LCDE: DENR, NGO partner for better environment

DENR, NGO partners for better environment

by LCDE staff

    The Leyte Center for Development, Inc. (LCDE) together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) forges partnership for a three-year reforestation project in Southern Leyte.

Represented by CENRO head Alejandro K. Bautista and witnessed by DENR Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub, the department partnered with the award-winning local non-government organization headed by executive director Jazmin Jerusalem, formalized through a memorandum of agreement conducted in CENRO San Juan in Southern Leyte.

LCDE is currently implementing a three-year project funded by the BMZ or the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Plan Germany, which covers the ecosystem restoration of the uplands, the lowlands and the coastal area in two municipalities, Silago and Saint Bernard.

The project, Adaptation to Climate Change by Strengthening Natural Resilience may compliment the National Greening Program (NGP) of the DENR, which includes the development of the 10-15meter forest zones for protection and to identify boundaries between timberland and alienable and disposable lands, said Bautista.

During the MOA signing, Ragub expressed his support for the renewed partnership with LCDE, this time on the issue of climate change. “This is a good opportunity to be hand in hand again with old partners,” he said.

He also saw the relevance of the project, especially on the province of Southern Leyte that is historically vulnerable to several different hazards.

“I am also happy to note that the initiatives of the offices in this program are focus on the environmental development, which is also part of the Five Major Pillars of development of our President Aquino,” said Ragub. “That we are guided by these major programs of the government, partnered by competent NGOs.”

Ragub also mentioned that LCDE has pioneered such partnership between the DENR and an NGO in the region for the upland development, specifically in the reforestation and agroforestry, to benefit and empower the communities in the selected project areas.

The ceremony was held in Feb. 21, 2013, attended by guests from CENRO, DENR-8, LCDE and people’s organization in Saint Bernard and Silago.

LCDE Executive Director Jazmin A. Jerusalem sits with DENR-8 Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub (middle), and PENRO San Juan Alexandro K. Bautista, during the during the Memorandum of Agreement signing for the reforestation component of the three-year project for Adaptation to Climate Change by Strengthening Natural Resilience, funded by BMZ and Plan Germany, implemented by LCDE.

DENR-8 Regional Executive Director shakes hands with PENRO San Juan Officer Alexandro K. Bautista, during the Memorandum of Agreement signing for the reforestation component of the three-year project for Adaptation to Climate Change by Strengthening Natural Resilience, funded by BMZ and Plan Germany, implemented by LCDE. Also in the photo is LCDE Executive Director Jazmin Jerusalem.

LCDE Executive Director Jazmin A. Jerusalem (2nd from left) together with  DENR Regional Executive Director Manolito Ragub, the head of of PENRO San Juan Head Alejandro Bautista (2nd from right), and LCDE Project Coordinator Fenna Joyce Moscare (extreme left), during the Memorandum of Agreement signing for the reforestation component of the three-year project for Adaptation to Climate Change by Strengthening Natural Resilience, funded by BMZ and Plan Germany.