DENR taps companies to help National Greening Program

PILAR, Bataan –The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is tapping companies to help the National Greening Program (NGP) of the government.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Raul Mamac said that 3 companies in the province already agreed to help NGP here. He said Seafront Shipyard and Marine Services Corporation, Petron Bataan Refinery, and Orion Dockyard are set to sign a memorandum of agreement with them in support to the reforestation project. Mamac explained that the companies will be providing funds for the maintenance and protection of respective NGP sites in the province.

The Bataan Penro explained that the allocated fund of the national government for the maintenance and protection for NGP sites is for three years only after the planting. He further explained the planted NGP sites in 2011 and 2102 do not have any more allocated funds for maintenance and protection. He said this is the reason why they are tapping the assistance of private companies.

Mamac said DENR offices all over the country are seeking the assistance of the companies to ensure maintenance and protection of early NGP sites. He disclosed that they are also eyeing GN Power Plant and Bataan Bankers Association to support the NGP in the province.

The NGP is a massive forest rehabilitation program of the government established by virtue of Executive Order No. 26 by President Aquino. It seeks to grow 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares nationwide within a period of six years, from 2011 to 2016.