I. Introduction. 

            MKWD’s Information Officer, Jeana P. Acupan and Engr. Kelvin Rupisan from the Office of the AGM for Operation, were sent by GM Stella M. Gonzales to attend the stakeholders’ meeting of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) Cotabato Chapter on August 17, 2012.  The meeting which started at 1:30 in the afternoon was held at the PRRM office, Datu Icdang St., Kidapawan City.

            More or less twelve agencies and institutions were represented in the said meeting.

            The gathering was facilitated by Mr. Abdullah Y. Pato, the project focal person for Kidapawan area; Ms. Editha Abeniel-Bernad, PRRM Cotabato Branch Manager and Mr. Jose Tuburan, Jr. – PRRM Cotabato Chapter Chairperson.

 

II. Agenda / Rationale

            Focus of the meeting was the Bamboo Planting Program of the Provincial Government, which the PRRM was given the task to implement since it was them that proposed this program to the Governor.

 

            The provincial government allotted 10 million for the implementation of the program next year.

 

            The proposal is to plant this in barren, marginal areas so as not to compete with food crops.  The rationales of the proposal are as follow:

a)     Climate change mitigation

b)     Best material for carton material – bamboo

c)      Risk reduction – this is planted along water banks

d)     Economic value

 

            A power point presentation was shown regarding the mitigating and the development frameworks to expound on the benefits of bamboo planting.

 

            According to Mr. Jose Tuburan, Jr., the objective of this meeting was for the stakeholders to make a commitment in the implementation – planting, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of the project.

 

III. Program Implementation

            Priority areas for the program are: M’lang; Tulunan; Magpet; and Kidapawan City.  PRRM conducts separate meetings for each area, and August 17 was the schedule for Kidapawan City.

            The City Environment and Natural Resources Office under Mr. Edgar Paalan was designated to spearhead the bamboo planting activity.

            Four priority areas in Kidapawan City were identified by the said office, namely: Marble; Nuangan; Mateo; and Saguing covering a total of 111 kilometers.  These locations will be planted with the 15,000 seedlings allotted for the City.

            The group then proceeded to the planning for the first priority area which is the Marble watershed.  This includes barangays Ilomavis, Ginatilan, Mua-an, Sibawan, Marble, Sto. Niño, San Isidro, Linangcob, Gayola and San Roque which will total to 32.5 kilometers of area to be planted. 

           

            Following are the projected activities:

 

Target Date	Activities				Resources Needed		Responsible Persons
Aug. 22-24	Area identification – 10 barangays						core
	“legal preparation”				draft MOA/letters		City ENRO
	– MOA preparation
	– Communicate with Mayor (request)
	– ABC coordination
	– SP Committee on Environment
Aug. 28	Orientation of 10 barangays’ leaders				MOA edited draft
Aug. 30	orientation of Major land owners
	training of core groups from stakeholders
Sept. 7	Delivery
Aug. 29 –	Social Preparation
Sept. 15	– Pre-delivery activities→slashing,
	holing, cleaning
	– orientation by CENRO						barangays & landowners
	– Hauling from CENRO to barangays				vehicles/letter re-
					quests/meals/
					snacks
Sept. 22	Planting						CENRO/Prov’l Ins -pectors/Core group