May 7, 2021, Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte — “CARAGA stakeholders’ support for the SFM Bill is overwhelming,” shared by SFFI National Council President Tommy Valdez during the SFM Bill Rollout and Consultation Forum for CARAGA Region in collaboration with DENR-CARAGA and SFFI-CARAGA Regional Council.
ARD Claudio A. Nistal, Jr. recognized all the activity participants including, for face-to-face attendees, Datu Kalamboan Andaya (BAMATA Tribal Council Inc.), Hon. Melchor Demegillo (LGU Talacogon Vice Mayor), Nemesio Niog, Jr. (FIAAS), Alberto Cahilog, Jr., For. Achilles Ebron,, and for virtual attendees Atty. Lawrence Fortun (Congressman of 1st District, Agusan del Norte), Antonieto Charcos (1st District Congressman Rep., Surigao del Norte), Rev. Fr. John Christian Young (FSUU Campus Director), Adela Antiga (Provincial Governor, Agusan del Norte), Dioscora Arnaiz (Wood Industry, Liason Officer).
SFFI CARAGA Regional Council President, Forester Maritess Ocampo (also the DENR-CARAGA ARD for Management Services), welcomed the participants and the Rollout Team led by the Project Leader and SFFI National Council President, Forester Tommy Valdez. DENR Regional Executive Director, Forester Nonito M. Tamayo, followed through with the introduction of the Keynote Speaker (and one of the bill’s principal authors), Congressman Lawrence H. Fortun of the 1stDistrict of Agusan del Norte (attending virtually).
Congressman Fortun mentioned that the Bill, which had been pending for more than three decades, had already been passed in the House of Representatives during the 17thCongress but was relatively constraint of time. This 18th Congress allows more than a year more but there needs to be a strong “push” especially with the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change (SCENRCC). “Butuan City, and largely CARAGA, has been called the timber corridor of the country,” says Fortun. “The SFM bill is long overdue, and I appeal to the Society of Filipino Foresters to continue with its efforts on the Bill”, he added.
Forester Valdez, rendered his presentation on the SFM Bill Rollout, with reference to the current concerns and predicaments of the forestry sector, including those from the CARAGA Region. “Forestry has a huge potential in helping the country address its problems but is often misunderstood as synonymous to logging, which is not. To promote this, we need more champions in addition to Congressman Fortun and RED Tamayo,” said Forester Valdez. “The SFM Bill, before considering forest production, ensures that the protected and protection areas are clearly set aside for other ecosystem services like water, biodiversity and gene pool, among others” explained Valdez. He also thanked the DENR and the FAO-EU-FLEGT Programme for their continuing support for the Advocacy Towards the Passage of the SFM Bill Project – Phase 2.
Datu Kalamboan Andaya, President of Banowaon, Manobo, Talaandig (BAMATA) Tribal Council, Inc., Agusan del Sur recounted the old ways of their tribe and apologized for being partly accountable for forest destruction in Agusan. “For six years, ganoon ang aming buhay… isang puno, isang sakong bigas. Isang araw lang may pagkain na, kaysa maghintay ka ng anim na buwan kung magtanim ka (For six years, that was our way of life… one tree, one sack of rice. In one day, one could already have food on the table compared to planting when one had to wait for six months.)” added Andaya. “Hindi pala sagot ang illegal logging. Kaya ngayon, ang IPs po namin ay nag-eenjoy sa pagtatanim sa mga area (We realized that illegal logging is not the answer. Now, our tribe reaps benefits from planting in the area)”, he concluded.
Several manifestations of support to the bill’s passage were made by participants including the LGUs of Butuan City and Agusan del Sur, members of the Academe, People’s Organizations, Private Sectors, House of Representatives, DENR Field Offices and SFFI Chapter members.
The next rollout is scheduled for the Central Visayas Region.
