Entrepreneurs group backs DENR's forest-based livelihood program

A group of local entrepreneurs has expressed support for the Environment department's drive to finance livelihood projects for People's Organizations (POs) that benefit from Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) programs. Bayan dela Cruz, president of the National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA), said his group can help in developing entrepreneurial and managerial skills of POs eyed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as beneficiaries of its P100-milion initial allocation for the CBFM livelihood program. "We are happy to hear about DENR's plan for upland communities that make a living by protecting and enriching our forest resources. NEPA can extend support by imparting to beneficiaries entrepreneurial and managerial skills needed to sustain the project," Dela Cruz said over the weekend. In an interview with GMA News Online, Dela Cruz also said that managerial capability of upland communities is "key to the success of the project." Last February, the DENR announced that it has allotted P100 million this year for livelihood projects of CBMF practitioners, specifically upland based POs. Speaking before stakeholders at the CBFM Practitioners Congress in Clark Freeport, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said such projects and related activities will be handled by the soon-to-be established CBFM office which shall be supervised by the Undersecretary for Field Operations. “The first 100 POs who will pass the criteria set by the CBFM office will be the recipients of the livelihood assistance. Those who will not be able to make it this year need not worry as the conferment of grants will be part of the annual DENR budget until 2016,” the Philippine Information Agency quoted Paje as saying. Also, Paje said: “The idea of CBFM is built on the principle of social forestry – a people-centered development program. The people are seen as a community of development partners of the government to achieve sustainable forestry while promoting their socio-economic welfare.” Under the program, a management agreement is entered between the government and the upland communities, represented by POs which has a term of 25 years and renewable for another 25 years. Moreover, he said POs both have the responsibilities and benefits to occupy, enrich, protect and utilize portions of forestland granted to them. Isabelita V. Austria, officer-in-charge of the CBFM division of the Forest Management Bureau told GMA News Online they are set to release in the next two weeks additional criteria for applicants to the CBFM livelihood project. According to her, only the 100 POs will be initially selected to received P1 million each from the P100 million allocation for this year. Citing government data, she said there are a total of 1,790 upland communities that were awarded with CBFM agreements with a total of 1.6 million hectares of managed forestland. Among the general criteria for the selection of PO beneficiaries are: PO activity registration; ongoing livelihood projects; needs assistance report in area of operation; technology and equipment requirements; PO's juridical personality; an adequate level of organizational development; and capability to develop network and linkages. At the Clark CBFM congress, Paje also stressed that POs have no not only contributed to the protection of our forests but also have become active partners in the vegetative growth of the upland areas in consonance with the National Greening Program (NGP). The NGP was created under Executive Order No.26 of President Benigno Aquino III to pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. — Fernando dela Cruz /LBG, GMA News