RELEASE NO. 20 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2019

FASPSUpdates The OfficialUpdates Newsletter of the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service

The ’ Risk Resiliency Program steps up climate action for 14 vulnerable provinces FASPS Updates Release no. 20 October - December 2019

In Case You Missed It: 2019 Environmental Events (4th Quarter)

OCTOBER: National Tamaraw Month 20-26: International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week NOVEMBER: Philippine Clear Air Month, Contents National Environmental Awareness Month 19-25: National Climate Change Consciousness Week 4 25: National Day for Youth in Climate Action The Philippines’ Risk Resiliency Program steps up climate action for 14 vulnerable provinces

5 Protect Wildlife expands to watersheds and mangroves in Zamboanga City

Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape and adjoining forestlands now ready for forest restoration

6 View the online version of Agreement for a TSD Facility FASPS Updates in PH largest barangay inked

16 project proposals under GEF-7 PREVIOUS ISSUE: undergo refinement Release no. 19 7 July-September 2019 DENR, INREMP join second Int’l Conference on INREM

8 Suwag o Suko? Conserving tamaraws and empowering the rangers who protect them

9 ADB, DENR, academe hold seminars on machine learning to track online illegal Editorial Board wildlife trade (IWT)

10 Editorial Adviser Managing Editor Projects closing in 2019 Atty. Jonas R. Leones Jeslina B. Gorospe 11 Undersecretary for Legal, Policy, Stop Open Burning (Infographic) Planning, and International Affairs Associate Managing Editors Joel B. Abunda | Sheela V. Legaspi 12 Editor-in-Chief News Snapshots Lourdes C. Wagan Content Coordinator OIC-Director, Foreign-Assisted Alma P. Estrada | Laarni V. Marciano | and Special Projects Service Sheela V. Legaspi

ASSociate Editor Layout Artists Ma. Sabrina R. Cruz Laarni V. Marciano | Sheela V. Legaspi Assistant Director, Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service Contributors Protect Wildlife Project | Nimozenie Screening and Editing Magleo | John Timothy Valenzuela | Board Elma Eleria | Jekk Mickale Paderes | BIOFIN Project | IWT Project | BAT& Eddie B. Abugan, Jr. BEP on Open Burning Project Conrado A. Bravante, Jr. Imelda R. dela Cruz

2 Release no. 20 October - December 2019 FASPS Updates

DENR signs Environmental Partnership with Pan Co. Ltd. by FASPS

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between South Korean Company Pan Co. Ltd. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was forged to promote cooperation in Solid Refuse Fuel Steam Supply and Power Plants. Through the establishment of a recycling technology that uses waste plastic in the waste stream and other non-toxic inorganic materials, this technology aims to produce pelletized materials to fuel boiler and create alternative clean and renewable energy comparing to oil such as gasoline, light oil, and EMB Dir. Engr. William Cuñado and Mr. Kang Bin Im of Pan Co. Ltd. sign the MOU as USec Jonas Leones, FASPS Dir. Lourdes Wagan and FASPS-PPD Chief Eddie Abugan, Jr. kerosene. witnessed the signing

Chairman and Executive Director of Pan Co. Ltd. Mr. Kang Bin Im leads the group from South Korea, while the DENR was represented by Undersecretary for Legal, Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Atty. Jonas Leones along with Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service OIC-Director Lourdes Wagan, Environmental Management Bureau Director Engr. William Cuñado, and FASPS-Project Preparation Division Chief Eddie Abugan, Jr.

Outgoing Director Ms. Lourdes Wagan turned over the symbolic key to Director Angelito Fontanilla during the turnover of leadership of the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS) on December 18, 2019.

DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, expressed his admiration of FASPS in implementing foreign-assisted and local- funded development projects.

Prior to his new assignment, Director Fontanilla was Deputy Dir. Fontanilla is new head Director of the Integrated Natural Resources Management of FASPS Project (INREMP). by Sheela Legaspi - FASPS Meanwhile, Director Lourdes Wagan holds directorship of the (From left) outgoing FASPS Director Ms. Lourdes Wagan, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and Forest Management Bureau. FASPS Director Mr. Angelito Fontanilla

3 FASPS Updates Release no. 20 October - December 2019

The Philippines’ Risk Resiliency Program steps up climate action for 14 vulnerable provinces by World Bank

(From left) Mr. Reynolds Michael Tan, Vice Governor of Province of ; Ms. Maria Caridad Sison Goteesan, Vice Governor of Province of ; Mr. Achim Fock, Manager of Portfolio and Operations, Philippines World Bank Group; Ms. Sharee Tan, Congresswoman of Province of Samar; Ms. Elisa Kho, Congresswoman of Province of ; Mr. , Governor of Province of Southern ; Mr. , Governor of Province of ; Mr. Roy Cimatu, Secretary of DENR; Ms. Nieva Natural, Director of NEDA; Mr. Elmer De Peralta, Vice Governor of Province of ; Ms. Cristina Clarasa, Director of DBM; Mr. Jesus Posadas, Undersecretary of DOE; Mr. Vicente Sorupia Jr, Mayor of Aleosan, Province of North .

The DENR chairs the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, The provinces of Eastern Samar, , , Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR) composed , North Cotabato and comprise Batch 2 which of government agencies working in synergy in order to address the developed their IPRR for 2021. challenges of climate change. To support the implementation of the four (4) outcomes of the CCAM-DRR Roadmap, the Cluster has adopted According to Secretary Cimatu: “It is important to ensure that our the Risk Resiliency Program (RRP) as its convergence Program. The country and our citizens are prepared for the various effects of climate RRP has been the convergence program of the said Cluster since 2013 change. The RRP helps fortify the collaboration of the different agencies (Cabinet Resolution 2012-02) to aid in strengthening the resiliency of of the Philippine government in pursuit of our goals of inclusive growth.” natural ecosystems and the adaptive capacity of vulnerable groups and communities to short and long-term risks. “The World Bank is honored to partner with the Philippine government in helping implement this excellent program. As one of the most On November 20, 2019, Secretary Roy Cimatu led the Dissemination climate-vulnerable countries in the world, we are committed to helping .. Event for the RRP at Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in City. the Philippines and its people to be better prepared to face the effects of Themed “Accelerating Climate Resilience Investments in the climate change in the years to come,” said Mr. Achim Fock, Manager, Philippines through the Risk Resiliency Program”, the event was Portfolio and Operations, Philippines, World Bank Group. The World attended by representatives of cluster member-agencies and heads and Bank served as the Implementing Agency of the Climate Investment representatives of the fourteen (14) climate-vulnerable provinces that Fund-Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (CIF-PPCR) grant to the include some of the poorest provinces in the country, academe, civil country. society groups and private sector. The first batch of provinces are: Masbate, , , Samar, Sarangani, , Through the RRP, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk Surigao Del Norte, and . These provinces were able to reduction efforts will benefit all throughout the Philippines. develop their Investment Portfolio for Risk Resilience (IPRR) for 2020.

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Recently, Zamboanga City communities situated in the Ayala and Manicahan watersheds and Mampang and Talon-talon mangrove forests joined the participatory mapping activities conducted by USAID Protect Wildlife Project together with the city government’s technical working group.

Inputs from the mapping activities and community consultations, such as the current uses of land and resources and socioeconomic activities in these watersheds and mangrove forests, will feed into conservation and management plans for these ecologically important areas. As part of the project’s expansion in Zamboanga City, Protect Wildlife expands to Protect Wildlife will continue working with partners and local stakeholders in improving the management of Ayala watersheds and mangroves and Manicahan as potential water sources for the city. This may involve a strategy of issuing tenure to local communities in Zamboanga City and providing them with technical, infrastructure and social by Protect Wildlife Project services as incentives for their cooperation in watershed management. For Mampang and Talon-talon, Protect USAID Protect Wildlife orients the community in Manicahan on the Wildlife will explore opportunities on biodiversity-friendly importance of managing their watershed. livelihoods, such as ecotourism and improved seaweed value chains, which can relieve pressure on mangrove forestlands.

Mount Mantalingahan Protected Landscape and adjoining forestlands now ready for forest restoration

Farmers receive durian seedlings in southern . ..

To help protect biodiversity and promote conservation of Mount in these municipalities. These will help establish their home gardens Mantalingahan Protected Landscape in southern Palawan, the USAID intercropped with fruit, spices, fuelwood trees, and vegetables. Protect Wildlife Project supported the five municipalities encompassing the protected area to develop their respective forest land use plans. With In July and August, to ensure the quality of the seedlings to be procured, its completion, and consistent with the management zoning of Mount distributed and planted, Protect Wildlife conducted a training workshop Mantalingahan, investing on forest restoration can now be pursued on seedling acceptance sampling, attended by key persons from the local through assisted natural regeneration, fuelwood lot and agroforestry government units (LGUs), the Department of Environment and Natural development to meet the increasing need for food, fiber and timber. Resources (DENR), the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), and the project’s procurement team. This was followed by To kick off this restoration process, Protect Wildlife is piloting a trainer’s orientation and training course on conservation-based conservation agriculture and agroforestry practices within the multiple agroforestry, mixed and diversified perennial cropping systems, and use zones in Mount Mantalingahan and within production areas to agriculture, where focal staff from the DENR, PCSD, municipal LGUs, assist upland communities, indigenous peoples, and occupants of and selected barangay officials were trained on appropriate techniques adjoining forestlands. From October 1 to 5, the Protect Wildlife team for site preparation, planting, management, and maintenance of major and partners distributed 20,190 durian seedlings to 700 households agroforestry species, fruit trees and cash crops. 5 FASPS Updates Release no. 20 October - December 2019

Agreement for a TSD Facility in PH The soon-to-be installed TSD facility is one of the major deliverables of the largest barangay inked GEF-funded “Implementation of the by Nimozenie Magleo – FASPS Safe Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) and E-Waste Management” project that aims to protect human health and the environment against PCB and Polybrominated diphelnyl ethers (PBDE) found in electronic wastes.

“Through this project, we put our best effort to ensure sustainable income of the recycling industry in the pilot site, educate them on the risk factors they are prone to, and assist them on how to properly maximize the recovery of materials (From left) Dr. Carmela Centeno (UNIDO), Assistant Director Vizminda Osorio (EMB), Dante from e-wastes,” Geri-Geronimo Sañez, Lista (Barangay Bagong Silang), and Mr. Lee Salvatore Echiverri (IRI) sign the cooperation Hazardous Waste Management Section agreement. Chief of EMB, said in a statement. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has signed a Cooperation Agreement with the United Nations Dr. Carmela Centeno, UNIDO Project Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Integrated Recycling Industries Philippines, Inc. Manager, lauded the combined efforts (IRI), and the local government of Barangay Bagong Silang, Caloocan City on October 5, 2019 for of the government, private sector, civil the establishment and operation of a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facility for electronic society, and the LGU of Barangay Bagong wastes in the country’s most populated barangay. Silang that made the implementation of the only GEF-funded e-waste project The agreement allows the upgrading of the existing materials recovery facility (MRF) in Barangay in Asia successful. She appealed for Bagong Silang to an e-waste facility, and ensures that the local government unit (LGU) has the continued support of the project until the capability to operate it. end of its implementation in 2021.

A team from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) held a technical mission at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City. Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS) Assistant Director Ma. Sabrina Cruz delivered the opening remarks and gave a warm welcome to the Senior Program Officers from the GEF Secretariat namely: Ms. Leah Bunce Karrer (Senior Environment Specialist on International Waters), Mr. Jurgis Sapijanskas (Senior Biodiversity Specialist), and Mr. Yuki Shiga (Environment Specialist on Chemicals and Waste and Climate Change). 16 project proposals under GEF-7 undergo It was also attended along with the project by Elma Eleria and Jekk Mickale Paderes – FASPS proponents, relevant government agencies, refinement civil society organizations, and respective GEF Implementing Agencies. FASPS Assistant Director Ma. Sabrina Cruz (third from right) delivers the opening remarks The said activity aimed to provide guidance during the GEF technical mission meeting in the development of the sixteen (16) Project Identification Forms impacts. They recommended to merge related project proposals or to (PIFs) or project proposals which have been included in the GEF-7 transfer funds to small projects. National Portfolio Formulation Document (NPFD) of the country. It was the first time that the country was given the opportunity by the GEF As a milestone of the event, an endorsement letter on the proposed for a rigorous and holistic discussion on the refinement of the proposals project entitled “Natural Capital Accounting and Assessment: Informing for the timely submission to the GEF. Development Planning, Sustainable Tourism Development and Other Incentives for Improved Conservation and Sustainable Landscapes” was In general, the GEF Secretariat suggested to further consolidate the signed by the GEF Operational Focal Point (OFP) DENR Undersecretary portfolio by having fewer but bigger projects (amounting to at least Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, witnessed by the GEF mission team, National USD3,000,000.00), allowing for higher quality outcomes and greater Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and DENR-FASPS.

6 Release no. 20 October - December 2019 FASPS Updates DENR, INREMP join second Int’l Conference on INREM by John Timothy Valenzuela - INREMP

San Miguel Association Resource Team (SMART) during the FBS Business Launch and Products Exhibit at Island City Mall, Tagbilaran, .

November 20-22, 2019 – Together with representatives from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region VII, Region X, and the its partner people’s organizations and the regional offices, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management Project – National Project Coordinating Office (INREMP- The selection of paper presentations were as follows: “Application of Indigenous NPCO) joined the Second International Conference on Knowledge System for Natural Resources” by Ariel Erasga, INREMP-NPCO’s Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management Community Development Specialist; “People’s Organizations’ Accreditation (INREM) at the Philippine International Convention Center. System: A Development Change for Productive Partners in Sustainable Management of Land and Forest Resources” by Dr. Manuel Bonita, from The three-day conference was organized by the Interdisciplinary Center for Environmental Studies and Management (CESM); “Farmer Studies Center for INREM of the University of the Philippines Business Schools (FBS): A Gender-responsive and Climate Smart approach to Los Baños (UPLB)-College of Forestry and Natural Resources Strengthen Farmer Entrepreneurship for Enhanced Livelihood in Agroforestry (CFNR) with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). It Context” by For. Johanna San Pedro, INREMP NPCO Operations Unit Head; was aimed to be a venue for sharing knowledge and experiences and “System Synergy: INREMP’s Integrated Project Management Information in mainstreaming in local governance and sustainable System” which was presented by Jayson Guevarra, INREMP NPCO MIS development among the participants from various sectors, such Specialist. as the academe, research, environment and natural resources management practitioners, local government agencies, and non- The Forestland Management Project (FMP) and the DENR River Basin Control government organizations (NGOs). Office (RBCO) were also present in the conference. FMP presented “Women’s Participation in Watershed Governance” and “LGU-led Collaborative The event was also co-organized by partner local institutions and Watershed Governance in ”, while RBCO shared “Integrated government agencies, namely: the University of the Philippines River Basin Planning in the Philippines” and “Improving the Role of River Resilience Institute (UP-RI), Department of Environment and Basin Organizations (RBOs) in Sustainable River Basin Governance”. Natural Resources (DENR), Tan Yan Kee Foundation Inc., Forest Foundation Philippines and international partners such as the Thünen Research Institute and Landscape Forestry in the Tropics (LaForeT).

The conference was attended by DENR Undersecretary for Legal, Policy, Planning, and International Affairs Atty. Jonas Leones, who delivered DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu’s keynote address. Sec. Cimatu encouraged everyone to take the opportunity, not just to learn new knowledge but to also share one’s stories and expertise and collaborate with one another to achieve sustainable management of our natural resources and environment.

INREMP’s paper presentations centered on the project’s innovative practices during its implementation in the last six years. Four abstracts were submitted and presented to the USec Jonas Leones delivers the keynote speech during the conference, highlighting the project’s efforts in continuing its INREMP International Conference on Novermber 20-22, 2019 initiatives in sustainable watershed management in its areas in at PICC. 7 FASPS Updates Release no. 20 October - December 2019

Nestled between Occidental and , MIBNP hosts the Suwag o Suko?: Conserving largest remaining population of tamaraw at 480 heads, down from 523 in 2018. A century ago, an estimated 10,000 heads inhabited all of Mindoro, from coastal lowlands to its highest peaks. In the 1930s, widespread cattle tamaraws and empowering ranching spurred a deadly outbreak of rinderpest, which soon infected many of the island’s bovines. The tamaraw population was decimated – the rangers who protect them by 1969, numbers were estimated to have plummeted below 100. by BIOFIN Project The population has rebounded to 480 heads within MIBNP – a far October 30, 2019 (Manila) – Representatives from different sectors came cry from the original 10,000, but a sure sign that TCP and MIBNP’s together to witness how the Tamaraw Conservation Programme (TCP) conservation efforts are paying off. Leading field conservation efforts and Mounts Iglit-Baco Natural Park (MIBNP) rangers risk their lives to are two dozen TCP and about a dozen MIBNP rangers who conduct protect the tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), a wild buffalo found solely park patrols, keep poachers at bay and dismantle animal traps illegally on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines. It is among the world’s most set-up in strict protection zones. endangered animals, considered critically-endangered and just a step above extinction in the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. Since its inception in 2012, BIOFIN has worked with both the public and private sectors to enhance protection for the country’s biodiversity To raise both awareness and funds for tamaraw conservation, the hotspots by helping secure funds to implement sound biodiversity Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations programs. Development Programme (UNDP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) partnered with TCP plus a talented UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Titon Mitra highlighted group of storytellers for a documentary entitled Suwag o Suko: Saving the importance of financing biodiversity conservation, noting that: the Tamaraw from Extinction. “According to the latest UN biodiversity report, up to one million animal and plant species are on the verge of extinction. We are now faced with “Suwag o Suko is a love letter to the an unparalleled loss of biodiversity at an tamaraw rangers and everyone working alarming rate. Now more than ever, we need in conservation. It was made with local to take a multi-stakeholder approach in audiences in mind because we want to addressing this crisis.” instill a sense of pride, shared identity and ownership for our natural heritage,” BIOFIN Philippines’ second phase runs from explains Celine Murillo, who wrote the 2018 to 2022 and includes the implementation script with director Mark Ace Gatdula of finance solutions to raise resources for and other pro bono volunteers. The the tamaraw and other endangered species hour-long documentary examines the through creative crowdfunding and diaspora. economic, social and cultural significance Tamaraw conservation for example, is of the tamaraw and how its survival is now being considered for corporate social invariably tied to the management of the responsibility funding. MIBNP, its indigenous mangyan tribes, plus the continuous conservation efforts Under the DENR-UNDP collaboration, of rangers. BIOFIN works to close the financing gap for the conservation and sustainable Tamaraw Month is celebrated each use of biological diversity by identifying, October. “We herald this unique, accessing, combining and sequencing biologically-important and culturally- sources of biodiversity funding to finance the significant animal. We must spread Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action awareness for conservation,” says DENR Plan (PBSAP), the country’s roadmap to TCP Coordinator Neil Anthony del conserving its natural resources. PBSAP’s Mundo. implementation will cost PhP24B per year or PhP334B (USD7.4B low estimate) from 2015 Canon Philippines, Tamron, Benro, to 2028. However, public expenditure was Eco Explorations and the Mindoro estimated at only PhP4.9B per year (USD110M), revealing an annual Biodiversity Conservation Foundation pitched in to make the film gap of almost PhP19B (USD349M). Finance solutions addressing this possible. gap have been identified and are presently being piloted by BIOFIN.

“One of Canon’s major priorities among sustainability programs is Suwag o Suko: Saving the Tamaraw from Extinction is scheduled for biodiversity conservation, locally and globally. It is an honor to partner nationwide screenings in the coming months, with possible international with DENR’s Biodiversity Management Bureau and BIOFIN to bring light exposure through video-on-demand platforms. A national caravan shall to pressing issues surrounding our wildlife, particularly of endangered follow the film launch to create additional buzz and catalyze support for species like the tamaraw. We hope to inspire millions of Filipinos to tamaraw conservation. support conservation programs to help keep this species thriving in the wild,” says Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc. Vice President Anuj Parties interested to support conservation either in-cash or in-kind can Aggarwal. contact BIOFIN at [email protected].

8 Release no. 20 October - December 2019 FASPS Updates

ADB, DENR, academe hold seminar on machine learning to track online illegal wildlife trade (IWT) by IWT Project

Whether you like it or not, we now live in the age of one of the leading experts in the world in using social media. With practically limitless accessibility, social media for environmental conservation. social media can make anyone be part of a globally connected network where people can share just The seminar introduced participants to different about anything. Unfortunately, this accessibility methods and techniques of mining data in also makes social media a very hospitable platform social media platforms, evaluating mined data to trade illegal wildlife. As social media continue to to investigate patterns of social behavior, and develop and expand their reach, it also opens more analyzing these patterned social behaviors to and more opportunities for illegal wildlife traders to support management and marketing endeavors. grow their market. The methods and techniques also showed different ways of tracking illegal wildlife trading in social As the trade of illegal wildlife continues to migrate media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. to social media and to other digital platforms, enforcement agencies will need to adapt to address Participants from government agencies shared some the continuing proliferation of cybercrime. The of their experiences related to Illegal Wildlife Trade good news is that social media provides a wealth (IWT) and expressed the need for further capacity of data that are easily accessible, and with the right building, including the hosting of workshops tools and know-how, they allow enforcement agents and trainings on different methods of mining and to track illegal wildlife crimes and other activities analyzing data on wildlife crimes committed online. that will help wildlife conservation efforts of the country. Faculty and students from the Ateneo de Manila University and De la Salle University likewise The ADB/GEF-DENR Project on Combatting expressed strong interest in wildlife cybercrime and Environmental Organized Crime in the opportunity for possible research collaboration the Philippines organized a seminar on and mentoring. “Environmental Conservation in the Digital Age” for representatives of member-agencies of National The general feedback of the seminar indicated Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee- Sub- that there is more work to do as regards wildlife committee on Environment and Natural Resources cybercrime in the Philippines. Additionally, the (NALECC-SCENR), and more than 150 students increasing interest in addressing IWT of both from De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila enforcers and students provides the IWT Project University on November 26 and 27, 2019. The and DENR encouragement to harness this energy resource speaker was Dr. Enrico di Minin, an and to create more avenues and opportunities for adjunct professor of the University of Helsinki and this interest to develop further.

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10 Release no. 20 October - December 2019 FASPS Updates Projects ENVIRONMENT

Closing in • Ozone-Depleting Substances - Institutional Strengthening Project 2019 (ODS-ISP XI)

Jan 2018-Dec 2019

• Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in the Philippines

Apr 2015 - Sep. 2019

FORESTRY

• Capacity Building on the Application of Landscape Approach to Support the Sustainable Natural Resources Management in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, BIODIVERSITY Philippines, and Singapore (BIPS Project) • Indigenous Practices for Biodiversity Conservation March 30, 2016-March 29, 2019 (IP4Biodiv) Project in Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) • Development and Testing of National Forest Stock June 2012 - March 2019 SPECIAL PROJECTS Monitoring System with Improved Governance at • Green Livelihood All Levels of the Forest • Fifth Operational Phase Technologies for Watershed Administration (FSMS) of the GEF Small Grants Rehabilitation for Poverty

Programme (SGP-5) Alleviation 2011-June 2019 2018-2019 June 2013- December 2019

• Strengthening National • Conservation of Mangrove Systems to Improve thru Rice Hull Fed Wine Governance and Distillery – Nipa Wine Management of Indigenous Production Peoples and Local 2018-2019 Communities Conserved Areas and Territories (Philippine ICCA Project) • Bamboo Furniture and September 2015 - Handicraft Industry for December 2019 Sustainable Community Development & Environmental Protection 2018-2019 11 N e w s S n a p s h o t s

INREMP welcomes Indonesian delegates for a site visit Lecture on Solid Waste Management in Brgy. Malinta Valenzuela and learning activity by Timothy Valenzuela - INREMP City in celebration of Climate Change Consciousness Week 2019 To facilitate an exchange of knowledge and expertise on project implementation and management, The Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project (INREMP) met with the delegation of the Forest Investment Program – 1 (FIP- 1) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), Indonesia for a three-day site visit and learning activity at INREMP’s sites in the Upper Chico River Basin, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) on December 4-6, 2019.

China accepts PH’s invite on eco-environmental protection by FASPS The five-member delegation led by Deputy Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Guangzi Zhuang Autonomous Region Committee (CPPCC) Mr. Lui Muren visits the Philippines to discuss with DENR, matters pertaining to eco- environmental protection policies and possible cooperation initiatives.

FASPS Updates Published quarterly by the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). FASPS serves as the focal point for generating and managing additional resources and facili- tating partnerships to complement regular programs, discover new techniques and approaches, and pilot new ideas and innovations to improve efficiency of ENR services.

Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Web (FASPS): fasps.denr.gov.ph Telefax: 926-8052 Email: [email protected] | [email protected]