Koreans to invest P120-M farm in Bagac

BAGAC, Bataan – The Korea Forest Service (KFS) is set to finance a P120 million worth proposed demo farm and clonal nursery project in Barangay Parang of this municipality.

Raul Mamac, Chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here in Bataan said that a total of 29 families who are members of the people’s organization in the said area will benefit from the said project.

Last week a group of Koreans from the KFS led by Gang Mi-Rang, DENR Central office personnel and DENR Bataan group led by Mamac inspected the site of the proposed project. “This is also in line with the National Greening Program of President Aquino wherein they have identified some areas for their reforestation activities. This will be the first huge project under the KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) not just in Bataan but in the whole country,” Mamac said.

Miss Gang said that the planning and negotiations stage of this project started in 2011. “After these inspections at the project site, all the proposals and data will be passed and approved by the KOICA before we start this project,” Gang told reporters.

The Korea Forest Service is charged with maintaining South Korea’s forest lands. It is an independent agency specializing in forestry that is overseen by their Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Founded as a government agency in 1991, KOICA is tasked to maximize the effectiveness of South Korea’s grant aid programs for developing countries by implementing the government’s grant aid and technical cooperation programs.

In the past, development cooperation efforts were focused mainly on meeting the basic human needs (BHNs) of developing countries and on fostering their Human Resource Development (HRD). Presently, the focus has now broadened to promoting sustainable development, strengthening partnerships with developing partners, and enhancing the local ownership of beneficiaries. Additionally, global concerns such as the environment, poverty reduction, and gender mainstreaming, have gained significant importance in the international community.