DENR Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Marcial C. Amaro Jr. together with Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCo) Executive Director Ricardo L. Calderon; Program Officer of Implementation and Management Team Dr. Sung Ho Choi; and FMB Director Tirso Parian Jr. visited Caraga Region to conduct monitoring of the Wood Processing Vertical Integration Project (VIP) of the Mabuhay Timberland Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (MATILFAMCO) in Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on May 30-31, 2022.

MATILFAMCO is one of the two Community-Based Forest Management - People's Organizations (CBFM-POs) considered for the AFoCo VIP nationwide together with the Nalundan United Farmers Association, Inc. (NUFAI) located in Bindoy, Negros Oriental.

DENR Caraga Regional Executive Director (RED) Nonito M. Tamayo and ARD for Technical Services Maritess M. Ocampo accompanied the team during the activity.

The project aims to generate jobs for grassroots communities and it shall be implemented for over five years until 2026. Under the project, the CBFM-PO shall employ the vertical integration of wood processing to produce value-added wood products by utilizing raw materials harvested from CBFM areas.

After the briefing held at the DENR-13 Regional Office in Ambago, Butuan City, the team visited the MATILFAMCO Wood Processing Plant facility in Brgy. San Salvador and the CBFM plantation site and the proposed WPP site in Brgy. Mabuhay, all in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. CENR Officer Norman A. Asugan of Bayugan City together with his personnel facilitated the conduct of the whole activity.

In his message during the afternoon program, RED Tamayo highlighted the benefits of the project, “This project is a product of years and years of experiences and plans. Way back, it has always been our dream to implement a project that is centered on helping the grassroots communities. In this project, the People’s Organization will be the center of all activities from seedling production, tree planting and growing, harvesting, processing, marketing, and so forth. Through this, all profits will go directly to the PO and not to the rich business owners.”

“We are lucky that AFoCo agreed to fund the project and make this happen. I just wish that you would not take this for granted. Let us prove to them that we are worthy of this opportunity and continue working hard for the good of the environment and the community” RED Tamayo added.

AFoCO Executive Director Calderon stated during the program, the purpose of their visit to the area. “We have three main reasons for coming here. First, is to assess the PO’s and the Regional Office’s readiness, capability, and commitment to implement the project. Second, is to determine if the Local Government Unit and the community support the project. Third, is to personally see the plantation and the proposed site for the Wood Processing Plant. This is the first time that we funded such a project and I hope that you will do your best to put this fund to good use.”

To show their full support for the project, the Municipal Local Government Unit of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur represented by the Committee Chairman for Environment, Hon. Samson Auxtero turned over a copy of the LGU Resolution interposing no objection to the implementation of the project.

MATILFAMCO Chairperson Jay Ryan Rafosala expressed his gratitude towards the DENR for all the help in turning their dreams into reality. “Dako kayo mig pasalamat sa inyong tanan, labaw na sa DENR ug AFoCO. Tungod sa inyo, natagaan na usab kami ug opportunity nga mapalambo pa ang amo PO ug mahaw-as mi sa kalisod. Buhaton namo ang tanan namo makaya hangtod masuccessful ni nga project. Dako jud ang matabang ani sa amo komunidad. Daghang salamat,” he said

To commemorate the event, all the officials participated in the ceremonial tree planting activity at the Gibong Watershed in Brgy. Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Before returning to Butuan City, the team had a pit stop at the CENR Office of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur which has jurisdiction over MATILFAMCO’s CBFMA. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events
Category: Press Releases
Published: 06 June 2022