Tagum City's Entry to the Galing Pook Award

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE PROGRAM 1. Title of the Program

Hijo Riverbank’s Accretion Reforestation and Inter-Cropping Farming System Program 2. Name of the LGU Implementing the Program

Local Government Unit of Tagum City 3. Population of the LGU

215,067 (NSO Census 2007); 232,636 (NSO Projected Population for 2010) 4. Income Classification of the LGU

First Class Component City 5. Profile and Number of the Beneficiaries of the Program

288 Families - Informal Settlers 6. Date of the Start of the Program

September 18, 2008 7. Financial Profile of the Program in the Previous Year/s Source(s) of Fund LGU - General Trust Fund Tagum Water District

Year 1 (2008)

Year 2 (2009)

Year 3 (2010)

Under the City Reforestation Program

P 368,420.00

P 48,500.00

P 117,102.74

P 538,800.00

P 518,273.00

P20,000.00

P 25,000.00

P 927, 220.00

P 591, 773.00

LYR Marketing TOTAL

P 117, 102.74

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte

PROGRAM BRIEF

The Accretion Areas along the Hijo River traversing the four barangays in the City of Tagum namely: Apokon, Magugpo East, Magdum and Pandapan were once undeveloped. It is the thrust of the city government to manage its environmental resources by way of rehabilitation and integration of agro-forestry farming system. This two-fold approach is adopted to integrate farming activity in pursuing the development of the accretion areas. These areas comprise 150 hectares track of land with an estimated stretch of 12 kilometers from Barangay Pandapan to Barangay Apokon.

For the past years, these areas were occupied by illegal settlers.This areas were predominantly covered by grasses which had no commercial value. Occasionally, flooding had been experienced in the said area particularly during heavy rains since the river is a major channel from other tributaries from upland areas. Moreover, massive soil erosion has been observed in the riverbanks which caused major damage to the soil resources. More so, several occupants of the area have been affected of this incidence and these people were considered to be in danger zone. There were occasions that their subsistence for food was scarce due to incidence of flooding. Even their houses had been damaged by this calamity. Other than this, poverty incidence was prevalent. Among the causes were the inappropriate farming technology, absence of marketing support and lack of additional income to address their daily needs.

The unique biodiversity feature of the project areas have been considered by the program management in the integration of agro-forestry farming system as an approach in project implementation.

The system adopts inter-cropping of multiple crops that produce immediate cash value which benefit the family beneficiaries.

After the pre-implementation planning, the program management aims to achieve the following objectives: GENERAL OBJECTIVE

1.To develop the accretion areas to be planted with forest trees and integrate inter-cropping farming system for environmental protection and agricultural productivity.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1.To prepare comprehensive site development plan to determine best use of land while enhancing and sustaining its natural bounty

2.To plant suitable forest trees in accordance with the proper technology to ensure 100% survival rate.

3.To adopt the following approaches: Forest plantation for protection purposes, Agro-forestry intercropping farming system and Vegetation-based soil conservation practice

4.To provide alternative livelihood opportunities for the family beneficiaries

5.To empower and capacitate the people on sustainable practice of resource utilization and development.

6.To establish support facilities and services such as: plant nurseries, bunkhouse, pathways and other infrastructures necessary to enhance the present condition of the areas.

7.To enhance the aquifer condition along the accretion areas.

8.To promote Agri - Tourism Industry in Tagum City.

As a strategy, the LGU created Task Force on Accretion. Among its mandated functions is to prepare plan, recommend policies, conduct community consultations, organize the community, monitor and evaluate the program. Moreover, Community Implementing Team was later organized which is composed of the family beneficiaries, the riparian land owners and the Barangay Council of the four barangays.

Co-management strategy is also adopted through a Memorandum of Agreement between the riparian land owners and the Barangay Council concerned. The LGU provides over-all supervision of the program.

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte

POSITIVE RESULTS AND IMPACT

Through the implementation of the program, the once undeveloped track of lands along the accretion, Hijo Riverbanks have become productive. At present, there are around 11, 328 trees planted in the said areas. Since 2008, total area planted reaches 33.312 hectares which is 22.2% of the total potential area of 150 hectares.The planted trees now serve as buffer zone and protection to prevent soil erosion and at the same time, rejuvenate the fertility of the soil. Moreover, the program contributes to avert the effect of climate change since trees are important in the carbon sequestration process which in effect will produce oxygen.

The existing source of potable water in Tagum City is through underground water sources being served by the Tagum Water District. As observed, areas connected to the Tagum Water District within Barangay Apokon now experience sufficient and quality water supply. As compared to the previous years prior to the implementation of the program, water supply was a serious problem in the said barangay. The reforestation of the accretion areas is among the vital factors that improves the water supply condition of the barangay.

The accretion areas had lost its natural bounty for the past many long years. This has been addressed by the program which resulted to the regeneration of its natural ecosystem. It has been observed that the areas now become the habitat of various wildlife species.

For the past decades, 288 families occupied the accretion areas of which their lives and properties were endangered since the accretion areas were prone to flooding. The program was designed to integrate the affected families in the process of development. Consultations were made to listen to their sentiments and identify solutions to materialize the program involving the barangays and immediate communities.

Through the intervention of the city government, the family beneficiaries were empowered to come up with sustainable solutions on livelihood through extensive community organizing and participatory action research. Indirectly, their occupancy status which was once in conflict with the private riparian land owners has been resolved.

The people and the city government came up with Agro-Forestry Inter-Cropping Farming System as a component of the program. The system paved the way to open economic opportunities which in a way resolve the resistance of the people. As the program progresses, various stakeholders are involved in giving support in terms of planting activities and maintenance. At the same time, they also provide social services through educational materials and health services.

The opportunity for additional income through backyard farming was not possible in the past because riparian owners of properties would not give consent to the family beneficiaries. Through the program, these land owners cooperate, thus opening the opportunities to develop the areas productively.

One of the substantial impacts of the program is the increase of the family income, as shown in the following table.

2007 P 2,000.00/ month

2008

2009

Vegetable Income P1,500.00/month

Vegetable Income P1,500.00/month

Total Monthly Income = P 3,500.00 75 % increase

Total Monthly Income = P 3,500.00 75 % increase

2010 •Vegetable Income P1,500.00/month •Ornamental Plants Income P 1,200.00/month Total Monthly Income = P 4,700.00 135% increase

The program also contributed to the National Greening Program of President Benigno S. Aquino III. More and more, civil society and government organizations, the academe and the religious sector had done their part in planting trees in the accretion areas. In effect, the program likewise contributed to address the global threat of climate change.

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte

PROMOTION OF PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION AND EMPOWERMENT 1. PROGRAM PLANNING

The City Government created City Task Force on Accretion Development composed of the national and local agencies and the private sector. The Task Force conducted community assessment and situational analysis. Action Plans were crafted to map out activities of the program. Among the major issues that were identified are the affected families who were reluctant to adopt the program. There was even an instance where the city government personnel were threatened by few members of the affected families. To address such, sectoral consultations were conducted involving the barangay government as the lead party in the consultation process. This consultation process integrated the community feedbacking necessary in the plan preparation. Their sentiments and opinions were gathered and identified solutions to address their concerns and the over-all objective of the program. After the consultation, in the four barangays covering the accretion areas, the riparian owners voluntarily commit their full support to the program. The participatory planning proved to be useful and effective in resolving the misconceptions and resistance of the affected families and riparian owners.

2. IMPLEMENTATION

Aside from the City Task Force on Accretion, the city government organized the Community Implementing Team composed of the family beneficiaries, riparian owners and the Barangay Council. In the implementation, the following activities were conducted: area delineation, MOA Signing, Relocation of Direct Settlers, Site Clearing, Tree Planting, Formulation of Policies and By-Laws and Continuous Capability Building for the Beneficiaries. In all of these stages of the program, the people especially the family beneficiaries were involved in the process through their participation as volunteers and agents of change.

One important component of the program is the capability building of the family beneficiaries on the following: Organic Farming, Organic Foliar Fertilizer and Insecticide Making, Business Opportunities in Agricultural Farming System, Goat and Poultry Raising, Training on Processing of Herbal Medicines and Potting of Ornamental Seedlings Hands-on Training

All these trainings were conducted on site to get rid of additional cost from the beneficiaries to attend the trainings outside of their area. Schedules of trainings were done during weekends so that their day to day livelihood activities will not be hampered.

The LGU provides other support facilities and farm inputs, to enable the family beneficiaries to embark immediately on the program. Water system is provided by the local government in the farm site to be used for domestic requirements and water needs of the plants especially during dry seasons. Organic Farming System is being promoted by the LGU whereby farm inputs are provided for free in the initial stage.

These type of support services by the LGU to the family beneficiaries are done as programmed to address their needs immediately. City personnel assigned to the program also served as the development facilitator to ensure efficient delivery of the services and the farm inputs in the field.

3. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring of the project is done by both the program management and the community. The barangasy also provide monitoring personnel using the Barangay “Tanods” who conduct regular site visitations and inspections. Reports are gathered regularly from the sources of information including the family beneficiaries. The people themselves played vital role in the evaluation process. They provide information and feedback to the program management and proposed interventions to address identified issues and concerns. It is very clear that people empowerment is a success factor that sustains the program in a cost-efficient manner. The involvement of the civic society organizations and the private sector particularly the Tagum Water District has been very helpful in the program implementation and sustainability. As a whole, the program promotes people participation to the extent that all those who are involved have been very proud promoting this best practice in the City of Tagum.

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte

INNOVATIONS 1. Inter-Cropping Farming System

The city government through the CAGRO assisted the beneficiaries in farm preparation by providing farm equipments and machineries for free. The beneficiaries will just proceed with the planting without any cost involved from their pockets except for their labor participation. Since, there was a joint effort among the city personnel and the beneficiaries, land preparation and vegetable farming activities were done efficiently with technical guidance.

2. Technology (Home-made Herbal Organic Fertilizer, fungicide, pesticide)

Out of their local resources, home-made herbal organic fertilizer, fungicide and pesticide have been developed and produced. Through the LGU intervention, technology training was conducted to more or less 30 households in the project site. This just shows that the program integrates economic approach in the implementation. The once undeveloped lands are now being utilized productively through the inter-cropping farming system using home-made organic fertilizer.

3. Relocation of Affected Occupants

As mentioned, there were about 80 households affected in the relocation. The riparian owners signed a MOA with the city government indicating therein their responsibility to relocate these families to the area adjacent to the accretion site within the property line of the riparian owners. The city government provided free construction materials and carpenters to build their houses. It took the city just two (2) months time to complete the relocation of these families through bayanihan approach involving city government officials, employees and the beneficiaries themselves.

4. People’s Participation/Marketing Support

Protecting the environment is everybody’s concern. This program paved the way to generate wide people’s participation through social media networking and linkages with the civic society organizations and the private sectors. The LGU recognizes their participation by enlisting their organization in a billboard located in the project site. Moreover, to sustain the people’s participation particularly with the private sector, a Memorandum of Agreement is established between the city government and the private sector citing therein their roles and responsibilities including their financial support. At present, the LGU received almost 1.7 million pesos financial support to shoulder the cost of labor for maintenance and on-going tree planting activities. Proper coordination meeting and briefing are undertaken by the CAGRO and the CENRO among the volunteer groups to identify their specific areas to be planted. Site and planting materials are prepared ahead of time to ensure efficient tree planting activities.

The LGU provided marketing support services to the beneficiaries by establishing linkages with existing buyers of their produce within Tagum City. They are also trained to adopt proper cropping calendar to ensure the market of their produce particularly on peak occasions. By doing this, marketing of their vegetables are done efficiently giving them additional immediate cash income.

5. Legislation

To protect the planted trees of various species, the city government included in its ordinance the provisions regulating the cutting and harvesting of planted trees. This piece of legislation under the Environmental Code shows the commitment of the LGU to protect the environment and sustain the program in a long term involving the community beneficiaries.

6. Advocacy and Promotion

Tagum City takes the challenge to contribute to the universal effort towards protecting the environment. Agro-Forestry Inter-Cropping Farming System in the accretion areas showcases local initiative from grassroots level in the over-all program development. This unique practice in Tagum City also allows economic development for the beneficiaries residing in the project site. This has become successful with the consistent campaign of the local government unit, the barangays and the community themselves towards environmental protection. Combining forestry and agricultural practices will create more benefits and ensure sustainable development through organic farming practice.

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte

TRANSFERABILITY AND REPLICABILITY

Tagum City has been the favorite site for Lakbay-Aral by different LGUs in the country because of its best practices in different aspects of governance and development. The Accretion Reforestation and Inter-Cropping Farming System is among its unique examples in environmental protection. The city came up with a Comprehensive Plan of the program. Initially, it covers three-year planning period. As mentioned, the Environmental Code integrates the policy on the protection of the accretion site and the planted trees.

The steps we’ve undertaken are very practical and these can be done by every local government units. However, Political Will is a key success factor which is a challenge to any Local Chief Executive. The program doesn’t need huge amount of resources from the government if only the people will be actively involved. Sophisticated technology requirement is not important. The program is designed to be resourcebased and to be easily be adopted by the beneficiaries. What is very basic is understanding the real situation and the needs of the community. By enabling policies, the people will have the right opportunity to participate in the achievement of the desired goals and objectives of the program.

By establishing the LGU’s own nursery, it can address immediately the requirement for planting materials in the project site and other areas. Such facility caters the upland and coastal planting requirements.

In any program, there will always be unique challenges and difficulties. In the case of Tagum City, one major difficulty that we faced in the process prior to its implementation was the reluctance of the riparian owners and the affected families towards the program. Community dialogue and consultations had been very effective to address this problem. Proper information dissemination was undertaken with the support of the Barangay Council to iron out issues and concerns regarding the program. Immediate actions by the LGU towards these issues and concerns were very helpful for the LGU to gain the trust and confidence of the people.

To replicate this best practice, LGUs which have similar situation with Tagum City in as far as the accretion program is concerned, are encouraged to visit the project and learn from the city’s local initiatives.

It can also be helpful to involve the communities in the development process and there must be consistent implementation of policies and immediate actions of the LGUs commitment towards the program.

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte

We certify that to the best of our knowledge, all of the information contained in this Application Form and annexes are true and accurate.

FORESTER MICHAEL M. TRADIO, MSF Project Development Officer III City Agriculture Office Energy Park, Apokon, Tagum City E-mail Address: tradiomichael@yahoo.com Tel. No.: (084) 216 – 2716; Mobile No.: 0917-638-8353

REY T. UY City Mayor City of Tagum Office of the City Mayor City Hall Building, City Hall Rizal St., Tagum City E-mail Address: tagummayorsoffice@gmail.com Tel. No.: (084) 217 – 3688; Telefax. No.: (084) 218 – 1957

HIJO RIVERBANK’S ACCRETION REFORESTATION AND INTER-CROPPING FARMING SYSTEM Local Government of Tagum City, Province of Davao del Norte