LUNA, Apayao January 04 – Apayao State College (ASC) received a national plaque of recognition during the National Greening Program (NGP) year-end discussion meeting between Department of Environment and Natural Resources Agriculture Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) and state universities and colleges (SUCs) at the Southern Luzon State University, Lucban, Quezon recently.
Said plaque was awarded by the DENR-ERDB in recognition for the ASC’s outstanding performance in the Production of Quality Planting Materials (PQPM) through quality seeds and wildlings on Philippine indigenous/premium tree species in support to the NGP.
ASC is one of the four SUCs nationwide that received the award during the said national activity which included Southern Luzon State University, Pampanga State of Agriculture Universities, and Tarlac College of Agriculture.
Earlier in July 18, 2016, during the culminating activity of the 29th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera Administrative Region held in Pacdal, Baguio, City, ASC also received a regional award under the academe category for its commitment to the PQPM) beyond target, and for empowering communities and beneficiaries through dissemination and application of nursery and plantation establishment technologies.
Dr. Dacyon, ASC President, congratulates its forestry department headed by Dr Remalyn Aman and Forester David Rodolfo, the former chairperson of the forestry department and project -in charge, for their high commitment and their continuing efforts towards sustaining the richness of the forests in Apayao through the ASC PQPM project in support of the government’s program on NGP.
She also said that the more than 476,000 quality seedlings distributed to the NLAs and municipalities is the college’s contribution to reforestation.
“Protecting our forests as the home of biodiversity is not mere compliance but actually an accountability of everyone,” Dr. Dacyon remarked.
“The award is another confirmation of ASC’s vision as a biodiversity research and development-centered higher education institution,” Dr. Dacyon added.
Meanwhile, ASC is also one of the co-organizers and facilitators of the Inter-agency Multisectoral Assessment and Planning for Upper Apayao Forest and Biodiversity Conservation workshop held last November 17-19, 2016 together with the University of the Philippines College Baguio Educational Foundation, Inc. as project holder and provincial government of Apayao and Provincial Environment amd Natural Resource Office as lead agencies gathering 51 participants from the different participating agencies such as the municipal governments of upper Apayao, the Philippine Eagle Foundation , the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF), and the Mabuwaya Foundation.
Said activity highlighted the significant role of ASC in positioning itself as the lone higher educational institution in the province to explore, along with the partner agencies, potential project ideas on sustainable forest management, aside from the on-going initiatives of the said institution.
Apayao is known for its beauty from towering peaks habituated by cauliflower-like canopies of forest trees. These forests serve as watershed to numerous river systems supporting various life forms and irrigating farmlands in low lying areas not only in the province but also in nearby provinces. Besides, these canopies are also important carbon sink that mitigates climate change.
Dubbed as Cordillera’s last frontier for natural richness, Apayao’s effort in continually preserving its rich resources has been a priority not only by the college but also by the province.
By Jaylord Agpuldo
