NegOr vice-guv promotes bicycles as transport mode of barangays
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 18 (PIA)-- NegOr vice-governor Apolonio Arnaiz wants to promote the use of bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation of all barangay personnel in the province to save gasoline and promote the use of non-motorized vehicles.
Arnaiz allocated P500T to buy surplus mountain bikes as transportation of all barangay personnel and turned-over 24 units of bicycles to the village chiefs Tuesday at the Dumaguete City hall grounds.
"The use of bicycle is an alternative and sustainable mode of transportation for a healthier environment," Arnaiz said.
The turned over was witnessed by Dumaguete City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, City Administrator William Ablong and city hall employees.
Of the 30 barangays in the city, 24 were given bicycles and the other six barangays will follow, according to Vice-Governor Arnaiz.
Arnaiz, an environmentalist also announced to the barangay captains that those barangays situated near rivers will also have budget allocations to buy giant bamboo seedlings that will be planted beside the Banica River banks.
The Vice Governor explained that bamboos can cover bald mountains quicker than other tree species; protect the side of rivers and also contribute to a long-term effect in mitigating climate change. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)
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GIZ, NegOr ink MOA to preserve forestland
by Jennifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Jan. 17 (PIA) The German Development Corporation (GIZ) and the provincial government of Negros Oriental with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) committed to sustain forestland management and strengthened their partnership recently thru signing a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
Under the agreement, the GIZ will provide technical and financial support to the province’s effort to protect and preserve forest cover in its Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP).
The GIZ’s P100M worth of grants and services to local government unit-beneficiaries will also be supplemented by a P1million LGUs counterpart.
With typhoon Sendong that damaged P1.2 billion worth of crops and infrastructure, Provincial Governor Roel Degamo said this forestland management hopefully serves as a buffer zone against future floods and landslide.
The governor led the signing of the agreement with DENR regional technical director, Dr. Isabelo Montejo; GIZ Country Director Robert Kressirer and their local counterparts for an affirmation of full support to co-manage forestlands in the province and to create provincial forest use land assistance team (PFAT) to coordinate forest land use planning and monitor its implementation.
Currently, there are 11 LGUs that are implementing FLUPs, and eight more LGUs have requested for technical assistance from DENR to start the preparations of their FLUPs.
Of the eleven LGUs with FLUPs, 10 have also signed a co-management agreement with DENR to directly manage a specific portion of the forestland within their territorial jurisdiction.
The Community Based Forest and Mangrove Management Project (CBFMMP) also supports the signed agreement to promote sustainable management of forest and forestland in Negros Oriental.
In Negros Oriental, Bayawan City, La Libertad, and Sta. Catalina are part of the recipients of loan and grant intended to sustain management of forests and mangroves and as livelihood assistance. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)