Dr. Renato Escurel of General Trias City CENRO is actively enjoining stakeholders in promoting and sustaining the information, education, and communication effort of the city in helping preserve the environment.
Recently, through the initiative of Dr. Escurel, the Beta Sigma Fraternity Cavite Assembly Agroforestry held a greening project in Magallanes, Cavite.
True to its form of giving back to the community, the Beta Sigma Fraternity continues to involve their group in private and foreign environmental movements. The brotherhood planted tree for the project “Alay ng Kapatiran sa Inang Kalikasan”, as part of their greening program on a nationwide capacity.
Historically, the Cavite Assembly has been planting trees in different areas in Cavite for more than a decade already. The group collaborates with the LGUs of the province. Significantly, the Fraternity launched a massive tree -planting and nurturing program on its 75th Diamond Jubilee celebrations this year.
Their effort to help the environment survive and sustain condition was heeded by the government and other stakeholders.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources forged a long-term MOA and planting tree is just an initial effort to sustain the advocacy.
“The program is based on the internationally recognized approach called Nature Based Solutions that will address climate change thru the conservation of biodiversity, watershed protection, sustainable agriculture and community involvement,” said Jose Andres Diaz, Beta Sigma officer.
Andres Diaz is the former Regional Executive Director, Assistant Director of the Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau (now Biodiversity Management Bureau-BMB) and Director of the Palawan Crocodile farming Institute of the DENR and a pioneer in the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society, Inc. (PNPCSI). He is tasked to lead the Cavite assembly agro forestry project located in Mt. Ipus, Bgy. San Agustin, Magallanes. The team is comprised of dedicated advocates, Dr. Lito Barron former director of the Bureau of Plant Industry, brod Levy Perez a UPLB agriculture veteran who retired from USDA and now a successful Cavite farmer, Dr. Rene Escurel, brod Bobot Periodico another farmer from Magallanes, sis Sheryl Esguerra, who is both an enthusiastic environmentalist and IT expert handling the promotions and Cavite Assembly president Dr Efren Nuestro former NMIS and BAI director who is now another successful Cavite farmer.
Beta Sigma Fraternity Cavite Assembly Agro forestry entered into a MOA on June 2021. DENR, PENRO Cavite provided an initial symbolic 7.5 hectares area to be developed into a National Greening Program agro forestry site in 5 years, and a provision to expand within 5 years to its total area of 200 hectares.
Executive Director Butch Madarang of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council during the activity also suggested the promotion of bamboo to be included as an integral part of the project.
“As the ‘poor man's lumber,’ bamboo has grown to be a ‘green gold’ resource because of its increasing value in global economy and its sustainability as among the fastest-growing and versatile forest products in the country,” Madarang said.
In their recent activity, the Fraternity plans to change the expanded area into different tenurial instrument called the Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement. The agreement is between the DENR and the Cavite Assembly which has tenure of 25 years renewable for another 25 years. The SIFMA also allows investment in commercial production such as tree plantation, agricultural and fruit trees, agro-ecotourism and even livestock production to ensure economic sustainability of the venture.
Presently, various crops are planted like a mix of bananas, different fruit trees, bamboos and agar wood covering approximately 4 hectares. To spread the advocacy, the group collaborates on their greening efforts with various NGOs and the Project Luntian Cavite, led by Prof. Julio Castillo, Jr. is one of them. The Cavite Medical Society led by its president Dr. Glen Cajida is actively participating, too. Consistently, the GENTRIMED hospital led by its president Dr. Jerry Genuino, the South East Asian Medical Center led by its medical director Dr. AnnaLou Diaz, the Magallanes LGU, and the Cavite PENRO are one in the advocacy of the BETA SIGMA Fraternity.
There is no stopping the Beta Sigma Fraternity Cavite Assembly Agro forestry in their efforts to help save the planet and part of their future plans are projects that will enjoin efforts with the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau of the DENR.