Irish-British Province

ABRA/PHILIPPINES
Forest Maker

Brother Alois GOLDBERGER, Austrian missionary in Abra for more than 35 years, promotes planting of forest trees in the area. So far, he and members of his community have planted mahogany, melina, teak, white lauan and a local species called apnet in nearly 100 hectares of land.

Those that were planted in 1970 have already grown to huge trees. The plantation project is continuing around the town of Pidigan.

Brother Alois has also been instrumental in the establishment of five micro-electric projects that provide electricity to remote communities in Abra.

Four more such projects are under construction. These are funded by the national government, Department of Science and Technology and the provincial government.

In all his projects, the people in the community provide the labour, such as hauling of materials and civil works. About 30 families get power from a micro hydro-electric project. There is one however, serving 80 families.

Source: Arnoldus Nota