Negros Occidental, DENR to rehab 547 hectares of Mt. Kanlaon forest

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros Occidental provincial government has entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Negros Island Region (DENR-NIR) to rehabilitate 547 hectares of forest land in the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park (MKNP).

This was announced by Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz on Thursday.

The MOA was signed by Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson and DENR-NIR Regional Executive Director Charlie Fabre at the Capitol here on Wednesday.

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READ: Phivolcs: Superheated gas detected at Mt. Kanlaon

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The 25-year contract allows the provincial government to rehabilitate critical upland watersheds in Sitio Guinam-an of Barangay Minoyan, Murcia town, through a community-based reforestation program.

The initiative operates under the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) framework mandated by Executive Order No. 193.

Beyond just planting trees, the project targets the rehabilitation and maintenance of 547 hectares of an NGP-graduated plantation using optimized bamboo species.

To secure the long-term viability of the ecosystem, the agreement strictly binds the parties to ensure that all planted bamboo and commodity resources maintain at least an 85 percent survival rate.

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Livelihood generation serves as a cornerstone of this agreement, with the local community of Sitio Guinam-an designated as the primary partner-beneficiaries.

The DENR is tasked with providing specialized technical assistance, defining boundary zones via preliminary ground surveys, and validating the monthly progress reports submitted by the province.

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The provincial government will spearhead administrative and financial control, provide funding support to mobilize the local workforce, and assist in providing direct manpower. INQ /mr

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