PARAESUS (Peoples Activities on Resources Acceleration for
Ecological, Sustainable Utilization and Security) Berde
or Green Paradise is a program geared towards the protection,
conservation and development of forest resources in Lidlidda,
a 6th class municipality of Ilocos Sur. The LGU signed a
Memorandum of Agreement with the DENR delineating 40 hectares
of land as the Eco-tourism Re-greening for Accelerated Productivity
Area.
In June
1993, the first town-wide tree planting activity was launched.
The barangay and people’s organizations established
their own area to maintain and develop. Access roads were
built to facilitate the transportation of seedlings. Irrigation
during the dry season proved to be very difficult, so the
municipality acquired a water truck from its savings. A
convention center was also built to house meetings, seminars
and special events in the municipality.
The government is not alone in its efforts in rebuilding
Lidlidda’s forest resources. Every last Thursday of
the month is declared community service day. On this day,
everybody volunteers to help out at the watershed area.
In addition, more than 10 environmental ordinances have
been passed and are strictly implemented. These ordinances
include, among others, the prohibition of the sale and transport
of firewood and the requirement that every head of the family
has to plant 20 pieces of banana tubers and 20 pieces of
pineapple shoots for a period of 5 years.
Because of these interventions, the practice of kaingin
has been eliminated. As of March 1999, almost 180,000 mahogany,
pineapple and mango seedlings have been planted throughout
the locality as a result of the tree-planting programs.
In addition, the previous 15% survival rate of trees in
the area has now reached 75%. At present, potable spring
water for 11 barangays is ensured and a communal irrigation
system has been established. Most importantly, the program
has revived the Bayanihan spirit among the people of Lidlidda.
