Army, civic organizations intensify reforestation in ARMM

COTABATO, Philippines – Faced with frequent weather disturbances and natural disasters, concerned sectors in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao agreed to boost the Balik-Kalikasan Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“This is a very significant program that we should all promote to bring back the lushness and richness of our natural resources, the only treasure left for the next generation,” said Col. Manolito Orense, commander of the 603rd Infantry Brigade.

The program on reforestation ushered in the formation of Task Group BK (Balik-Kalikasan) in 2005, composed of the 603rd IB and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Maguindanao.

Orense has conformed to the group’s recommendation to expand group members to other sectors such as the academe, civic organizations, media, business, religious groups, police, military, and people’s organizations.

“We need to strengthen the government’s greening program, and we can only do it through the involvement of the whole community,” said DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag.

Department records showed that some 146,431 hectares need massive replanting of trees in the region, with Maguindanao accounting for 43,087 hectares, and Lanao del Sur having the largest expanse of denuded land area at 69,442 hectares.

Kedtag said after Maguindanao, the other ARMM provinces would have to form their respective task groups.

In line with the expanded approach, Orense proposed to seek the participation of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, which lately implicated two of its enlisted personnel in alleged transport of illegally cut lumber.

Maj. Gen. Romeo Gapuz, Sixth Infantry Division chief, has warned that such an illegal activity is not being tolerated, and those responsible should suffer the consequence in a court martial.

Bashit Imam, president of the Sindaw-Ko Kalilintad, a people’s organization in Maguindanao, denounced the wanton cutting of trees in the so-called Iranon Area, bounded by towns in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur.

Environmentalist Abunawas Pendaliday has urged stakeholders to help DENR’s greening project by propagating the planting of Antipolo and Lani Pau seedlings.

Pendaliday said such varieties have been teeming in the DENR nursery ready for planting.

Antipolo is a fruit tree that belongs to the jackfruit category while Lani Pau is an ideal furniture wood material.

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