SULTAN KUDARAT, Philippines – A 187-hectare Tree Replacement Program is set to begin in several areas of Sultan Kudarat province to compensate for trees affected by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)–Sultan Kudarat Irrigation Management Office (SKIMO) irrigation project in parts of Lebak town. The initiative aims to improve water supply for local farmers while ensuring environmental protection.
The program was formalized through a Letter of Agreement (LOA) signing on August 6, 2025, witnessed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)–Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Kalamansig and NIA-SKIMO. It will be implemented in partnership with the Kalamansig Highlanders Farmers Multi-Purpose Association Inc. under the DENR’s Enhanced National Greening Program (eNGP), which seeks to protect the environment while supporting farmers’ livelihoods.
Under the ₱1.4 million project, tree planting will cover four barangays—Sta. Maria, Nalilidan, and Sta. Clara in Kalamansig, and Pansud in Lebak. NIA will provide funding, technical assistance, and monitoring support, while the farmers’ association will lead site preparation, planting, maintenance, and protection of seedlings, targeting an 85% survival rate. The project also includes geotagging, signage installation, and mapping to promote transparency and public awareness.
The initiative follows the first table conference held on January 16, 2025, between DENR-CENRO Kalamansig and NIA-SKIMO to review the progress of the Tree Replacement Program. The discussions were based on a memorandum of agreement signed on October 24, 2022, between the two agencies to address the impact of irrigation projects on trees in Barangays Pansud and Barurao II in Lebak, while enhancing water supply for farmers—a critical factor in boosting agricultural productivity and sustaining community livelihoods.