DIADI, Nueva Vizcaya, Sept. 8 – The provincial government of Nueva Vizcaya, in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and the local governments of three barangays in Diadi, will carry out reforestation of upland areas and the management and protection of existing forests to boost the watershed potential of this upland town.
Ramon Salvador, project coordinator of the Forest Agro-forestry Management for Enterprise (FAME) said the project, now on its third year of implementation, will be carried out in the villages of Villa Aurora, Bugnay and Namamparan.
“This will benefit 200 to 300 households in each barangay because they can have a share from the fruits of common and indigenous trees that they have planted once these will reach their harvesting stage,” Salvador explained.
The FAME project which started in various schools in the 15 towns of the province involves the planting of fruit – bearing trees such as rambutan and others. Other recipient sectors such as the Bambang Fruits and Vegetables Association (BFVA) also participated in the project within its 100-hectare area.
“We are planning to replicate this project in other areas not only to increase our forest cover but to provide additional source of income among our recipients,” Salvador said.
FAME in this town will cover some 400 hectares, planted with 4,000 seedlings of high value fruit and indigenous trees such as Tuai/Canarem, Narra, Mahogany, Molave, Rattan, Lansones, Hangay and citrus varieties within a community-based plantation managed by the respective barangay councils and the community residents.
Established through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), DBP has poured P9 million as its counterpart while the provincial government shared P4.7 million. The recipient communities provide management, protection and other activities to ensure its sustainability.
The DBP will also shoulder the acquisition of the assorted fruit trees to be planted in the recipient barangays.
The provincial board on Monday has approved P1.3 million as initial fund for the FAME project.
Salvador said the project will also improve the tourism potentials of the Lower Magat Eco-Tourism Project in barangay Namamparan which is expected to be formally opened early next year.
The FAME project is also expected to boost the potentials of this upland town as a watershed since it augments the water requirements of the Magat Hydro Electric Power and Irrigation Project in Ramon town and Alfonso Lista town in Isabela and Ifugao provinces. (PNA)
LAP/cmr/MBA/Ben Moses Ebreo/mba