DENR CALABARZON Urges Groups and Organizations in the Region to request seedlings for Tree Planting Activities

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources CALABARZON Environment and Natural Resources Academy (ENRA) Basic and Frontline course candidates for graduation conducted a potting activity at the Regional Seedling Production and Training Facility in Brgy. Lamot II, Calauan, Laguna last December 4, 2021.

The activity was part of the community service of the ENRA participants of CALABARZON Regional and Field Offices. A total of 1008 seedlings of bitaog and ylangylang were repotted during the activity.

Engr. Olivia G. Bejo, the ENRA program manager, shared that it is a different kind of community engagement for the ENRA participants. “At least naibanamanngayonangating community engagement. I think mas productive ito at the same time ay nakatulongtayosaproyekto ng atingopisina.” Previously, community services being conducted by ENRA participants are tree planting or clean-up.

According to Mr. Gilberto Lawas of the National Greening Program Coordinating Office of the Region, the plants for potting were replacement seedlings. He shared that during the pandemic, only a few were requesting seedlings for their tree planting activities. As a result, replacement seedlings have overgrown in the nursery.

Applicants of tree cutting permits are required to provide replacement seedlings. Under the DENR Memorandum Order 2012-02 establishing the “Uniform Replacement Ration for Cut of Relocated Trees”, except for planted trees within private lands and forest lands exclusively established for tree plantations/timber production purposes, replacement ration for planted trees in private and forestlands is 1:50; while replacement ration for naturally growing trees on the same areas including those affected by development projects shall be 1:100.

DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria said “We are urging groups, organizations, LGUs, and other sectors to request seedlings in the nearest DENR Office in your area for your tree planting activities. We also have NGP sites open for adoption. During Arbor Day last June, we launched the Community PlanTree and it is continuously being done every last Friday of the month at the DENR CALABARZON Regional Office. Indigenous, native, and fruit-bearing trees were given free to interested individuals.”

A total of 51 ENRA participants are candidates for graduation of which 28 are from the frontline course and 23 are from the basic course. The graduation rites will be held on December 13, 2021, at the DENR CALABARZON Main Conference Hall, Brgy. Mayapa, Calamba City, Laguna.

For those who would like to request seedlings for their tree planting activities or adoption of NGP site, you may request at the nearest Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in your area. For other concerns, you may reach DENR CALABARZON through email r4a@denr.gov.ph, mobile 09561825774/ 09198744369, or via official Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/DENR4AOfficial/.  ###