THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) beekeeping project in Mt. Hamiguitan sanctuary in Davao Oriental will be further boosted with the expanded collaboration with beekeeping experts in the industry.

The move is part of the memorandum of agreement signed between the DENR through the Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (MHRWS) Protected Area Management Board and the Green Solutions Agricultural Farming Training Center (GSAFTC), which will bring beekeeping expertise to the industry teeming with international market potential.

With the MOA, the MHRWS is optimistic that there will be an improvement in crop production for its honey enterprise on its farms in Brgys. San Isidro and General Generoso, Davao Oriental.

Under the MOA, the parties will expand collaboration on training, marketing-promotional work, experimental and technology, and a beekeeping demonstration.

The beekeeping livelihood program is a special project called “Beekeeping as Bio-diversity-Friendly Community-Based Enterprise in MHRWS” of the DENR as part of forest conservation.

Mt. Hamiguitan is a wildlife sanctuary recognized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to have a universal value. It is home to globally threatened flora and fauna, eight of which are found only in Mt. Hamiguitan itself.

The beekeeping project in Mt. Hamiguitan ensures the surrounding communities will have a livelihood so that they do not resort to illegal forest activities around Mt. Hamiguitan.

Beekeeping also has a very important “pollinating” function in the ecosystem, enhancing environmental balance. It contributes to the rapid generation of forest reserves.

The government sees a good market potential for beekeeping products (pollen, propolis, beeswax, and value-added products including honey wine, honey, propolis-based soap, massage oil, shampoo, and ointment).

The Philippines even imports honey, and the local producers may be able to fill that import volume.

The people’s organization in the area that will benefit from the project are the Progressive Organic Farmers and Fisherfolks Towards Ecology Conservation of Talisay (PROFTECT) of San Isidro, Davao Oriental, and PO Sergio Osmena Rattan Association of Serbio Osmena, Governor Generoso.

The beekeeping project has been financed under DENR’s special project fund supervised by the Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS).

The project has already identified two potential expansion sites in Sto. Rosario, San Isidro, and Macambol, City of Mati.