BALIK-KALIKASAN ( A DECADE AGO)

A decade after Balik-Kalikasan greening advocacy, birds are coming back

By Ferdinandh Cabrera

                                   

Chairman Dimasangkay in his Antipolo intercropped farm

Camp Iranun, Barira, Maguindanao – For village chief of Barangay Nabalawag, Barira Maguindanao, Abdulgani Dimasangkay tremendous change has been observed since they started to replant more trees in their community, he said birds now that have vanished for a quite moment has started to show up, bird chirpings are heard day and night and  alas,a bonus of helping them in natural tree planting.

“ It came a time that we can no more see the birds we used to see and heard, but after we reforested the areas nearby and with the help of my village people, the surroundings has made a difference, birds are coming back, it is bringing its own natural life”, Dimasangkay recounted.

Since 2004, Dimasangay who loves to plant trees has started to plant antipolo and other local tree seedlings in few hectares of  his owned land which he happens to convince also his community people to join his advocacy.

The village chairman led his people to plant more trees

But what surprised hin, he noticed lately that even the birds which just happen to visit his intecropped antipolo plantation in  the middle of his coconut farm, other endemic plant seeds have seen growing underneath the ground.

“ The birds which only transient to stay on those big trees now are spreeding seeds, I don’t know how they get that and  in turn,they naturally grown in the ground,  and we are lucky because sometimes we see lawaan seeds growing,its like an instant nursery”, he added.

Col. Manolito Orense, commander of the Army’s 603rd Brigade, which is based in Camp Iranun,  the former Camp Abubakar of MILF, said they have decided to re-launch the Balik-Kalikasan Advocacy Group  to conitinue the impact of what has done in the previous.

603rd Brigade Commander  Manolito Orense laughs
before cuing his part in planting Antipolo 

“Significantly there has been an improvement, this will help to combat the present challenges we are facing now on  the ill-effects of global warming and environmental degradation which  resulted to mass destruction during heavy rains causing deadly landslides and floods on the downstreams, that is why we need to continue this noble partnership by the military to the LGU’s and and CSO’s, he said.

Balik-Kalikasan was founded in 2004 by the partnership of 603^rd Army brigade, DENR-ARMM and Minrico lumber incorporation.

Since the campaign started and with the help of civil society groups, local government units and friends from the media they had planted over two million antipolo and lanipao seedlings.

This excludes the number of other planted trees in ARMM region by the DENR like rubber and coffee plants.

Minrico general manager Albert Chua said, the Antipolo and Lanipao seedlings which is freely accessed by the farmers and other interested groups has boosted the numbers of grown trees seen in many parts of the region.

“ What we are promoting now are agro-forestry which farmers can intercrop the antipolo trees in between coconut plantations because from what we have observed over the years, a high survival rate of planted seedling were found successful on this strategy”, he said.

The Lanipao seedlings (Talisay tree looking) meanwhile are good in growing in marshlands.

Minrico as lumberyard exporter has openly said that they are buyers of cut timber, as long as this are planted species and with proper legal documentation at the DENR office.

“ Timber farming is a lucrative business for farmers especially in this region where huged barren land are seen or can be intercropped in their other planted areas,  your capital here is a small effort at the start and you just let the trees grow up, at the end of the day you are helping greening your surrounding”, the Minrico statement said.

Antipolo trees before harvested (10 years) as timber can produce more seeds before its maturity of cutting age.

“ If Agusan areas has Falcata timber industry, North Cotabato has rubber industry, why not Antipolo timber industry in ARMM region?, Chua said.

The DENR-ARMM is helping to validate the mortality rate and number of those survived seedlings planted over a decade.

DENR-ARMM Secretary Kahal Kedtag who is a pioneer member of Balik-Kalikasan Advocacy when he was still a CENRO back then said they have enhanced the greening program with enough allocated budget.

DENR-ARMM Sec. Kahal Kedtag in his speech
during the relaunching

At least 20 percent forest cover only left in the entire region and they  plan is to increase it to 30% in 2014.

“ We need to involved the people, look at the result of what we have done before despite a low budget,and  how much more now that we have fund. Yes there was a tremendous impact and development as you can see and you know what, even the international donors are linking and working with us now like USAID and EU”, Kedtag said.

ARMM Vice-Gov. Al Rashid Lucman was the first to plant
for his part

ARMM Vice-Governor Al Rashid Lucman who graced the launching activity over the weekend said, “ We came here because the nature is displeased to the people, that there should be a peoples share or call of action to bring back the beauty of our mother nature”, he said .

The relaunching was initiated last Saturday (April 5) at the former MILF main lair, now Camp Iranun in Barira, Maguindanao town.

Aside from free seedlings given by the Balik-Kalikasan group, they had built two schools since then, one in South Upi and one in Barira town.

Around 30,000 imported books were also distributed in different school and black boards are soon to be given in rural schools.

And thousands has benefited the medical and dental missions with the help of military medical team, Maguindanao medical team and ARMM health team who are teamed up during tree planting activities.

Maguindanao Medical team joins the Balik-Kalikasan

This coming schoolyear’s enrolment, the group is set to distribute blackboards in those needy rural schools.

And this summer hundreds of school children in Sultan Kudarat,Maguindanao are tapped for summer job in Minrico compound nursery for seedlings propagation.

Balik-Kalikasan is targeting to produce and plant around 400,000 seedlings this month after the relaunching activity last week.

Antipolo seedlings propagation inside Minrico compound, these planting materials are free to those interested to join the greening program.

Over the years of this noble efforts, the group has been joined by numerous cause-oriented groups and local government units.

END.