Strict Enforcement Of Conservation Laws In Forest Area
“DENR Program and Initiatives”
is the topic of Kapihan on August 1, 2015 at NVC Carmen Hotel. The lone guest is Ms. Marlene Aborka, OIC
CENRO Aklan.
Ms. Aborka said that DENR Aklan
by virtue of a Memorandum Order issued in January 2015 has dissolved the
CENRO District in Yapak, Malay. The
whole organizational force was transferred to Kalibo headed by PENRO Chief
Ivene Reyes.
Presently, the Office is nearing
target completion of the 5 year National Greening Program (NGP) which started
in 2011. NGP aims to plant 1.5 billion indigenous forest trees on 1.5 million
hectares of denuded, idle public lands. It seeks to reduce poverty, promote
food security, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and
adaptation.
The other important concern is
land titling and cadastral survey under our Land Management Services. Under RA
9176, An Act Extending the Free Patent Law until December 31, 2020, land owners
are encouraged to apply for administrative legalization or confirmation of
their imperfect title over alienable and disposable agricultural and
residential lands. While there is payment for cadastral survey and up to date
payment of taxes by the applicant, processing fee including registration with
Land Registration Authority is free. Ms. Aborka announced that on August 7,
2015 (Friday) we will have mass handing of 1, 256 titles to beneficiaries at
ABL Sports Complex, Kalibo, Aklan.
DENR has targeted 724 hectares
to be planted in 2015. As of June 29, 2015 it has accomplished 104 percent.
This is located in towns of Libacao, Madalag, Malinao, Tangalan, Ibajay and
Nabas. The survival rate of forest seedlings is assessed at 90-95 per cent. The
danger of bush fires has been checked, thanks to the cooperation of PO’s,
Barangay officials and other volunteer groups.
Healthy and flourishing stand
of young NGP plantations are located in
Aparicio (Ibajay) New Buswang (Kalibo), Oyang (Libacao), Cabugao (Batan),
Tag-osip (Buruanga), Rosal (Libacao), Bulwang (Numancia) and Camaligan (Batan).
The Annual Target of NGP funded
by millions of pesos is 300,000 hectares. However, the total deforestation per
year by illegal loggers and firewood gatherers is 210,000 hectares (UN-FAO). If
we take into consideration the 8 million hectares denuded, idle and
unproductive lands, it will take 88 years to replant the environmental blight assuming
that NGP is still operational or similar programs continued.
DENR Sec. Ramon Paje has
proposed the conversion of idle, unproductive public lands into palm oil
plantations. He said that the country is losing P800 billion each year in
production opportunities. In comparison, Indonesia with 6 million hectares of
oil palm makes $50 billion each year. This huge revenue is comparable to our
national budget.
It appears than DENR Aklan has
accomplished in target area to plant trees at mid-year. But this is because the
724 hectares is too small an area. It should be noted that target for 2016 is
3, 211 hectares. Hence, the Agency may be forced to work overtime starting the
second half of this year.
Our Philippine Carbon Dioxide
Emission is steadily increasing at 90.79 million tons per year. A research
study shows that mangroves can sequester 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide/ha/year.
The value of mangrove in the Philippines has been estimated to be $600 per
hectare or about P26, 400. Presently, there are 138,000 hectares of mangrove
plantations in the country said Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero II, noted Fishery
Biologist.
Aklan has two protected areas
namely: Aklan Forest Reservation Area and Northwest Panay Peninsula covering
77, 109.68 hectares or 42.0 per cent of total land area. Granting that we have
an elite force of 300 forest guards, and forest intelligence officers to
protect and arrest illegal loggers and wood cutters, there is no guarantee that
our national patrimony is safeguarded.
The most practical against
crafty criminal elements is to employ high tech gadgets like drones or unmanned
aircraft vehicles being used by private companies. Powered by batteries they
can make reconnaissance flights hovering above trees without being detected.
CAAP regulates the operation of drones. However, this can be facilitated
through negotiations citing law enforcement purposes and operation far from
urban areas and navigational air lanes.
Encroachment into forest
reserves by unscrupulous land owners are commonly observed. Lands falling
beyond 18 percent slope like those seen in Boracay are deemed forest lands. This
must be properly delineated during the cadastral survey for land titling. There
must be integrity and consistency in our legal documents. /MP
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