Iloilo losing forests to corn plantations
By David Israel Sinay
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 06:36:00 06/23/2008
Filed Under: Forest and forest management, Agriculture, Environmental Issues
ILOILO—Corn production is getting lucrative. A number of Ilonggos have started engaging in this business to the detriment of the province’s forested areas.
The province’s remaining forests, especially those in northern Iloilo, are being cleared for the planting of corn, said the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro).
Penro is assessing forested lands in northern Iloilo damaged by corn farmers, said forest management specialist Antonio Latoza Jr.
The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) of the municipality of Sara recently informed Penro of the continued transformation of timberland areas for corn production.
Ernesto Arevalo, who heads the Cenro in Sara, said this has caused the denudation of forested areas in several communities.
Penro’s Valentin Talabero has also reported to Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. that this “economic trend” resulting to the destruction of northern Iloilo’s forest resources.
“Corn production has become an attractive investment … due to its high market demand as a feed material and for ethanol,” Talabero told Tupas.
Arevalo said his office has started taking steps to address this concern, one of which is information dissemination in several villages of Sara and the adjacent towns of San Dionisio, Batad, Ajuy and Lemery, emphasizing the importance of conserving and protecting forests or timberlands.
But aside from forested areas, private lands are also affected by the upsurge in corn plantations.
Arevalo said even private lands are being converted into corn plantations, resulting to rapid soil erosion.
Larry Nacionales, Department of Agriculture regional director, said northern Iloilo is considered as the “corn belt of Panay.” Corn production in this area is widespread which expands to the adjacent province of Capiz.
“Farmers are using hybrid seeds which produce a minimum yield of four metric tons per hectare,” Nacionales told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview Thursday.
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