Conference of the National Greening Program

– The Conference of the National Greening Program (NGP) Implementers conducted on March 6-7, 2018 in Kalibo, Aklan was graced no less with the presence of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu as it gathered DENR Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Regional Directors, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (CENROs) for presentation of  NGP accomplishments in respective areas of jurisdiction from CY 2011-2017, survival rates of plantations, geotagged photos as well as target areas for 2018 up to 2028 and corresponding implementation plans and strategies. On the other hand, issues, concerns and challenges encountered during NGP implementation and remedial actions undertaken to address them were extensively discussed during the Conference.

Secretary Cimatu, on his message, pointed out that the Conference was convened in preparation for the budget hearing inasmuch as this would provide answers and important insights to allegations of lawmakers on inconsistencies and corruption in the implementation of the NGP. Secretary Cimatu also paid due recognition to the role of CENROs as front liners in the implementation of DENR programs. He also instructed the conduct of Capacity Building for CENR Officers not just for Forestry concerns but also appropriate trainings with regard to mining and environmental problems.

There were other presentations related to the proper implementation of the Program, as follows:
Protected Area Suitability Assessment by Assistant Secretary for Staff Bureaus Ricardo L. Calderon, Concept Paper on Sustained Rehabilitation and Conservation of Watershed by FMB Director Nonito M. Tamayo, Manual on Soil Sampling and Soil Preparation by ERDB Director Henry A. Adornado, Cash-based Budgeting and Financial Reporting Requirements by Assistant Secretary Bresilda Gervacio and Preliminary Data Analysis on Landcover Change by Assistant Secretary Daniel Nicer. Mr. Ronald C. Villamora from Mines and Geosciences Bureau of Region 6 also briefed the participants on mining concerns in his Mining 101 presentation.

Invited experts also gave their insights on the Program. Dr. Perry Ong of UP Diliman presented their team’s preliminary analysis of NGP implementation while Dr. Cristino Tiburan of UP Los Baños presented their project on the development of Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the Monitoring of NGP.