GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 7 Jan) – The provincial government of South Cotabato has linked up with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for the planting of around 75,000 trees this year in various parts of the province.
Forester Jane Manlisis, head of the Provincial Environment Management Office’s forest and inland water division, said in a statement that they recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DBP for the implementation of a massive tree planting program in three barangays in Banga and T’boli towns.
She said the bank has pledged a funding of P2.64 million under its flagship DBP Forest Program to support the project, which will be implemented as an income-generating initiative for poor upland farmers.
The funds will mainly be utilized for the purchase of planting materials, establishment of the tree plantations and maintenance, she said.
“The project includes a livelihood component for the beneficiaries,” said Manlisis, the project’s designated focal person.
Under the MOA, she said around 74 hectares of upland areas will be planted with budded rubber and bamboo as the main crops.
She said it will be intercropped with high value crops like coffee, cacao, rambutan and mangosteen.
The boundary areas of the plantation sites will also be planted with forest trees like mahogany and lauan, she said.
Manlisis said they have identified 34 hectares of plantation areas for rubber and 15 hectares for bamboo in Sitio Libas of San Vicente as well as 15 hectares for rubber and three hectares for bamboo in Sitio Lamcot, Barangay Malaya, both in Banga town.
In T’boli town, she said around 17 hectares in Sitio Lamlaban of Barangay Sinolon will be intercropped with various trees.
The tree seedlings and buddings will be supplied by the Linan Nursery in Tupi town, she said.
“The project will start in the second quarter and has a timeline of one year but we’re planning to finish it before the end of the year,” Manlisis added. - MindaNews