LAGUNA-QUEZON LAND GRANT CELEBRATES 82nd ANNIVERSARY

LAGUNA-QUEZON LAND GRANT CELEBRATES 82^nd ANNIVERSARY

The LQLG was given to UP by virtue of Republic Act No. 3608 dated 8 February 1930 to generate income needed to support projects and other related activities of the University.

The management and staff of the Laguna-Quezon Land Grant celebrate its 82^nd founding anniversary on February 17, 2012.  The ceremony was headed by Dr. Enrique L. Tolentino, Jr., Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs, Ms. Aurora Maghirang and For. Ariene Gregorio, representatives of the Development Bank of the Philippines, a partner in the Phase II Watershed Rehabilitation and Protection of UP Sierra Madre Land Grants Project. The project was for three (3) years with a budgetary allocation of Php5,082,037.00. The occasion was graced by UPLB personnel such as Ms. Edna K. Mananghaya, Ms. Lorna Diangkinay and Ms. Myrna Palanca from the Internal Control Office, Ms. Led Dalupang and Macey Lapitan from OVCPD and Ms. Tita Villena and Tita Tudz Anday from the Cash Division.  It was also the first activity of the newly installed Manager of the LGMO in the person of Forester Benjamin D. Arizala.

To commemorate the event, One hundred forty eight of mixed tree seedlings were planted in the vicinity of the pavilion, followed by short program which includes the presentation by Field Manager Reynaldo E. Lorida on the brief history of the Laguna Quezon Land Grant and awarding of certificates to the retirees and plaque of appreciations to the past managers of LQLG.

Manager Ben Arizala exhorts the personnel to continuously do their best to preserve, protect and develop the LGs into productive assets of UPLB on sustainable basis. On the other hand, Dr. Ike Tolentino, Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs and LG manager from 1995 to 2000, recollected the challenging experiences he has to surmount to make LGs as it is now. He encouraged the staff not to lose heart in the light of the current problems of insecurity of job tenure and inadequate funding to hire additional personnel and to procure equipment necessary to control the unabated illegal poaching within the LGs.

The completed projects being continuously maintained by the LGMO are the following:

Plans and Programs

At the moment, a project is being finalized between UPLB and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regarding the establishment of One thousand (1,000) hectares of forest tree and agroforestry plantation of fast growing and indigenous trees for a  duration of five (5) years that will cost Php15 millions.  The  project   starts  earning in year 5 and will generate revenues to the University; rehabilitate and stabilize the LGs that were logged in the past and continuously poached; conserve and protect the remaining high density forests and function as a buffer zone for the Sierra Madre mountain ranges; contribute to the self sufficiency for wood and non- timber forest products requirements in the Laguna-Quezon-Rizal areas; generate employment for upland communities and those from adjacent areas and help promote political stability in the area.

There are also projects in the pipeline seeking funding from the private sectors on opportunities such as industrial tree plantations, plantation for Biofuel and energy species, rehabilitation/reforestation, agro forestry, small-holder plantation, orchard, ecotourism, essential oils, handicraft, propagation of high value crops, medicinal plants, etc.

The Land Grants

The University of the Philippines Los Baños administers and manages two land grants areas (LGs) of UP i.e. the Laguna-Quezon Land Grant (LQLG) and the Laguna Land Grant (LLG), which is referred too as the UP Sierra Madre Land Grants (SMLG).  The LQLG was given to UP by virtue of Republic Act No. 3608 dated 8 February 1930 to generate income needed to support projects and other related activities of the University.  On the other hand, the LLG was created by RA No. 3990 date 18 June 1964 to establish a central experimental station for the University’s research and extension functions, specifically the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine.

Mandate of LGMO

The Land Grant Management Office under the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs is mandated to develop the land grants into more productive assets on sustainable basis.  Support the operations and goals of UPLB.  Train upland farmers on sustainable production and goals of UPLB.  Train upland farmers on sustainable production technologies.  Satisfy the concerns of environmentalist and ecotourist for the preservation of the natural landscape.

By Nick C.Callo, Jr.