KIAMBA, Sarangani Province – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Kiamba praised Daguma Agro Minerals Inc. (DAMI) for the soft launch of its 1,000-square-meter central nursery in Barangay Upo on November 26. The initiative, a cornerstone of the company’s corporate social responsibility, aims to bolster environmental conservation and community support.
Situated within the Upo Valley Agriculture Cooperative (UVACO), an Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP) beneficiary, the nursery is designed to cultivate 36,000 seedlings. These include fruit-bearing trees, fast-growing timber species, and coffee plants, which are expected to benefit the communities of Barangay Upo, Tuanadatu, and Kalaong.
A Sustainable Step Toward Climate Action
CENRO Kiamba expressed its support for DAMI’s initiatives, emphasizing their alignment with the ridge-to-reef approach, a strategy that integrates watershed management with coastal and marine conservation. The nursery is seen as a critical component of local climate change mitigation efforts.
“The planting materials raised here will not only support reforestation and sustainable livelihoods but also act as natural barriers against climate impacts,” a CENRO Kiamba representative remarked.
Strengthening Environmental Partnerships
Daguma Agro Minerals Inc. and Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEPC) also extended their gratitude to partners who contributed to the project’s success. Both organizations reaffirmed their dedication to fulfilling their environmental and social responsibilities.
“These efforts reflect our unwavering commitment to sustainable development and ecological preservation. We are grateful for the collaboration that makes initiatives like this possible,” a DAMI spokesperson said.
The nursery launch underscores a broader commitment to ecological conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and community empowerment. It also reinforces the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing pressing environmental challenges.
As the nursery gears up to nurture thousands of seedlings, its impact is poised to grow beyond the confines of Barangay Upo, serving as a symbol of hope for a greener, more sustainable future.