DENR executive lauds UDP Isabela Task Force

BY RACQUEL M. CALDEZ

ILAGAN, Isabela - Upland Development Program (UDP)-Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) Coordinator for Northern Luzon Director Benjamin Tumaliuan lauded the UDP Provincial Task Force in Isabela for the smooth flow of discussion presided by PENRO Alfredo M. Almueda in the recent Regional, Provincial Task Forces and LOI Appraisal Meeting held at the Pinaroc Hall at DENR PENRO in Ilagan town.

Director Tumaliuan urged the participants to support the directive of DENR Secretary Jose Atienza, Jr. to intensify President Arroyo’s Hunger Mitigation measures and sustainable upland management program entitled “The 2009 Upland Development Program”.

He said he is optimistic about the success of this noble approach to reforestation agroforestry for it will involve upland communities in planting, nurturing and protecting trees.

The resources of the DENR for calendar year 2009 in forest development and management have been substantially reconfigured to accelerate the restoration of the environmental service functions of vital watershed and protected area. This, in addition to simultaneously catalyzing the improvement of productivity of the uplands, creating incomes of upland poor, mitigating hunger among highly vulnerable populations, engaging organized upland communities, and providing the climate for gainful economic production for poor upland dwellers, Tumaliuan said.

Tumaliuan further posed a challenge to the participants in his closing message “Cagayan Valley might not be the Best Region but still my Region but hopefully in July of next month will be the best Region”.

In response to the message of Director Tumaliuan, PENRO Almueda personally thanked the Regional Task Force and expressed full support to the program of the department.

Provincial Task Force II Team Leader Alma Abanto presented during the meeting the identified sites in Isabela for Upland Development Program with a total of 1,032 hectares area covered as indicated in the survey results and maps submitted by CENROs Palanan, Cabagan and San Isidro while UDP Operation Task Force Team Leader Artemio Gavino, Jr. presented in figures the UDP beneficiaries who will be engaged in the development of identified areas.

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