Forest protection and rehabilitation efforts in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan are set to receive additional operational support following the turnover of a new facility to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The facility is designed to support several aspects of the agency’s work in the area, including field operations as well as monitoring activities and programs focused on protecting and rehabilitating forest resources.
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New Facility Supports Field Operations and Rehabilitation
The new site includes a depository and storage unit, a seedling nursery, and a forest officer and ranger station, according to Dennis Vergara, head of the DENR community office in Baliwag.
Each component is intended to serve a specific operational need. The depository and storage unit will be used for the proper safekeeping of apprehended forest products, while the seedling nursery will facilitate the production and maintenance of replacement seedlings for forest rehabilitation activities.
The forest officer and ranger station will provide additional operational support to personnel assigned to forest protection and monitoring, Vergara said.
Construction of the facility was supported by Eagle Cement Corp. (ECC) and Solid North Mineral Corp. (SNMC) through their corporate social responsibility program.
DENR regional executive director Ralph Pablo said the new infrastructure is expected to improve the agency’s ability to oversee forest areas and manage forest resources.
“The new facilities are expected to improve the DENR’s field operations and strengthen efforts to protect forest resources while supporting rehabilitation activities in the area,” Pablo said. “This initiative also highlights the role of public-private partnerships in providing additional resources for environmental protection and sustainable forest management.”
Public-Private Support Bolsters Forest Protection
The addition of a dedicated station for forest officers and rangers gives DENR personnel added support while carrying out monitoring and protection duties in the field. At the same time, the nursery provides a facility for maintaining seedlings needed for rehabilitation, connecting enforcement and monitoring efforts with longer-term restoration work.
ECC and SNMC also committed to continuing their support for DENR programs and projects focused on environmental protection.
Pablo, Vergara, ECC plant manager Geneser Aves and DENR Bulacan provincial head Rolly Mulato led the turnover ceremony.
The facility adds local capacity to protect and restore forest resources in one of Bulacan’s areas covered by DENR operations. Stronger field presence and access to rehabilitation resources can help make forest protection more consistent on the ground, where safeguarding watersheds, habitats and natural resources ultimately affects communities that depend on them.
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