Koronadal City– The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12, through PENRO Cotabato, officially turned over 23 National Greening Program (NGP) sites covering a total of 2,050 hectares in the Special Geographic Areas (SGA) and Cotabato City to the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Energy (MENRE)-BARMM during a Ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Signing held on September 25, 2025, at DreamWeavers Hotel, Koronadal City.

The ceremony was led by DENR 12 Regional Executive Director Atty. Felix S. Alicer, MENRE-BARMM Minister Akmad A. Brahim, and Deputy Minister Muslima A. Asmawil, signifying a stronger partnership in environmental protection and sustainable development.

In his message, RED Alicer reaffirmed DENR’s commitment, saying:
“DENR 12 will continue to support MENRE-BARMM by sharing our expertise and working hand-in-hand to sustain and expand the gains of the National Greening Program.”

Minister Brahim also underscored the importance of the agreement, stating:
“This agreement ensures that your expertise and assistance will continue to be a vital resource for us. Together, we will rehabilitate and sustain these plantations to strengthen climate resiliency, improve livelihoods, and uphold a balanced ecosystem for the Bangsamoro people. In fulfilling our role as Al-Khalifa, we commit to building a greener, more resilient future for our children and generations to come.” The event highlighted the formal handover of site documents, marking a milestone in advancing reforestation, ecological restoration, and community empowerment in the Bangsamoro region, while demonstrating the national and regional governments’ unified efforts to promote a greener and more climate-resilient Mindanao.