What is PFEC Doing?

     Despite pro-environmental policies, and the implementation of several environmental programs, a lot of effort still needs to be done to address the issue of forest destruction. The main threat stems from agricultural encroachment, driven by the practice of swidden farming by forest-edge communities. Small scale logging remains unregulated, and remains a threat in areas close to human settlements. The use of destructive harvest practices of forest products is also another threat. More and more, poorly planned infrastructure programs and the undeterred growth of the population including through migration, are also putting pressure in the declining forest reserves. This is the main development problem that PFEC seeks to address.

     The main handle of PFEC's program is the Community Forestry Program which is a forest resources conservation and development program aimed at improving the quality of life of people living in the uplands by granting them access and use rights of forest lands and resources, and providing them with alternative sources of income. It employs community participation as its basic strategy.

Area of Coverage: The PFEC's program is the Community Forestry Program which is a forest resources management activities of seven people's organizations in seven (7) barangays in the Provinces of Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur with the partnership of the Dutch Organization Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO).

On - site Projects:

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Forest Rehabilitation and Development

     Four (4) PO partners maintains on-site indigenous tree nurseries for forest rehabilitation activities.

      A small nurseries is maintained at the PFEC office in Quezon City where indigenous seedlings are available for sale: kamagong, dalipapak, yakal, nato, bitanghol, bakauan-gubat, balobo and kalingag.

     On-site conservation areas are being developed in the Barangays. Adopting the ANR approach, the PFEC in partnership with local Barangay Councils and communities aims to establish indigenous tree sanctuaries in all its project sites.

      To ease the pressure on existing forest resources, threes (3) POs from the Municipality of Labo with financial support from the Municipal Government is establishing malapapaya nurseries and plantation in individual farmer land holdings.

     In all project sites, the PFEC facilitates the mainstreaming of forest protection in the Barangay level. Forest protection are promulgated and included in the Barangay Development and Investment Plan.

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Income Generating Activities (IGA)

     With fund support from PhilGer Fund and technical assistance from PFEC, an upland tilapia raising project in Barangay Guisican, Labo, Camarines Norte provide cheap and sustainable source of fish for the entire community and near-by barangays.

     Sustainable production of citronella oil in Kanapawan,Labo, Camarines Norte was established thru the concerted efforts of PFEC and the KMMBK with contributions from the Barangay Council (plantation expansion), the Municipal Government (extraction equipment) and the DOST (extraction equipment and technology). Citronella oil is used as essence in the the production of detergents, soaps, candle and aroma therapy.

     The cattle of the poor, 2 community organizations are raising goats as additional source of income.

     The cooperative in Tigbinan, Labo, Camarines Norte sells the primary needs of the community such as rice, sugar, medicine, cooking oil, among others at a lower cost than an ordinary "sari-sari" store.

     As an income generating activity of two (2) POs, the organizations provide cheap but high quality rice to their communities. Earnings from the IGA is used by PO to put up other income generating initiatives in their communities.

     Promoting sustainable agriculture, and demonstration farm using the Masipag indigenous rice seedlines and technology was established in Barangay Guisican. The organic farm aims to ensure not only food security for the community but seed security for the farmers as well.

     Aiming to sell finished products rather than raw materials, rattan handicraft produces from Barangay Bulala was organized to get regular market, new product design and increase volume production. Driver seats, rattan folding beds, baskets and planters are among the community's products.

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Networking and Advocacy

     Marginal budget allocation for CBFM at the national and regional levels reflects that it is not a priority program of DENR. PFEC assists POs engaged in community forestry in lobbying for a reasonable budget for CBFM to assist communities in their forest protection and development activities including participation in the DENR Regional Planning of Budget.

     The need to create an enabling environment for a more effective and efficient CBFM implementation is imperative if we want to conserve what is left of the Philippine Forest. Policy reforms to improve CBFM implementation and institutionalizing CBFM is being pushed by PFEC in cooperation with the Bantay DENR (a loose coalition of NGOs).

Bills and Forestry Policies for Discussion:

1. Strengthening the Development and Management of CBFM Areas
2. Joint Venture Agreement
3. Production Sharing Agreement

     Genuine people participation and commitments of the LGUs can be used to form the basis of a constructive approach to sustainable management and protection of the remaining forest.

     PFEC facilitates the mainstreaming of natural resource management in the political agenda of the local government and budget allotment in the Municipal and Barangay Investment Plan.

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