years, which adds to about 730,000
hectares.
Areas for planting under the program include
forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and
military reservations, urban areas under the greening plan of LGUs,
inactive and abandoned mine sites, and other suitable lands of the
public domain.
The NGP also seeks to improve water quality in
rivers and irrigation for farm lands, reduce the potential for flooding,
soak up carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, and lay the foundation
for an expanded wood-products economy.
All government agencies
and institutions, including local government units, will provide full
support to the program, not only in terms of tree planting, but also in
the production of quality seedlings, mobilization of all government
employees, including students from Grade 5 to college level, to plant at
least 10 seedlings each, annually. The private sector is encouraged to
participate in the program as well.
Upland communities will also
be tapped to be responsible in taking care of the seedlings planted by
other participants. In turn, they will be included in the Conditional
Cash Transfer (CCT) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development.
Strategies to be adopted to ensure the program's
success include social mobilization, harmonization of initiatives,
provision of incentives, and monitoring and management of database.
During the launch of the NGP last May 13 President Aquino registered
on-line to the NGP website "in an apparent gesture of inspiring the
citizenry to follow suit and cast the citizens' support as well."
Upon registration on the website (
www.ngp.denr.gov.ph),
the participants will be provided instruction on how to plant, donate
to the program, download related material, read news, view areas for
planting through a map, and contact the NGP secretariat at the DENR.
A March 14, 2011 press release by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has
released the guidelines on the implementation of the National Greening
Program (NGP), which seeks to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million
hectares nationwide in six years, from 2011 to 2016.
DENR
Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje issued DENR Memorandum Circular (MC) No.
2011-01, providing for the mechanics and specific targets of the
National Greening Program.
Under
Executive Order No. 26, President Benigno S. Aquino III tasked the DENR to lead in the implementation of NGP.
"The guidelines were crafted in such manner as to ensure that all
greening activities, whether by the government, local government units
or by the private sector, will contribute to the objectives of the
program like poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation
and climate change mitigation and adaptation," Paje said.
According to Paje, the program calls for massive participation not only
in tree planting but also in plantation maintenance and seedling
production by all sectors of the Philippine society. Hence, he said, the
memorandum circular will serve to guide NGP partners/implementers in
planning for their involvement in the program.
Of the 1.5
million hectares targeted for reforestation under the NGP, Paje said
that a total of 100,000 hectares are targeted for this year. "We are
starting this year with at least 100,000 hectares of new plantations.
This will be increased to 250,000 hectares next year, and further
increased in the years ahead until we meet the programmed target as
directed by President Aquino."
This year's target areas for
reforestation include 60,000 hectares within community-managed
forestlands including mangroves and coastal areas; 20,000 hectares
within protected areas; 20,000 hectares in ancestral domain areas; and
10,000 hectares in other areas specifically described in EO 26, such as
civil and military reservations, urban areas identified by local
government units, riverbanks and stream banks, and inactive and
abandoned mines.
In consonance with the thrust of the
government for food security, Paje said that aside from forest tree
species, fruit-bearing trees will also be allowed to be planted under
the program, such as mango, coffee, cacao, cashew, guyabano, and many
more.
Forest tree species identified for planting in the
uplands include dipterocarps, narra and other premium and indigenous
species, as well as fast growing species such as mahogany, gmelina,
bagras, acacia, and rubber. Bamboo and mangrove species shall also be
tapped as reforestation crops, particularly in river banks and coastal
areas, to control soil erosion and as buffers against wave action.
To ensure the survival of newly planted seedlings, Paje said that
under MC 2011-01, the DENR field offices are to ascertain that there are
stakeholders presently living in areas to be placed under NGP
activities.
"This addresses the gap in many reforestation
schemes that seedlings die within the immediate period because they were
planted in areas where there are no stakeholders to tend to them and
would directly benefit from the trees," Paje said.
For
community-managed forest lands, preference will be given to areas that
have accessibility to planters and market destinations for the produce
to be harvested from the trees when already bearing their fruits or
byproducts like bamboo and rattan.
The existence of
peoples' organizations (POs) that have active registration status with
relevant government organizations such as the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Cooperative Development Authority will also be
prioritized; otherwise, the DENR shall assist POs in acquiring the
necessary accreditation.
Paje also stressed that barangay
officers will be tapped in the identification and selection of areas and
sites "for consideration of DSWD in the grant of incentives to
qualified NGP beneficiaries under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)
program."
MC 2011-11 sets the months from July to December for the planting season "following the respective climatic types, planting
calendars
of forest and fruit trees species and prevailing and forecasted weather
conditions by PAGASA, for higher survival of the planted seedlings."
Executive Order No. 26 - Implementation of a National Greening Program (NGP)
MALACANAN PALACE
MANILA
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 26
WHEREAS, poverty reduction, resource conservation and protection,
productivity enhancement, climate change mitigation and adaptation, are
among the priority programs of the government;
WHEREAS, there is a need to consolidate and harmonize all greening
efforts such as Upland Development Program, Luntiang Pilipinas and
similar initiatives of the government, civil society and private sector
under a National Greening Program;
WHEREAS, the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the primary agency
responsible for the conservation, management, development and proper use
of the country's environmental and natural resources;
WHEREAS, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is the lead agency to boost
farmers' income and reduce poverty in the rural sector;
WHEREAS, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is the lead agency in
the implementation of agrarian reform and sustainable rural development
programs;
WHEREAS, the DA, DENR, DAR pursuant to Joint
Memorandum Circular No. 1 series 2010 have adopted a Convergence
Initiative to integrate and strengthen development framework between and
among national government, local government agencies and other
stakeholders, wherein complementary human, physical and financial
resources are efficiently and effectively deployed;
WHEREAS,
Executive Order No. 23
series 2011 has mandated the DA-DAR-DENR Convergence Initiative to
develop a National Greening Program in cooperation with the Department
of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED),Department
of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Budget and
Management (DBM), private sector and other concerned agencies and
institutions.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III,
President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by
law, do hereby order and declare the implementation of a National
Greening Program (NGP) as a government priority.
Section 1.
Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to pursue
sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security,
biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Section 2. Coverage. The National Greening Program shall
plant some 1.5 Billion trees covering about 1.5 Million hectares for a
period of six (6) years from 2011 to 2016, in the following lands of the
public domain:
2.1 Forestlands
2.2 Mangrove and protected areas
2.3 Ancestral domains
2.4 Civil and military reservations
2.5 Urban areas under the greening plan of the LGUs
2.6 Inactive and abandoned mine sites; and
2.7 Other suitable lands
All other greening efforts of the private sector and civil society shall be harmonized under the NGP.
Section 3. Strategies. In order to ensure the successful
implementation of the NGP, the following strategies shall be adopted:
3.1 Social Mobilization
3.1.1 All students, identified by the DepEd and CHED and all
government employees shall be individually required to plant a minimum
of ten (10) seedlings per year in areas determined by the Convergence
Initiative. Private sectors and civil society groups shall likewise be
encouraged to participate in the NGP.
3.1.2 With
appropriate assistance from the government and the private sector, the
Peoples' Organizations (POs) shall be given the primary responsibility
of maintaining and protecting the established plantations.
3.2 Harmonization of Initiatives
3.2.1 All tree planting initiatives such as the Upland Development
Program, Luntiang Pilipinas and similar activities of the government,
private sector, LGUs and the civil society shall be harmonized under the
NGP.
3.2.2 All government institutions, especially DA,
DAR, DENR, CHED and DepEd shall produce appropriate quality seedlings
annually for the NGP. Technical assistance shall be provided by DA,
DENR, and DAR under the Convergence Initiative.
3.3 Provision of Incentives
3.3.1 All proceeds from agro forestry plantations, duly accounted by
the DENR, shall accrue to the NGP beneficiary communities to address
food security and poverty reduction.
3.3.2 NGP beneficiary communities shall be considered priority in the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program.
3.3.3 Appropriate incentives shall be developed by the Convergence
Initiative to encourage rain forestation, particularly in the protected
area.
3.4 Monitoring and Management of Database
3.4.1 The DA, DAR, DENR, shall develop a centralized database and
provide regular monitoring and timely report on the progress of the NGP.
3.4.2 The Convergence Initiative shall engage the private
sector, civil society and academe in the monitoring and evaluation of
the NGP.
Section 4. Oversight Committee and Lead Agency.
The members of the Steering Committee under the DA-DAR-DENR Convergence
Initiative shall constitute the NGP Oversight Committee, to be chaired
by the DENR. The DENR shall be the lead agency for the NGP.
Section 5. Partner Agencies/Stakeholders. The NGP shall be implemented
in partnership with the following agencies/stakeholders, whose
responsibilities shall include but not limited to the following:
5.1 DA-DAR-DENR
5.1.1 Nursery establishment and seedling production
5.1.2 Site identification and site preparation
5.1.3 Social mobilization
5.1.4 Tree planting
5.1.5 Monitoring and evaluation
5.1.6 Technical support and extension services
5.1.7 Provision of certified seeds of agronomic crops
5.1.8 Provision of access roads and trails to planting site
5.1.9 Provision of post harvest and processing facilities
5.1.10 Technical assistance in product development and marketing
5.2 Department of Education (DepEd)/ Commission on Higher
Education (CHED)
5.2.1 Student mobilization
5.2.2 Nursery establishment, seedling production and tree planting
5.2.3 Information, Education and Communication
5.2.4 Provision of extension services
5.2.5 Monitoring and evaluation
5.3 Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
5.3.1 Provision of Conditional Cash Transfer to NGP beneficiaries
5.3.2 Social mobilization
5.4 Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
5.4.1 Allocation of funds for all activities of the NGP
5.5 Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
5.5.1 Provision of transportation, security and fire protection amenities
5.5.2 Information, Education and Communication
5.6 Local Government Units (LGUs)
5.6.1 Establishment of nurseries and production of planting materials
5.6.2 Development of greening plan for urban and suburban areas
5.6.3 Lead the establishment of communal tree farms for firewood and other domestic uses
5.6.4 Construction of access roads and trails to the planting sites
5.6.5 Provision of medical support
5.6.6 Technical assistance and extension of services
5.7 Department of Health (DOH)
5.7.1 Provision of transportation and medical support
5.8 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
5.8.1 Provision of transportation in the hauling of seedlings and volunteer planters
5.8.2 Assistance in the construction of access roads and trails to the planting sites
5.9 Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)
5.9.1 Provision of transport for participants
5.9.2 Provision of communication facilities
5.10 Department of National Defense (DND)
5.10.1 Nursery establishment and seedling production
5.10.2 Site preparation
5.10.3 Provision of transportation support
5.10.4 Provision of security
5.11 Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
5.11.1 Development and transfer of appropriate technologies
5.11.2 Information, Education and Communication
5.12 Department of Justice (DOJ)
5.12.1 Nursery establishment and production of planting materials
5.12.2 Provision of transportation
5.13 National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
5.13.1 Mobilization of participation of indigenous peoples
5.13.2 Identification of sites for NGP inside ancestral domains
5.13.3 Supervision of forest protection activities inside ancestral domains
5.14 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
5.14.1 Technical assistance in products development
5.15 Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)
5.15.1 Provision of funds for seedling production and other related activities of the NGP
5.16 All other government agencies, instrumentalities, including
government-owned and controlled corporations(GOCCs), state universities
and colleges (SUCs), shall provide full support and assistance to the
NGP.
Section 6. Implementing Guidelines. All participating
agencies/ institutions, within fifteen (15) days from the date of this
Executive Order, shall issue their respective guidelines to implement
the NGP, copy furnished the NGP Oversight Committee.
Section 7. Funding Mechanisms. Funds needed for the implementation of
the NGP for the current year shall be provided by the DBM and funding
for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the regular
appropriation of participating agencies.
Section 8.
Separability Clause. Any portion or provision of this Executive Order
that maybe declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of
nullifying other provisions hereof, as long as such remaining portions
can still subsist and can be given effect in their entirety.
Section 9. Repealing Clause. All rules and regulations and other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive
Order, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 10. Effectivity. This
Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
DONE in the City of Manila, this 24th day of February, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Eleven.
(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
By the President:
(Sgd.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary