By Claro A. Lanipa
LABANGAN, Zamboanga del Sur – The
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 formally inaugurated
and turned-over the Forest and Timber Resources Research Center (FTRRC) to the
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) in a simple rites recently
held at Barangay Pulacan this municipality.
In a makeshift tent set up in front of the refurbished
research center, Regional Director Arleigh J. Adorable turned-over the key of
responsibility to Antonio M. Dano, assistant director of ERDB-9.
In his message, Marcial Amaro, assistant
secretary for field operations, hoped that the center would not just continue with
what had been started in 2012 but continue maintaining, upgrading and ensuring that
the researches are being done insofar as far as clonal preparation of planting
materials is concerned to support the National Greening Program which will end
in 2016.
It can be recalled that the clonal facility
was inaugurated and started its operations in July 2012 with Assistant
Secretary Amaro and Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo as the guests of honor during
the said occasion.
At the start of the program, Ruben Tabora,
head of ERDB-9 reported that the clonal facility had produced 20 thousand
seedling in 2012, 30 thousand in 2013 and 50-thousand last year. It is now
targeting to produce 90 thousand seedlings of various indigenous trees this year.
Amaro also challenged the officers and
personnel manning the facility to further enhance and work more seriously in
the years to come.
Meanwhile, Assistant Director Antonio Dano
of ERDB-9 in his acceptance message said, “ to us in the research sector, it is
a reminder of what are we going to do. Our role is very important and the
expectation of DENR from us is very high that we really have to support the
program of the DENR particularly the NGP.
“With this clonal facility we are expected
to produce quality planting materials,” Dano pointed out.
“It is a big challenge for us, with the
expected target as presented earlier, we always emphasized that we want to produce quality planting materials,” Dano said.