FOREST SECURITY. Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Member of Parliament (MP) Bai Maleiha Candao delivers her message regarding concerns on the protection of BARMM’s remaining forests, during the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) session on Thursday (Nov. 28, 2019). The MP has lauded the recent deployment of 400 forest rangers across the region. (Photo courtesy of BTA Office)
COTABATO CITY -- A member of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament lauded on Thursday the recent deployment of 400 forest rangers in the region, describing it as a timely move to protect the remaining forests from man-made destruction.
Member of Parliament Bai Maleiha Candao of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) said the deployment of the rangers, all former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is a welcome development considering that the “palaws” (mountain protectors) know their forests well.
“The region’s forests are now more secured with them around,” Candao said in her speech during the BTA session Thursday.
The rangers will form part of the implementation of the Integrated Bangsamoro Greening Program (IBGP) aimed at protecting the remaining forest cover of the region.
In Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, the IBGP targets to reforest about 10,000 hectares that had been denuded over the years. The IBGP will soon be implemented in other parts of the region, Candao said.
Data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed that as of December 2010, the region has 99,889 hectares of closed forests, another 146,431 hectares of open forests, and 55,574 hectares of mangroves for a total of 301,894 hectares.
BARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Marawi, Lamitan; and 63 villages in six towns of North Cotabato that opted to join the region. (PNA)
