The Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Forest Management Bureau has completed the formulation of the Forestry Investment Road Map (FIRM), one of the programs for the effective protection, development, and conservation of forestlands and watersheds.
The FIRM outlines strategies for increasing investments in forestry to improve productivity of forests and forest-based products to be competitive in the local and international market.
The roadmap was anchored on the Philippine Master Plan for Climate Resilient Forestry Development and to the Ambisyon Natin 2040 which aspires for a “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay” for every Filipino citizen.
It aims to identify and delineate potential investment areas; develop and maintain plantations, grazing lands, and ecotourism areas outside National Integrated Protected Area System; formulate or amend policies and guidelines related to forestry investments; and eventually provide appropriate tenure instruments for private investors.
DENR offices, from the regional to Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) levels, are tasked to create a technical working group to work on this end.
The Penro and Cenro will identify and delineate on ground potential investment areas within the production forestlands under their area of jurisdiction.
In Abra, Cenro Lagangilang chose Tineg for the activity given its vast area that is potential for ecotourism, grazing, forest, and agroforest plantations development. Consultation to municipal and barangay officials, orientation, and workshop were conducted to make the program transparent, participative, and with accountability on both DENR and local government of Tineg.
Barangays with the help of Municipal Engineer Romulo Villamonte identified their priority investment areas in consonance with its production forests as identified in their Forest Land Use Plan. – Racquel B. Pineda
