To promote the programs and projects of the DENR, and to strengthen the linkage with the communities and its stakeholders, the DENR-CENRO Calauag continued its series of coordination and visited the two adjacent municipalities in the 4th district of Quezon Province, which are the Atimonan and Plaridel.

The CENRO Calauag team headed by CENR Officer Joselito D. Barros visited Brgy. Sta. Catalina, Atimonan, Quezon, May 6, 2021, to meet the CALABARZON's 2018 Model CBFM People's Organization (PO), the Kapit-Bisig Farmers Association Inc. or KBFAI.

CENR Officer Barros discussed to the officials and members of KBFAI the reforestation projects established under some programs of the DENR; the Upland Development Program (UDP) and National Greening Program (NGP).

Being one of the recognized POs in the region, the KBFAI showcased during the visit their hand-made and woven products, especially the “walis tambo” which is made out of the “tiger grass”. They also surfaced their existing pineapple plantation established within their production forest area.

Afterwards, the team of CENRO Barros moved to monitor the existing plantations in Brgy. Sta. Catalina. Included here are the plantations of Batino, Kalamansi, and Tiger grass established under Community-Based Forest Management-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CBFM-CARP) in 2007; and other NGP plantations that include the 50-hectare CY 2014 Coffee Plantation, 53-hectare CY 2016 Timber Plantation, and 80-hectare CY 2017 Other Fruit Trees Plantation.

Also, the 3.10-hectare and 1.24-hectare NGP Urban Plantations in Brgys. Sta. Catalina-Tagbakin and Brgys. San Isidro-Sapaan respectively were visited by CENR Officer Barros.

CENRO Barros reiterated that aside from the conservation and protection of our environment and natural resources, one of the objectives of the programs of the DENR is to improve the economic wellbeing of the community.

Meanwhile, CENR Officer Barros and his team paid a courtesy call to Plaridel Mayor Bernardo V. Tumagay and MPDC Maria Celita Forber, EnP, to discuss the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) between DENR and LGU for Rapid Land Tenure Appraisal.

He also encouraged the mayor to conduct a joint coastal cleanup within their area of jurisdiction. Mayor Tumagay affirmed to conduct such activity within the locality.