Surigao City, April 28, 2025 — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Caraga and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Caraga have renewed their partnership in forest protection and rehabilitation efforts through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) under the “Adopt-A-Forest” Program.
The agreement, sealed during a simple ceremony at the BFP Regional Office in Barangay Rizal, Surigao City, marks BFP Caraga’s formal adoption of two graduated National Greening Program (NGP) plantations in the provinces of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte.
Under the MOA, BFP Caraga commits to maintaining and protecting a 10-hectare reforested site in Barangay Wilson, San Jose, Dinagat Islands, and a 6-hectare site in Barangay Macopa, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte. These sites were established under the NGP in 2012 and 2014, respectively.
DENR Regional Executive Director Maritess M. Ocampo and BFP Caraga Regional Director FCSUPT Rodolfo P. Denaga signed the agreement, with OIC PENR Officers Agapito T. Patubo (Surigao del Norte) and Nathaniel E. Racho (Dinagat Islands) serving as witnesses.
This renewed collaboration builds on a similar agreement signed just last month for the adoption of eight reforestation sites covering 12.7 hectares in Agusan del Sur. The Adopt-A-Forest Program is anchored on DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-20, which encourages active participation of government agencies, private organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions in sustaining and protecting forest areas.
“The threats to our forests go beyond illegal logging. We are now seeing the destructive effects of climate change, especially in the form of forest fires,” said RED Ocampo. “The BFP’s involvement is vital not just in putting out fires but in preventing them by safeguarding our forestlands.”
The BFP’s role in this program expands its mandate beyond structural fire prevention to active engagement in environmental protection. By adopting forest sites, BFP Caraga personnel will help ensure these areas are monitored, maintained, and rehabilitated as needed—thereby enhancing biodiversity, stabilizing ecosystems, and reducing the risk of wildfire outbreaks.
Programs like Adopt-A-Forest are instrumental in reforestation and forest conservation efforts, particularly in regions like Caraga that are rich in natural resources but vulnerable to environmental degradation. The continued support of public institutions like the BFP demonstrates the power of inter-agency cooperation in addressing ecological concerns and promoting climate resilience.
As forest protection becomes increasingly urgent, initiatives like this serve as vital tools in preserving the country’s remaining forest cover and in ensuring that past reforestation gains are not lost. Through sustained collaboration, communities and ecosystems alike stand to benefit from healthier, more resilient forest landscapes.