DENR, CHED ENTERS MOU FOR A 1 MILLION MALUNGGAY PLANT GROWING PROJECT– Butuan City
Launching of a 1 Million Malunggay Plant: DENR Caraga represented by Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo, CESO III, and Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo, forging and/or enter into a Memorandum of Understanding together with in partnership of the Commission on Higher Education Caraga spearheaded by Regional Director, Dr. George M. Colorado for the implementation of the “One Million Malunggay Plant Growing Advocacy” last January 13, 2023, at the Hero Auditorium of the Caraga State University in Barangay Ampayon, Butuan City.
The above advocacy program goal is to plant one million malunggay (Moringa oleifera) plants over Caraga region in the given time span of one (1) year with the support of all the region’s higher education institutions and partner agencies. The newly launched project also has its purpose to assist mitigate climate change, restoring greenery within the surrounding environment, and for communities to have easier access to malunggay trees and their many health benefits.
The ceremonial signing was also attended by DENR Caraga Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo, DMO V, and Regional ENGP Coordinator Forester Luis P. Gonzaga which presented the salient features of the Enhance National Greening Program (ENGP), also with representatives from Caraga State University (CSU) Dean for College of Forestry and Environment, Dr. Roger Sarmiento, representatives from various State Colleges and Universities, media practitioners, and other officials and staff from DENR and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Caraga.
Director Tamayo said that state universities and colleges (SUCs) will be part of the project that will connect the SUCs to the National Greening Program (NGP), particularly to the 123 associations in the region under the Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFM). DENR-13-ENGP has a target area of 1,200 hectares for its project. “The CHED and the SUCs here will provide the seeds and seedlings of malunggay plants which will be propagated in the 17 nurseries of the DENR situated in different provinces, to commence the project by February. The developed malunggay (Moringa oleifera) seedlings will be distributed to the 123 associations under the CBFM for planting and production. RED Tamayo also added “We will intercrop the malunggay trees with the different species of trees in our NGP areas in the region,” is a marketable agriculture product from which our CBFM associations can gain some income.” He added that malunggay leaves can also be donated to schools that are conducting feeding programs. “Malunggay is more potent in terms of Vitamin C and potassium. The malunggay leaves are good for our children,” Tamayo said. It’s not only for the health but also for the environment,” Tamayo added. RED Tamayo likewise urged other government and private entities to plant malunggay trees in their vacant lots or lands as part of their greening activity in the environment.