SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—Upland communities in at least 10 towns of the Ilocos region have increased their forest and fruit tree density using a P12-million agro forestry livelihood assistance fund, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office here.
“Agro forestry provides direct income to the upland communities at the same time makes idle lands productive,” said Samuel Peñafiel, DENR Ilocos region director.
According to DENR data, 13 projects worth P6.6 million were given to 1,298 upland farmers in the towns of Vintar, Marcos and Sarrat in Ilocos Norte; Burgos and Del Pilar in Ilocos Sur; Tubao and Santol in La Union; and Sison, San Manuel and Bugallon in Pangasinan.
Out of the target 326 hectares of forest areas, 292 hectares have been planted with forest and fruit trees, coconuts, agricultural crops and bamboos, Peñafiel said.
“We have already organized them into people’s organizations under our community-based forest management program to ensure long-term benefits to them,” he said.
Peñafiel said P1.6 million was also extended to farmers to finance capability building, training on plantation technologies and information dissemination activities on forest protection.
These organizations have been registered with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Labor and Employment and Cooperative Development Authority.
This year, five more organizations involving 231 families were granted different projects worth P4.4 million.
Among these are agro forestry and livestock raising production project in San Pedro, Batac, Ilocos Norte (worth P790,937) and the Tiagan agro forestry development in San Emilio, Ilocos Sur (P984,590). Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon
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