July 3, 2025 | Butuan City
In a significant step toward sustainable upland development and environmental stewardship, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with 16 Community-Based Forest Management People’s Organizations (CBFM-POs) for the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CBFM-CARP) projects for 2025.
The ceremonial signing took place on July 3, 2025, at the DENR Regional Learning Center in Butuan City. The initiative, amounting to ₱14,157,948.50, aims to enhance both the ecological integrity of forestlands and the socio-economic conditions of upland and coastal communities across the region.
The MOAs cover agroforestry and livelihood projects aligned with DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-29, which provides the updated guidelines for CBFM implementation. These projects will benefit 573 individuals from 16 POs operating in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
DENR Caraga OIC-Regional Executive Director Maritess Ocampo underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and integrity among project implementers. She assured the beneficiaries of the DENR’s continued support and commitment to empowering grassroots communities.
“This partnership is more than a legal agreement. It is a covenant for shared responsibility in managing our natural resources and in building resilient and self-reliant communities,” said Ocampo.
During the event, she also announced the launching of the Sustainable Forest Land Management Agreement (SFLMA) — a new tenurial instrument that will replace older frameworks under the department’s forest programs. The SFLMA represents a shift toward a more climate-responsive and holistic approach to forest land management.
Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services, Atty. Redemtor A. Oja, echoed the call for responsible implementation, urging the PO beneficiaries to value this rare opportunity by fulfilling their roles and maximizing the impact of the support.
Representing the beneficiary organizations, Mrs. Teresita G. Sergio, Chairperson of the Motong Falls Farmers Association (MFFA), expressed heartfelt gratitude to the DENR Caraga. She recounted how previous CBFM-CARP interventions have transformed their community, allowing families to afford education for their children, with some now college graduates.
“These programs have not just helped us survive — they helped us thrive. We are living proof that government support, when truly inclusive and sustained, can change lives,” said Sergio.
The newly signed MOAs reaffirm DENR Caraga’s commitment to inclusive development, climate adaptation, and community empowerment through sustainable forest and coastal resource management.