Koronadal Ctiy — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-12 has assisted eight towns in the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and General Santos City in the drafting of their respective Forest Land Use Plan in Koronadal City, recently.
The Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers of the municipalities of Kabakan, Pikit, Antipas, and Midsayap in the Province of North Cotabato; municipalities of President Roxas, Palimbang and Bagumbayan in the Province of Sultan Kudarat, and General Santos City presented their Flup drafts for critiquing to the technical experts from DENR-12 and some assisting professionals in augmenting the necessary data and information for their plans.
Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Hadja Didaw D. Piang-Brahim reminded the local governments that the DENR will still monitor the adoption of their Flups if there respective Sangguniang Bayan will pass resolution of approval.
“The DENR will guide the LGU on how to develop and utilize their forests and forestlands and how to close the open access areas to prevent the (occurrence) of illegal activities,” Brahim said.
“Flup will also be integrated in your Comprehensive Land Use Plan which is a requirement for the Internal Revenue Allotment,” Brahim told the participants.
Executive Order No. 318 (Promoting Sustainable Forest Management in the Philippines) mandates local governments to incorporate Flups into their Clups. It is to the interest of the local governments to have “open access” areas within their jurisdictions allocated. By doing so, the local governments can have these areas assigned to responsible resource managers and to avoid environmental destruction and minimize conflicts between and among community members who directly or indirectly benefit from these resources. (Teng L. Datu)
