Lopez urged: Let Benguet town manage local forests
>> Monday, August 29, 2016
By Aldwin Quitasol
LA TRINIDAD--The council of this capital town
of the province of Benguet urged Environment Sec. Gina Lopez to turn over
management of communal forests to the municipal government.
Councilor Guiller
Galwan said the municipal government
cannot touch communal forests within its municipal territories as they are
under the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.
He said the four
communal forests of La Trinidad wants manage its existing communal forests in barangays Puguis, Shilan,
Alapang and Alno.
He added these could also be utilized for coffee plantations
to boost their coffee industry and also ecotourism.
He said there are
many potential spaces in the said communal forests for the purpose.
Galwan said they will
utilize the lands in the area in adherence to the laws on forests.
He added the
municipality also has a forest management plan. He said that the indigenous
peoples of LA Trinidad just like in any places where there are IPs have
traditional practices on managing their forests.
Galwan said this will
provide opportunities for the municipality to demonstrate innovations in
environmental management and development in the four communal forests.
The local legislator
cited the local government code of 1991 wherein LGUs shall endeavor to be
self-reliant and shall also discharge the functions and responsibilities of
national agencies and officers devolved to them.
He added that
pursuant to the code, the DENR issued an administrative order 30 in 1992
providing the guidelines for the implementation and transfer DENR functions to
be devolved to local government units.
He said that among
these is the management of communal forests within the municipality.
Galwan said
under Administrative Order 30, LGUs shall share in sustainable management
and development of the environment and natural resources within their
territorial jurisdiction.
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