Brod Rene'64
 

Betan Centennial Forest Project

Former DENR Undersecretary Rene de Rueda reports on this project; UPBSFI recently gave $500, and another $500 is waiting to be released after Audit Report.

Greetings of peace!

May I respectfully submit my field visit report on the Centennial Forest (CENFOR) project of our UPV fraternity brothers, to wit:

1. The project site is about 3 hectares of open/ grass lands, and accordingly in 3 parcels. It is very near the housing project of the UPV staff, about 300 meters only. The slope is moderately rolling. Prior the CENFOR project, the site was used as a grazing land for some of the cattles in the community. Worth mentioning also is the presence of a cattle's "watering hole"  in the project site.

2. The initial CENFOR site is about 1.5 hectares in area and is fully fenced by bamboo slats.Of the total area, only 1 hectare, more or less, was planted by  more than 2,500 seedlings belonging to 9 tree species, at the time of the visit.

3. The CENFOR project is primarily initiated by our UPV brods but acitvely assisted by other brods from other schools in the PANAY/ Negros Occidental area and other partners and friends in the region.

4. I was told that the rainy season starts sometime in may/ june and end towards december.Dry season starts as early as february until may. Hence, we expect that the planted seedlings will have adequate moisture during this rainy season. However, during dry season, the planted seedlings should be maintained in such a way that enough moisture will be available for the growth of the seedlings.

5. The following are my general findings on the seedlings/ area planted:

a.              planting area:  majority of the planted seedlings are considered "undersize". some are only 6- 8 inches in height and with small stem.

                                                               i.      the dug holes are comparatively small

                                                             ii.      the grasses and some vines are observed to be choking already few of the planted seedlings.

                                                            iii.      there were observed few dead seedlings (about 20 seedlings) possibly caused by its immature and unreadiness to be outplanted, and  a sign of cattle's foot print in 3 planted holes  -- an indication that, when there was no guard in the area, the cattle owner/ pastor allowed his cows to graze in the planted area. guided the cows to the cow's drinking place.

b.              nursery

                                                               i.      the nursery is located under the canopy of trees near the house of Brod Uloe Alama.

                                                             ii.      It is not the ideal site to raise seedlings but it served the purpose somehow. I found out that the rooting system of the seedlings produced/ outplanted are not well developed yet.

6. Advice given:

a.              On Nursery

                                                               i.      the nursery shall be relocated into a more ideal site where there is adequate sunlight and water availability.

                                                             ii.      the nursery should be secured from animals and unwanted human activities.

                                                            iii.      suggested that the project coordinates with some of the fast food chain like jollibee and mcdonald, for the use of the large plastic glasses as potting materials.

                                                           iv.      Brod Tawe- designated as "chief operating officer" for the CENFOR project is to undergo hands on training on nursery practices and management, including the seeds germination, collection/ use of potting medium, hardening of seedlings,grafting/ budding, from the DA and or DENR operated nurseries.

                                                             v.      as a rule of thumb, the seedlings to be planted should at least be a "foot in height and a pencil- size stem".

                                                           vi.      henceforth, the seedlings to be out-planted are expected to have higher degree of survival because of good nursery practices.

                                                          vii.      there is also a need to raise other species of plants (palms, forest fruit- bearing trees, to be planted in the CENFOR project, in order to enrich the plant diversity in the area, and ultimately attract wildlife and insects, and other forms of animal life.

b.              On plantation

                                                               i.      the planting area should be properly laid out, e.g. a particular portion thereof is delineated to show what seedlings/ plants are to be introduced thereat; proper determination of planting distance and staking requirements.

                                                             ii.      site preparation should be done ahead of the tree planting

                                                            iii.      planting holes should at least be a foot in diameter and depth

                                                           iv.      timely weeding, loosening of soil and application of fertilizer, in order to give the necessary boost for the seedlings' growth.

                                                             v.      protection from fire, e.g. fire line construction and or weeding of seedlings

                                                           vi.      protection from illegal grazing- there should be somebody to guard the plantation 24/7. I even suggested that the present cattle pastor should be hired to be the protection and maintenance guy in the plantation. In addition, he should be taught on how to establish his own forage production, by planting forage crops such as napier, centrosema plants and using later on the "cut and carry" approach in cattle feeding, hence, sparing the plantation from cattle grazing.

                                                          vii.      Considering that the project site is very near the UPV campus, it is encouraged that the resident brods and the sisters, including their friends can have their scheduled deployment in the project area, where they can also have their review/ learning of lessons there and  bondings with one another. This would also serve as a deterrent to the would-be plantation's  vandalizers and illegal grazers.

                                                        viii.      There is a need to construct an improvised "bahay kubo" where our brods and partners can use when they are in the area for legitimate reasons.

 

After the site visit, I had an exit conference with the concerned brods of the project, led by Brod Froi Nazareno, to discuss the findings and recommendations. They have committed to implement the desired changes in the project implementation.

Concluding Statement:

The foregoing lists of findings and observations, including advice and recommendation are by no means complete. There are other strategies that I failed to include but appropriate in the project. May I request therefore the foresters' brods and those brods with expertise on similar project to come out with their suggestions in order to have a successful CENFOR project in UPV .

As a whole, the project is going well but there can still be room for improvement, as already mentioned in this report. The local brods from UPV, other UP alumni brods residing and or working in Panay, as well as the other brods from the local schools, are to be commended for their noble collective effort to initiate and implement a Centennial Forest project, as the UPV contribution to the UP Centennial Anniversary. They are also very appreciative with our suggestions.

There is still a long way to go in order for us to call this project a success but at the rate things are going on, especially the passion of our local brods for the project and the support of the alumni brods, I am hopeful that in due time the CENFOR project will be a monument of love and success in the brotherhood.

I am very thankful for the hospitality and generosity of our brothers in UPV and Panay during my visit to Iloilo City and the CENFOR project site. Despite  the sad experience they had with last typhool Frank that hit panay island, especialy Iloilo, they came out with their best for the project.
I also thank the UPBSFI for making me part of this noble project.

Cheers! Mabuhay po ang Kapatirang Beta Sigma sa UP!

God bless!

Rene, uplb '64

P.S. hope the pictures will allow you to visualize how the site may look 10- 20 years from now. strongly suggest that balikbayan brods, and even pi- based brods, find time to visit the local brods and the project.

**Click to open "Visit of Usec Brod Rene to Betan Centennial Forest"   

**Click to link to Official UPV Centennial Forest website  

                                                                            (Back---> Visayas Updates Menu)     

(Back ---> Features)