BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – A “Grow Trees Community” will be developed in Sitio Liwliw, Barangay Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet to promote environmental sustainability in the area .
The SM Foundation Inc. AVP for Outreach Programs Cristie Angeles together with the Nagawa Manganese Liwliw Saddle (NAMALISA) Agroforestry Association, Inc. President John Dizon Jr and other partner agencies inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on December 12, 2023 for the implementation of Grow Trees Community (GTC) project.
The GTC initiative aims to foster environmental sustainability and promote the importance of conservation. It is also in support to the SM Green Movement, which seeks to improve the quality of life of communities thru sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living, and a green culture.
During the MOU signing, the SM Foundation also turned over to the NAMALISA a water pump and various construction materials, among others to help create livelihood opportunities.
The NAMALISA Agroforestry Association, Inc. is one of the people’s organizations in Benguet organized through the Community-based Forest Management (CBFM) Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The DENR-Cordillera awarded an area covering 413.541 hectares to the organization . Through an agreement, the organization was provided with tenurial security and incentives to develop, utilize, and manage specific portions of forest lands, pursuant to the approved strategic plan.
With the aim of protecting the environment and the CBFM Agreement area, the organization started to work closely with the SM Foundation. It supported the reforestation initiatives of the SM Foundation and the Fast Retailing Foundation, a general incorporated foundation in Japan, through the GTC campaign.
Dizon said his group started growing trees with SM in 2013, and was able to plant more than 10,000 Benguet pine seedlings in the CBFM Agreement area. With the help of other agencies, they also planted lemon, coffee, bamboo, and more Benguet pine. He also shared that in 2021, the NAMALISA received 1,200 bamboo seedlings through the National Greening Program of the government.
“Sa partnership ng NAMALISA sa ibang agencies, malaking impact po ito sa amin. Very thankful po kami,” expressed Dizon.
“Sana po, patuloy po natin itong gagawin at marami pa ho sana tayong tutulungan na mga areas dito sa Benguet,” said Angeles. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)
