Members of NGB-PFCS and TC78 goes to Timber Corridor of the Philippines

Group photo of the members of the NGB-PFCS and TC 78 as the Exposure Trip Participant. Photo © Jouelle Nerveza / PCEPSDI

An Exposure Trip: Members of the Interim National Governing Board of Philippine Forest Certification System (NGB-PFCS), and Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) Technical Committee (TC) 78 goes to the Timber Corridor of the Philippines

A two-day learning Exposure Trip in the CARAGA Region for the “Providing Capacity Building project” took place on April 10-12, 2019 for the members of the Interim National Governing Board of Philippine Forest Certification System (NGB-PFCS), and Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) Technical Committee on Forest and Forest Products (TC 78). This trip to the timber value chain process aims to exhibit the operations and production in upstream level to the stakeholders of wood value chain.

Chairman Ermito Minerva of Balungagan Farmers Association, Inc. (BAFA) sharing issues and concerns on their tree farm.  Photo © Jouelle Nerveza / PCEPSDI

The first highlight of the trip is the Balungagan Farmers Association, Inc. (BAFA) wherein the members of NGB-PFCS and TC 78 was accommodated by the BAFA Chairman Ermito Minerva. The exposure trip has helped BAFA to share their issues and concern on their tree farm production of Falcata. Chairman Minerva also toured the participants to the tree plantation as he shared how the trees are grown, harvested and shipped to sawmills.

Chairman Jaime Oclaret of Ibuan Agro Forestry Farmers, Inc. (IBAFA) sharing the inclusive growth through the rubber tree plantation. Photo © Jouelle Nerveza / PCEPSDI

The second stop of the exposure trip is the rubber tree plantation of Ibuan Agro Forestry Farmers, Inc. (IBAFA). Chairman Jaime Oclaret discussed the inclusive economic growth of their association through the plantation. He also shared the issues and concerns of the association. After the orientation and the interview of the participants, Chairman Oclaret brought the participants to the plantation wherein he showed the rubber trees and the harvesting of rubber saps.

Women in action at Orgon Plywood Industry. Photo © Jouelle Nerveza  / PCEPSDI

The last site of the trip is in a plywood manufacturer in Agusan Del Norte, the Orgon Wood Industry. Before the visit, Engr. Napoleon Mordeno, Plant Manager conducted a short briefing on the basic operation of plywood production and he also answered queries from the members of the NGB-PFCS and TC 78. As the participants toured the plant, it was observed that the production has provided an opportunity for women in plywood manufacturing.

Group photo with Director Nonito Tamayo of Forest Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (FMB-DENR) (1st row 3rd from the left). Photo © Jouelle Nerveza  / PCEPSDI

Before the trip has ended, the members of the NGB-PFCS and TC 78 had the opportunity to sit with the Director of the Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (FMB-DENR), Dir. Nonito Tamayo and former DENR Undersecretary Mendoza. Challenges, struggles and next steps has been proposed on forest certification and chain of custody for the stakeholders of the industry. The exposure trip is made possible through a project of PCEPSDI in partnership with FAO under the assistance of EU FEGT Programme. The project aims to provide capacity building for the members of the NGB-PFCS for forest certification and TC 78 for the standards on chain of custody. To know more about the project you can check our website or email us at forestcertification@pcepsdi.org.ph