CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Federated transport cooperatives in this city have found a way to sustain – and earn for their members — the tree-planting requirement imposed by the Land Transportation Franchising ang Regulatory Board (LTFRB), through Memorandum Circular 2020-076, popularly dubbed: “Plant Trees, Get PUV Franchise.”
The Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Cooperatives (NOMFED TRANSCO) thought of not just planting, but rather growing ang making income out of planting selected variety of trees.
LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-076 has required franchise applicants to plant one tree for every unit being registered. This translates to thousands of trees being planted annually.
Taking effect starting December 1, 2020, tree planting is now a requirement when applying for or renewing transport franchises for all public utility vehicles. Initially, MC 2020-076 covers all applicants for the issuance of a new certificate of public convenience (CPC) with at least 10 units, including both corporations and cooperatives applying for extension of their existing franchises.
The LTFRB estimates some 50,000 trees were planted in the first three months of implementation of the new LTFRB order, and, eventually, the new policy will cover all applicants with a minimum of 10 units that will have transactions with the LTFRB.
Nationwide, LTFRB lists some 170,000 public utility jeepneys or PUJs, 26,000 utility vans as UV express units, 25,000 public utility buses (PUBs) and 35,000 transport network vehicle service (TNVS).
But the MOA by and between NOMFED and Kulago farmers strikes a difference between mere planting and growing trees, It is that the latter earns for themselves.
Office of Transportation Cooperatives (OTC) OIC-Chairman and Executive Director Engr. Eugene M. Pabualan, who mediated in the tree-growing deal, said both parties have inked an agreement, where the planting is sustained and the income derived from their undertaking benefits both the transport federation and the farmers’ group.
“We are happy that after a series of meetings, the agreement was inked and entered into by and between the two parties on the 13th of April 2022, between Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Cooperatives, a group of transport cooperatives in Region 10 organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Republic of the Philippines, represented by its chairman, Melvin L. Erederos, and the Kulago Farmers Association, Inc., a community-based and forestry management association, with principal address in Sitio Pamalihi, Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City, and represented by Robert C Questadio.”
With the signing of the MOA, both parties are expected to operate under formal partnership agreement in growing fruit trees in the CBFM area of Kulago farmers in Pamalihi, Cagayan de Oro City, with a total area of 10 hectares of parcel of land, Chairman Pabualan said.
Both parties have agreed to the following: NOMFED will shoulder all the expenses to be incurred in seedings, land preparation, planting, growing, harvesting, bunk house, barn, water, lights and any other expenditures related to the project; NOMFED is free to supervise the progress of the project any time with the Kulago farmers.
Kulago Farmers Association, on the other hand, will submit the proposed expenses of the project to NOMFED; it is responsible in hiring and management of the workers for the project; the farmers’ group will be responsible for canvassing and buying of the seedlings to be planted; it is also responsible for the management of land preparation, planting, growing, harvesting and the whole project, in general.
Pabualan said under the agreement, both parties will receive their respective share of the proceeds of the product based on the percentage to be agreed upon.
The agreement has a term of 25 years, renewable by mutual consent.
Engr. Pabualan and Mr. Edwin Pelosas, senior chief, Supervision Examination Section of the Cooperative Development Authority in Region 10, stood as witnesses to the signing of the MOA, held at Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.
“Cooperativism is not just for economy and social involvement. It is also for environmental protection, like this (MOA signing),” Pelosas said.
“As business organization, cooperatives have what is called Statutory Reserve. Three percent of which is intended for Community Development Fund (CDF); and, it is here where the cooperative can provide for the needs specified under the MOA,” Pelosas explained.
The LTFRB announced that the implementing rules and regulations governing the tree-planting activity include securing proof of compliance and corresponding photographs of the trees that they planted as part of their application requirements.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has also proposed that tree planting be one of the mandatory requirements to secure transport franchises, licenses and permits, as a contribution of the transport sector in the reforestation program of the government.
Implementers will also have to coordinate with the local government unit, where they hold business or the concerned area office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for purposes of proof of compliance. Failure to attach the new requirements means that their application will not be accepted.
Successive natural disasters have called for drastic yet coordinated measures among government agencies, tying up with the private sector. (PR)
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