Tagum awarded for watershed protection efforts

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, October 7, 2015 - The collective efforts of the City Government of Tagum and its people to protect its watersheds and coastal areas finally bore fruit as the city recently placed third in the search for the Outstanding Program Partner during the Development
Bank of the Philippines Forest Program Awarding Ceremonies on October 5, 2015 at the DBP Head Office, Makati City.

The accolade was given by the banking institution as a way of recognizing the contribution of the local government unit of Tagum to
the protection and conservation of the environment through sustainable forest project management which benefits the community and other
stakeholders.

According to the official website of the state-owned development bank, the Forest Program is an initiative of the DBP primarily to protect
the country’s critical watersheds and coastal areas and at the same time, enhance the protection of the government.

The City of Tagum became an eligible partner of the DBP Forest Program after having met with the terms and conditions set by the financial
institution, such as but not limited to already having an established mangrove reforestation program within critical watershed areas, river
basins as well as in areas needing rehabilitation or reforestation.

It is also a pertinent condition that the project area is not to be subjected to land use change.

The site of the 10-hectare mangrove forest project of the city is located along Daang Maharlika and Tancuan Creek in Barangay Bincungan.

The contingent of the City of Tagum led by City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Elias Ragos received the award which
consisted of a plaque and cash incentives amounting to P20,000.00.

The other winners of the DBP Forest Program are the University of the Philippines- Los Baños (1st place) and Palawan State University (2nd
place) (Richi Gulle/ CIO-Tagum)