The DENR Caraga, Local Government Unit of Carmen in Surigao del Sur, and Marcventures Mining and Development Corporation (MMDC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on February 21, 2024, for the implementation of the Agroforestry and Reforestation Project through the LGU Carmen, Surigao del Sur Carmen Sustainable Agroforestry and Agro-Industrial Development Program (LGU Carmen CaSAAD) for which the MMDC allocated a budget of Php 2,038,795.00.

Signing for DENR Caraga was Regional Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo while Hon. Mayor Jane V. Plaza and General Mine Operations Head Engineer Eduardo M. Francisco signed on behalf of the LGU-Carmen, Surigao del Sur, and the MMDC, respectively.

MMDC is a mining company operating within Surigao del Sur, with its office located at Sitio Ban-ban, Brgy. Panikian, Carrascal.

The Agreement covers activities from Survey, Mapping, and Planning (SMP), seedling production, area development and maintenance, and protection of grafted fruit trees and indigenous tree species within the 50-hectare area to be identified for the project within the municipality of Carmen.

The project shall cover a maximum of 55,550 seedlings with a minimum planting distance of 3 meters by 3 meters and a survival rate of at least 85%. Every fruit tree to be planted will be equivalent to 3 seedlings credited to MMDC-STCEP compliance.

Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Forester Maritess M. Ocampo, Cantilan OIC-CENRO Gay P. Resullar, and Carmen Sangguniang Bayan member Hon. Rencio P. Valerio witnessed the MOA signing between the three (3) parties.

The MOA outlined the duties and responsibilities of the involved parties. The DENR shall: Conduct Survey, Mapping, and Planning and come up with a GIS map; Conduct periodic assessment/validation of accomplishment of LGU-Carmen CaSAAD and/or on the submitted report as support to LGU’s progress billing; Provide technical advice and assistance to LGU-Carmen CaSAAD and/or the Co-operators at all stages in the implementation of the Agreement and in all forms of the Project’s activities; Participate in the conduct of periodic monitoring and assessment of the Project implementation based on the approved WFP.

The LGU-Carmen CaSAAD shall: Select agro-forestry co-operator/s who are also the project beneficiaries, from Brgys. Cancavan, Esperanza, Hinapuyan, San Vicente, Poblacion and Puyat; Distribute high-quality fruit tree seedlings as detailed in the WFP; Be the lead implementor of the CaSAAD agro-forestry and reforestation project from seedling production, area development up to the three-year maintenance and protection and is jointly responsible with the Co-operator/s until the completion of the project; Spearhead the distribution/release of budget allocated by the MMDC for the selected Co-operator/s; Ensure that the selected Co-operator/s will be responsible for the area development, hauling and actual planting of seedlings, which shall be in accord with the approved WFP and the Planting Plan; Submit a duly authenticated progress or accomplishment reports to MMDC and shall ensure that the selected Co-operator/s timely accomplish the activities within the timelines as specified in the WFP for which authentication shall be made by the designated LGU-Carmen CaSAAD representative; Create a Technical Working Group (TWG) with the Municipal Environmental and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) as the Chair with representatives from DENR, LGU Carmen CaSAAD, and MMDC as members; The TWG will validate the accomplishment for each release and will submit a report which will be the basis for the next financial release; and Designate a Project Manager to oversee and ensure the smooth and orderly implementation of the Project in close coordination with MMDC.

Meanwhile, the MMDC shall: Allocate an amount to fund the planting of some Fifty-five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty (55,550.00) seedlings for the agro-forestry and reforestation project through a progress billing per the approved WFP; Assign technical personnel as members of the TWG that could recommend an appropriate method for the project implementation; Cover the expenses including the per diem of the DENR technical personnel involved during the conduct of periodic monitoring and assessment of the project implementation, chargeable against the allocated 10% Project Monitoring and Supervision Fund; and Allocate a budget for the DENR personnel in the conduct of Survey, Mapping, and Planning (SMP) based on Technical Bulletin No.1-B.