MinDA, DENR, and DILG launch joint envi programs

SulogJanuary to June 2014 Davao City, Philippines Volume 2 Issue 1

Mindanao river basin master plan secures inter-regional support

Ecotourism projects eyed for Tawi-Tawi’s Turtle Islands

Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP) and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Infographic

Mindanao state universities and colleges to offer DRRM and climate change courses2 3 4 6

MinDA

Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Tribal Association, the implementing partner of the project.

MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, and DENR Secretary Ramon Paje led the launching ceremonies during the CDORBMC council meeting that was attended by local chief executives of Misamis Oriental, leaders of host communities, and partners

from the private sector.

“Under the BSFP, 200 barangays were initially identified as pilot areas for the first phase of the reforestation,” said Antonino while adding “these areas include those that are perennially flooded and were badly-hit by recent typhoons and sites that are near critical coastal areas and river systems.”

The BSFP is a project

ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino (far right) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje (third from left) hand over a P200,000.00 check to Miarayon -Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITRA) Head Datu Dungkuan Rio Besto during the launching of the Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Program (BSFP) and the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for Mt. Kalatungan held on May 21, 2014 at N Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

INFOGRAPHICS

BSFP

under MinDA’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program and DENR’s Barangay Forest Program, a key component of President Benigno Aquino III’s National Greening Program (NGP) that aims to plant 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016.

To ensure the success of BSFP implementation,

In a bid to strengthen efforts of an ecosystem-based approach

to development, two environment programs were launched on May 21 at the N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

Dubbed as the Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Program (BSFP) and the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for Mt. Kalatungan Range in Bukidnon, the two programs are designed to rehabilitate the denuded forest areas and critical mangrove, river, and coastal areas of Mindanao and to promote sustainable utilization of the island-region’s natural resources.

BSFP is jointly implemented by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as well as peoples organizations, private sector, and local government units across Mindanao.

The PES-Mt. Kalatungan on the other hand is a joint undertaking of MinDA, DENR, and DILG along with the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council (CDORBMC), Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, and the Miarayon- Turn to page 7

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Three regional development councils in Mindanao endorsed

the implementation of the Mindanao River Basin (MRB) master plan, paving the way for its operationalization and the eventual creation of an institution that will manage, rehabilitate, and develop the river basin and its resources.

The Regional Development Councils of Regions X and XII as well as the Regional Economic Development and Planning Board (REDPB) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) submitted separate resolutions endorsing the master plan and pushing for the creation of the MRB Management Council.

Resolution No. 4, Series of 2014, Resolution No. 81, Series of 2013, and ARMM REDPB Resolution No. 06

were passed by the regional development councils of regions X, XII, and ARMM respectively.

“These developments will concretize efforts to come up with sustainable and environmentally-sound solutions to the recurring problems within the river basin such as the perennial

flooding of the towns and provinces in the area,” said Luwalhati Antonino, chair of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

She added that the MRB master plan is a result of a two-year study conducted from 2010-2012 by Woodfields Consultants, Inc. with the support of the departments of Public Works and Highways, Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Interior and Local Government, National

Irrigation Administration, and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). The study sought for the long-term rehabilitation and development of the river basin.

The DENR-River Basin Coordinating Office (DENR-RBCO) commissioned the study, while MinDA, through MindaNOW! Nurturing Our

Waters Program facilitated the approval and endorsement of the master plan by the regional development councils.

In July 2011, Executive Order No. 50 transferred the tasks and functions of the Presidential Task Force on Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development to regular government agencies which include MinDA, DENR-RBCO, and the National Risk Reduction Management

Council-OCD.

With a total catchment area of 21,503 square kilometers, the MRB is the second largest river basin in the country encompassing large areas of three regions in Central Mindanao.

Recognizing the fact that the MRB spans multiple regions and provinces,

the master plan also recommends the creation of the MRB management council to coordinate and provide directions on the effective and efficient management and development of the river basin and its resources.

The proposed river basin council will be composed of representatives from the concerned provincial and local government

units, national government agencies, river basin and local government unit alliances, non-government organizations and the private sector.

“A multi-stakeholder and collaborative approach in the implementation of sustainable solutions is eyed to respond to limitations posed by geo-political boundaries and administrative jurisdictions in addressing river basin issues,” said Marcia Isip, executive director of the DENR-RBCO.

Mindanao river basin master plan secures inter-regional support

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Ecotourism projects aimed to protect endangered marine species and help sustain community-based tourism enterprises are being developed on Tawi-Tawi’s Turtle

Islands, one of the world’s major nesting sites of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and located in the country’s southernmost frontier.

Turtle watching lounges, elevated wooden boardwalks, and several wooden cottages are among the ecotourism facilities worth P30 million that are considered on the islands of Taganak, Bakkungan and Baguan, three of the six major islands that comprise the municipality of Turtle Islands. The budget will be sourced from Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

The wooden boardwalks and turtle watching lounges will protect the green sea turtles from tourists who visit the islands to watch the amphibians lay their eggs at night. The facilities will also allow watchers to observe this rare experience without bothering the nesting creatures.

At present, there are only 10 remaining nesting sites of marine turtles across the globe.

The ecotourism projects on the Turtle Islands are part of the BIMP-EAGA environment programs endorsed through the environment and ecotourism pillars of the sub-regional economic grouping.

As a major nesting ground of marine turtles, the islands are visited annually by more than 2,000 nesters primarily of the green sea turtle species, with a number of hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) also nesting in the area.

In a protected sanctuary on Baguan Island in the Municipality of Turtle Islands, green sea turtle hatchlings struggle their way to the sea, where they will face huge risks throughout their lives. Only 1 percent of the hatchlings will survive up to sexual maturity. (Photo by Diovanne de Jesus)

BIMP-EAGA envi cluster adopts climate change proposalIn a bid to make BIMP-

EAGA and its people more adaptable to climate change, the sub-region’s environment cluster adopted the proposal of the Philippines to implement a USD 1.2 million project that will build the resilience of local communities and enhance disaster preparedness.

Entitled “Building Local Community Resilience in BIMP-EAGA for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Disaster Preparedness,” the project

proposal was presented by the Philippines during the 3rd BIMP-EAGA environment cluster meeting held in May in Sandakan, Malaysia.

“The proposal’s main thrust is to lessen the impact of climate change, with the prime goal of preventing environmental disasters within the region,” said Janet Lopoz, executive director of the Mindanao Development Authority.

She said that environmental disasters can be prevented by implementing

projects that strengthen disaster risk management and develop efficient response mechanisms in addressing environmental issues within BIMP-EAGA.

An EAGA-wide policy on climate change adaptation and mitigation will be formulated based on key outputs of the proposal, including climate change-proofing of infrastructures, resulting in local communities that are more resilient to environmental disasters. The policy will also push for the

sustainable management, protection, and utilization of the region’s natural resources.

The project, which will be implemented in a span of three years also incorporates capacity building on humanitarian assistance and disaster response leading to the development of disaster preparedness action plans at the community level. It also aims to strengthen mechanisms for disaster response, and establish resource centers for information sharing.

Ecotourism projects eyed for Tawi-Tawi’s

Turtle Islands

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Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP) and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)

BSFP Partners Roles and Responsibilities

PAYMENT FOR ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (PES)

This P36 million project is a collaborative effort of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through MinDA’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program and DENR’s Barangay Forest Program (BFP), a component of its National Greening Program (NGP).

It initially targets 200 barangays located in perennially flooded areas, affected by recent typhoons and near critical coastal and riverine systems.

Each barangay will establish a minimum of 20 hectares as nursery and tree plantation area. The project will produce two million seedlings and 4,000 hectares planted with trees by 2016.

The Payment for Ecosystem Services or PES program is an environmental mechanism designed to help sustain ecosystems that provide support to public utilities and other industries.

For the PES program to be implemented, a certain local government unit (LGU) for instance may issue an ordinance to collect fees from its constituents who subscribe to services that are dependent on natural resources. An example of a PES program is for a municipal government to issue an ordinance to collect a fee of P1.00 for every cubic meter of water that a household consumes. The LGU may utilize the collected fees for the implementation of a municipal-wide tree planting program.

The Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project is designed to rehabilitate natural habitats and strengthen multi-sectoral commitment in the reforestation of Mindanao’s denuded areas.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall provide funding assistance to barangay LGUs, technical guidance, and organizational support to partner local government units.

The Department of Interior and Local Government shall organize the 200 barangay local government units, disseminate tree-growing or other related initiatives to local partners and come up with performance incentive scheme for the Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project.

The Mindanao Development Authority through the MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program shall link the private sectors, academe and CSOs in the project and assist in organizing partner LGUs/alliance with the DILG and DENR.

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Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP) and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)

20% or 2.06 million has:Remaining forest cover of Mindanao with

respect to its total land area of 9.725 million hectares

Total: 200 BarangaysPerenially-flooded areas

BSFP Project Components

Nursery establishment and tree growing

Performance-based incentives

Sustainability

Livelihood

200 Priority Barangays of the BSFP

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Mindanao’s state universities and colleges are

stepping-up efforts in making the island-region and its people more adaptable to climate change by integrating disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation (CCAM) in their curriculum.

The curriculum integration includes the proposal to offer short-term courses on DRRM and CCAM to students, employees of Local Government Units (LGUs) and other interested individuals. Part of the

initiative is the move to designate DRRM and CCAM as compulsory subjects for all courses or to include these in the existing subjects such as the National Service Training Program (NSTP), the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), and the Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC).

Among the schools that have committed to integrate DRRM and CCAM in their curriculum include the University of

Southeastern Philippines, the Compostela Valley State College, the Davao del Norte State College, the Sultan Kudarat State University, the Mindanao State University-

General Santos City Campus, the University of Southern Mindanao, the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology and the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College.

Other schools such as the Southern Philippines Agri-business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST) and the Notre Dame of Dadiangas

University have already incorporated DRMM and CCAM in their CWTS and NSTP subjects.

“The country’s state universities and colleges play

critical roles in integrating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the education sector,” said Dr. Irvin Generalao, SPAMAST president.

He added “by integrating and offering DRRM and CCAM in our programs, we intend to equip our students the appropriate skills, attitudes, and knowledge necessary for them and their families to adapt to climate change, and eventually cope with its impacts.”

During roadshows with higher education institutions in Regions XI and XII conducted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), SPAMAST and the other 10 state universities and colleges in Mindanao also pledged to undertake researches on climate change aimed to aid policy and decision-making bodies.

“These studies are crucial and we would like to maximize the expertise of our home-grown academic institutions,” said Janet Lopoz, MinDA executive director.

She added that MinDA regularly submits policy briefs to the members of Mindanao lawmakers’ bloc in Congress while adding “the agency lobbies for Mindanao-related policies that are supported by thorough research.”

The Mindanao 2020 or the island-region’s 20-year peace and development roadmap for 2011-2030 stressed that Mindanao must position itself to adequately meet the challenges of climate change.

Mindanao state universities and colleges to offer DRRM and climate change courses

LEARNING CURVE Officials from various state colleges and universities across Mindanao work with MinDA in integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Monitoring (DRRM) and Climate Change Adapatation and Mitigation (CCAM) subjects into their respective curricula.

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Antonino said the program will facilitate the setting-up of nurseries that will supply the seedlings, in addition to providing incentives for top performing communities.

“The partner communities will also receive livelihood projects to ensure the sustainability of the program,” she added.

The BSFP also encourages the establishment of PES,

a mechanism designed to help sustain ecosystems that provide support to public utilities and other industries.

“While we promote trade and investments in Mindanao, we must also do parallel efforts in ensuring the protection and sustainability of our environment and natural resources,” she concluded.

BSFP implementing guidelines inkedThe implementing

guidelines for a tripartite program were recently

signed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Interior and Local Government (DILG) to implement the Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Program (BSFP) in Mindanao.

MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino, DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, and DILG Secretary Mar Roxas led the signing of the implementing guidelines during the Cagayan de Oro River basin Management Council meeting held on May 21 at N Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. The signing was witnessed by local chief executives of Misamis

Oriental, leaders of host communities, and partners from the private sector.

Under the implementing guidelines, DENR is tasked to provide funding for nursery establishment, plantation development, and to train host communities on watershed management, proper tree-nurturing, and nursery establishment, among others.

The DILG on the other hand will monitor the implementation of BSFP and shall come up with an incentive scheme for top performing barangays.

Moreover, MinDA will facilitate the participation of private sectors, academe, and civil society organizations to

the BSFP.

The BSFP is a project under MinDA’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program and DENR’s Barangay Forest Program, a key component of President

Benigno Aquino III’s National Greening Program (NGP) that aims to plant 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares across the country from 2011 to 2016.

Fun run to raise funds for rehab of Mindanao coastal areas

A fun run aimed to generate

resources for the rebuilding

and rehabilitation of coastal

barangays in Mindanao was

organized by the Junior Chamber

International (JCI) Philippines

and the Mindanao Development

Authority (MinDA) through its

flagship program MindaNOW!

Nurturing Our Waters Program.

Held on June 1, the activity,

entitled “We Run, We Care” was

designed to raise funds for the

replanting of mangroves areas

in Davao Oriental that were

destroyed by Typhoon Pablo in

2012, and provide assistance in

the rehabilitation of the coastal

barangays that were affected

by the Zamboanga incident in

September last year.

An estimated fund of P90,000

was raised by the more than

900 hundred runners from JCI

Davao Region and other private

organizations from Davao City who

participated in the activity.

(See related front page story)

GREEN LIGHT Representatives from the MILALITRA (left), CDORBMC Chair Archbishop Antonio Ledesma (middle), and MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino sign the implementing guidelines of the BSFP for Mindanao.

SEALED DEAL Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas (right) approves the BSFP implementing guidelines during the program launch in Cagayan de Oro City. Also in photo is Anne Oledan of MinDA’s MindaNOW! Program.

MinDA, DENR, and DILG...

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Over 2,000 seedlings of hardwood trees will soon become forest foliage in

this city’s upland area, as a multi-sector group conducted a tree

planting activity last month in support to the National Greening Program (NGP).

The City Government of Davao, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and several other organizations led the planting of Narra, Molave, and Big-leaf Mahogany seedlings at a designated mini-watershed located in Sitio Upper Kibalang in Marilog Disrtrict.

“We cannot be here forever. In fact, I am about to retire. By training members of the local community on how to take care of the environment, we hope that the knowledge will be kept and propagated among the people of this barangay,” said Martin Obrero, supervising environmental specialist of the City Environment and Natural Resources.

He added that the seedlings planted in the mini-watershed would be taken care of by volunteers from the local community for a minimum

period of three years to ensure their survival and maturity into full-grown trees.

The tree growing activity, which coincided with the city’s celebration of the 44th Earth Day was also supported by volunteers from the local community, various offices of the city government, other national government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, and professional organizations like the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.

"We need similar collaborations that aim to rehabilitate our denuded forests and support us in our goal of protecting Mindanao’s environment while contributing to the targets of the NGP,” said MinDA Chairperson Luwalhati Antonino.

NGP is a flagship project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that aims to plant 1.5 billion trees covering 1.5 million hectares

for a period of six years from 2011 to 2016. Apart from being a reforestation initiative, the program is also a climate change mitigation strategy that aims to increase the country’s forest cover to raise its capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, which is largely blamed for global warming.

Antonino added that through the MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program, MinDA is working with DENR and the Department of Interior and Local Government in the full implementation of the Mindanao Barangay StraTREEgic Forest Project (BSFP) through the Barangay Forest Program (BFP), a component of the NGP.

“We initially target 200 barangays in Mindanao as part of this campaign, and we hope

to engage them in massive reforestation activities aimed to generate at least two million seedlings of forest trees to be planted among typhoon-prone

and perennially flooded areas in the island-region,” said Antonino.

Multi-sector group supports national greening effort

MinDA staff, along with the local government employees (upper left), plant trees at the watershed of Sitio Upper Kibalang in Marilog, Davao City (upper right) which houses almost 2,000 seedlings of forest tree species including the Big Leaf Mahogany tree (above).