PEF insists forest guard program benefits everyone

THE Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is pushing with its thrust to legitimize the Forest Guard program in order to give livelihood to more people in the community while at the same time taking care of the environment.

In an earlier interview with PEF Director for Conservation and Research Jayson Ibañez, he said there are currently 200 volunteer indigenous forest guards stationed in the forests of Davao City.

Last March, Ibañez said they are already drafting a copy of training standards which they target to be completed within the year and will be subject for evaluation and approval of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

During the Connect press conference held on June 1 at the SM Lanang Premier Food Hall, PEF Development Manager Andi Baldonado said they would want to continue to capacitate the forest guards and make them understand that what they do for the environment will not only help nature but will also help them with their financial needs as well.

“In terms of livelihood, we have livelihood support projects in different areas so we work with the community. We ask them what their priorities are in their areas. Through income generating activities as well, like plush toys making, we also help with the family’s income. These plush toys are being sold in the center. Big part of the proceeds goes to the women sewers who are the wives of these forest guards. So it adds to the income of the families. This is part of our efforts to build capacity for our forest guards,” Baldonado said.

“We want to tell them that if they have conservation outcomes, it will benefit them too if they are able to participate and we are able to engage them,” she added.

PEF education administrator Rai Gomez added that with the usual set up, there is one forest guard deployed in about 6,000 hectares of forest. However, she said with the for-

est guard program of PEF, they usually deploy around 40 forest guards per community to have more patrollers taking charge in a particular area.

“We’re pushing for the different municipalities where the patrollers belong to, that they adapt the forest guards as employees of the city or of the municipality,” Gomez said.

She added the foundation is already in discussion with Tesdsa regarding this project and they will continue doing necessary effort aiming for a national accreditation for forest guards.

Ibañez, in the earlier interview said, they have an existing 3 to 5 days training for the forest guards. However, with the proposed Tesda Forest Guard course, they target to make the course longer, more systematic, and more competitive.

He said the program will also equip the trained forest guards to be ready for employment in companies such as the Davao City Water District as watershed facility personnel, renewable energy companies, and of local government units and nongovernment organizations.

He also said a fund of about P200,000 is being prepared for the pilot training. But, he added, they are also engaging with private and public sectors who might be willing to fill in future funding needs. JPA