Albay named recipient in 7th UNFPA’s Country Programme

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 2 (PIA) –- Albay has been named one of the areas recipient of the support programs of the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) 7th Country Programme of Assistance to the Government of the Philippines for 2012-2016.

The support programs will cover existing ones on maternal health, family planning, prevention of sexually transmitted infection and HIV, adolescent reproductive health and gender equality.

Part of the pre-implementation process of the Country Program (CP), the UNFPA already conducted a situational analysis (SITAN) of the reproductive health status of the province of

Albay including the current priorities, challenges and needs as reflected in Albay’s policies.

Under the program package, the UNFPA will provide its assistance to advance the reproductive health program of Albay including Capacity Building of Health personnel/providers in municipal/city health centers as well as district hospitals.

The UN program seeks to strengthen institution and systems and leverage partnership rather than emphasize direct service delivery. The program will expand public – private partnerships in order to leverage resources for good practices and provide effective program models.

In the case of Albay, the sustainability of this program is assured because of its existing systems and institutions. (MAL/MDR, LGU Albay)

400,000 assorted tree seedlings planted last year under the National Greening Program

By Rosalinda B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Feb 2 (PIA) -- More than 400,000 assorted tree seedlings were planted last year under the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office here.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Elpidio Orata said that the seedlings were planted to more than 600 hectares planted by 3,215 people.

NGP is one of the priority programs of government and its objective is to green bald forests, uplift the living condition of the upland dwellers, and reduce poverty of poor households and indigenous people and in coastal/urban areas.

The developed areas are being maintained and protected by selected organizations with the countinous technical assistance from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

There are also other programs and projects as well as conservation/protection programs for the continuous development of various ecosystems within the province.

Included in the program is the continuing implementation and monitoring of Bicol River Basin Watershed Management Program (BRBWMP) that contribute to the restoration of the denuded forest lands through different rehabilitation approached like upland reforestation, and assisted natural regeneration and agro-forestry by contract with non-government organization (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), and local government units (LGUs).

Also other programs include 23 projects under BRBWMP, two agro-forestry projects, seven assisted natural regeneration projects, 11 upland reforestation projects, three plantation maintenance and protection projects, and others.

Also included was the development of existing watershed in the bicol region through the implementation of the project the Libmanan-Pulantuna Watershed Management Proaject (LPWMP) located in the two municipalites of Basud and San Lorenzo Ruiz and the implementation of Comprehenstive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) funded project. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)