CARAGA (February 24) – Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Caraga (DENR-13) has formalized a P41-million tree replacement project with CTP Construction and Mining Corp. (CTP-CMC) and 30 people’s organizations (POs), covering 890 hectares across six towns in Surigao del Sur.
The reforestation sites are located in Cantilan, Carrascal, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza and Cortes.
Of the total area, 870 hectares will be planted with indigenous tree species, while 20 hectares of coastal zones will be rehabilitated with mangroves. The project targets the planting of about 3.4 million trees and mangroves under Special Tree Cutting and Earth-balling Permit No. RXIII-06-2024 issued to CTP-CMC.
Under the memorandum of agreement signed Monday in Butuan City, CTP-CMC will shoulder the full P41-million cost of implementation.
The 30 participating POs include five under Community-Based Forest Management, two under the Enhanced National Greening Program in ancestral domains, and 23 newly organized groups in ancestral communities.
DENR-13 said each PO will take charge of seedling production, site development, and three years of maintenance and protection—an arrangement designed to ensure higher survival rates while generating livelihood for upland and indigenous communities.
DENR-13 Director Maritess Ocampo said the project comes at a crucial time, citing the recent damage brought by Tropical Storm Basyang in Surigao del Sur.
“The tree replacement project is on schedule in our efforts to build resilient communities through reforestation,” Ocampo said, stressing that collaboration between government, industry, and local groups is key to restoring forest cover and strengthening climate resilience.
CTP-CMC Mines Operations Manager Joseph Lou Limos, in a separate statement, reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to environmental compliance and sustainable practices, acknowledging DENR-13’s monitoring role.
Community leaders also signaled support. Jonathan Iligan of the Gacub Uyay Farmers Association described the initiative as an investment in both the environment and future generations, while Datu Engwan Ala of the Carrascal Indigenous People Association thanked DENR and CTP-CMC for including their ancestral community in the program.
Beyond compliance, the project positions local POs at the frontlines of forest recovery—linking environmental restoration with long-term community stewardship in Surigao del Sur’s mining-affected landscapes.
