Bohol reforestation project progresses

A three-year reforestation project for communities hosting the transmission facilities of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in Bohol is on track.

This was confirmed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-CENRO), NGCP and members of the Cabatuan United Farmers Association after a joint inspection early this year to assess the accomplished activities of the forest tree plantation project in barangay Cabatuan, Danao town, Bohol.

The inspection covered seedling production, plantation establishment (i.e. site clearing, planting and replanting of seedlings), fertilizer and pesticide procurement, and maintenance and protection.

The groups have formalized an agreement Sept. 14, last year where NGCP agreed to accomplish a three-year reforestation project after clearing certain parts of Bohol for a transmission construction project.

The forest tree plantation project is an initiative of NGCP, which has been cleared to construct a 95-kilometer Bohol backbone transmission project that will pass through nine municipalities.

The NGCP, in turn, commits to plant indigenous tree species to replenish the trees affected by the project.

NGCP operates and maintains high-voltage electrical facilities like transmission lines and substations nationwide. NGCP regularly implements reforestation and fruit tree seedling dispersal activities to replenish the trees affected by the transmission projects.

NGCP’s three-year reforestation project in barangay Sta. Catalina, Sagbayan involves the planting of around 8,000 seedlings in a five-hectare timberland area and the establishment of a tree nursery.

The corporation will implement another three-year reforestation project in barangay Cabatuan, Danao with the same number of tree seedlings.

NGCP also provided 6,000 indigenous fruit tree seedlings such as lanzones, cacao, coffee and mango to benefit the nearby communities.

A year after its approval, NGCP has expressed gratitude to the agencies which have assisted in the reforestation project. NGCP said with the support of the involved communities and coordinating parties, the three-year commitment to revive the forests of Danao and Sta. Catalina will come to fruition.