A civil society group composed of representatives from the media, NGOs, and the academe has recently alerted the public of the irregularities surrounding the implementation of the DENR's multi-million reforestation project in the province of Camarines Sur. At issue is the DENR's report stating the completion of the reforestation efforts at Brgy. Lupi of Tinambac town; this claim is seriously challenged by the said multi-sectoral group led by Fortunato Mendoza. There is good reason to believe Mendoza and his group and be suspicious of the regional DENR office on this matter.
According to Mendoza's group, which includes the Mt. Isarog Guardians, the DENR's report that about 150 hectares have been fully planted with 250,000 seedlings in the said location "is grossly inaccurate" because based on their group's on-site visit, only an estimated 40 hectares were actually planted. It therefore seems that DENR, with its 100% completion report, is actually missing a forest.
Meanwhile, Mendoza's group further points out that the area supposedly targeted by DENR in its reforestation program is the same area which had been the site of earlier reforestation efforts under CARE Philippines and UNDP back in 2001 to 2005. To claim that an additional 150 hectares had been reforested by DENR is to multiply drastically the land area of the said reforestation site; in other words, it would entail that Brgy. Lupi has a land size larger than its mapped area. This is ridiculous.
And very suspicious.
Now, DENR Bicol Director Joselin Marcus Fragada is being taken to task to defend his agency's report. His office is being asked to provide a program of work from the winning bidders of the reforestation project as proof for the claim of completion. Bizarrely, this request was reportedly declined by Fragada's office, citing them to be "confidential and restricted."
We demand that Director Fragada and his office immediately clarify this issue. The program of work which would support DENR's report of 100% completion of the reforestation program-if it exists-must be presented. Otherwise, we urge that those responsible for what may be plausibly a fraudulent report (one which supposedly justifies nearly Php 5M in disbursed funds) be made accountable for this "missing forest."