Brgy. Datal Dlanag, T'boli, South Cotabato – A short program was held to formally launch the Rainforestation and Upstream Resource Management (RURM) Plant Nursery, August 17, 2009. The fencing of the 0.5-hectare plant nursery site and staff house/training hall for farmers has a total estimated cost of Php 82,000.00. This project was made possible through a collaborative effort of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of South Cotabato, LGU of the municipality of T'boli, the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP), the Tribal Leaders Development Foundation, Inc. (TLDFI), LGU of Brgy. Datal Dlanag, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA).

The gathering at the staff house was attended by South Cotabato SP Member Jose M. Madanguit, South Cotabato Provincial Environment and Management Officer (PEMO) Ramon B. Ponce de Leon, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Protected Area Superintendent (PASu) Leonardo C. Azumbrado, South Cotabato Provincial Agricultural Officer (PAO) Reynaldo Legaste, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) Julian C. Asion, Jr. of LGU T'boli, Project Officer Gilbert Malunes of TLDFI, SUMIFRU Environment Officer Artemio Reyes, and Executive Director Abdula M. Bansuan of Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA) Program Management Office (PMO).

Forest and upland-based management program is one of AVLDA's concerns in response to the alarming thinning of forest due to settlement development and agricultural production. The five landowner-beneficiaries from Brgy. Datal Dlanag (about 32 kms away from Brgy. Poblacion) are Inson Lumbang and Me In with 8 hectares of land each, Sing Awan and Suan Lamban with 10 hectares each, and Sol Lumbay with 4 hectares of land covered.

The LGU Officials of Brgy. Datal Dlanag headed by Brgy. Capt. Benito Ilsan, the mentioned landowners and other community members were also present during the said event. Ponce de Leon clarified that the South Cotabato LGU will be giving out fruit trees seedlings, vegetable seeds and some goats to the community people. “Ang mga may uma, palanggaon niyo gid ang inyo uma. Kung may problema, dalagan sa nakabalo, sa mga tawo nga gahatag technical assistance. Kalapad sang nursery, dapat damo pa kita mabutang.” Ponce de Leon said. (I advise those who own lands to love their farms. When you encounter problems, do not hesitate to ask those who provide technical assistance. This plant nursery should be filled with different kinds of seedlings.)

The people of the community were also encouraged to plant bamboo trees, preferably afus , a local name for giant bamboo, or lahak , another variety of bamboo, in order to protect the watershed areas. Bamboos are also a good source of income for the community people.

According to PASu Azumbrado, the plant nursery can be used as a good example to other farmers. He greatly discouraged planting of bananas and pineapples in the highlands for this may cause soil erosion and affect agricultural activities in the lowlands. He insisted on planting rubber, fruit trees, and bamboo instead. The TLDFI, represented by Malunes, expressed their support to the project. They will require the local people to plant trees and will buy seedlings from them for about seven pesos per seedling.

Mr. Bansuan asked the people of the community to help their selves. He regarded this project as a one-of-a-kind opportunity given by the government to them. In return they must show interest, work hard, and take good care of the plant nursery.

SP Member Madanguit who was there to represent South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes, shared some of his personal experiences about farming to inspire the local farmers of Datal Dlanag. In his stories, he explained that a well-managed piece of land would yield a lot. All it takes is patience, hard work and perseverance. He also handed out the withdrawal slips for around 110 seedlings of fruit trees for each of the 5 farmer beneficiaries.