Armed with an authority to sign from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Governor Auring E. Cerilles last November 22 entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Natural Resources Development Corporation (NRDC).

NRDC was represented by its president Engr. Ray Francis Alcoseba who offered to introduce their program called as “Planting Futures.” The MOU signing was done at the Governor’s Office witnessed by Provincial Board Members who earlier approved Resolution No. 2K7-164 authorizing the lady Governor for this purpose. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Ernesto Adobo, Jr. later joined the contracting parties.

NRDC is a corporate agency of DENR which conceptualized the Planting Futures program aimed to establish an industrial tree plantation in areas with interested local government units.  

{sidebar id=8}The contract states: Planting Futures involves participating communities which shall provide the labor or sweat component of the Program and shall have a corresponding share from the earnings of the Program.  The earning shall be set aside for college education of the children of the participating communities to be managed by a foundation specifically established for the purpose.

The NRDC shall provide support funds for the livelihood of the participating communities and assist in the marketing of the agricultural products and other cash crops that the latter will be producing.

Forester Alexander Linde disclosed that under the “Planting Futures” program NDRC through DENR shall provide technical assistance, source out funds from financial institution and support funds for nursery operations, plantation establishment, protection and maintenance and harvesting.

On the other hand, the Provincial Government shall identify specific area where the industrial tree plantation shall be established; provide capital investment in the program; source out funding assistance for the immediate implementation and sustainability of the program.  It shall also formulate  guidelines,  terms  and  conditions  for  the implementation of the Program; and enter into subsequent agreements with the local government units for the full implementation  and success of the Program.