FASPS Updates

The official newletter of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service Release no. 02 April - June 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Training on designing, developing foreign-assisted 3 projects gets under way

Phil-WAVES conducts training on SedNet modeling 3

Phil-WAVES to reach out to 3 wider audience

INREMP holds first review 4 mission

BPP's biodiversity-friendly 4 investment programs validated

Tubbatah Reefs' sea turtles are 5 healthy, experts say

Global Environment Facility 7 (GEF)- National B+WISER Forester Josephine Rodelas (right) coached Kitanglad Guard Volunteer Ricardo Multi-Stakeholders dialogue Digbas in using CyberTracker application as part of the LAWIN software on a tablet for biodiversity and threats monitoring in Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park in . Southern holds 8 environment summit 2015, awards environment-friendly LGUs B+WISER makes headway in

IPOPs Management Project 8 conservation and environmental law holds stakeholders consultation on POPs contaminated sites enforcementby Angel Tiamson-Saceda initiatives PAME restages 'Selfie for 9 The Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) Biodiversity' contest Program, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), made significant headway in the first half of 2015. CCC launches online 10 'community of practice' B+WISER co-organized two major events, the 1st International Conference on Conservation Financing in Southeast Asia and the 3rd National Environmental Law Enforcement Summit, and inked two partnership Philippine SSME partners 10 agreements with thePhilippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) and the Department of Social harmonize project workplans to Welfare and Development (DSWD) for forest-related economic activities of communities in B+WISER project move forward sites. Turn to next page

Biodiversity Assessment Yields New Island Agencies collaborate to establish Balabac PEMSEA members convene Record of “Extinct” Hornbill in Negros Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

Members of the Partnerships in Under the DENR-BMB and GEF-UNDP’s Biodiversity Five agencies have agreed to collaborate to promote Environmental Management for the Partnership Project (BPP) and with support from the biodiversity conservation in the municipality of Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) convened Chester Zoo, an assessment was able to validate the Balabac, . These include the Biodiversity last June 23 – 26, 2015 for the 7th East presence of population of Rufous-headed hornbill Management Bureau (BMB), Bureau of Fisheries and Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni) in Northern Negros Natural Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Deutsche Gesellschaft fȕr Meeting to address the organization’s Park (NNNP) and in Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Asian current key activities and in . NNNP is one of BPP’s eight Development Bank Regional Technical Assistance accomplishments in the eld of demonstration sites in the Philippines. 7813 (ADB-RETA), and the Center for Environment integrated coastal and ocean and Sustainable Development (CESD). governance.

Turn to page 6 Turn to page 5 Turn to page 7 foreign-assisted projects 2015 Foreign-Assisted Projects 2015 Fund Distribution

US$ 497.96

GEF* GIZ/BMU JICA US $ 123.20 US $ 226.41 KfW ADB USAID KfW Others IFAD

Grant Projects GOP

Loan Projects *GOP Counterparts (US $148.35)

Biodiversity Sectoral Distribution: Foreign-Assited Projects 2015 New Conservation Areas in the Philippine Project (NewCAPP) Partnership for Biodiversity Conservation : Mainstreaming in Local Agricultural Climate Change Manila Bay Integrated Water Quality Management Project (MBIWQMP)- PPG Landscapes (BPP) Philippine Climate Change Adaptation 1% National Programme for Indigenous Removing Barriers to Invasive Species Management in Production and Protection Project (PhilCCAP) $4.97 M Forest in Southeast Asia (FORIS) Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Areas and Territories Protected Areas Management Enhancement in the Philippines (PAME) Multi-Sectoral ENR Rice Plus - Dynamic Conservation and Fifth Operation Phase of the GEF Small Grants Program in the Philippines Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved Sustainable Use of Agrobiodiversity in (SmallGrants) for Stronger Economy and Resiliency Rice-Based Farming System in the Building Trasformative Policy and Financing Frameworks to Increase Investment in Project (B+WISER) Philippines Biodiversity Management (BIOFIN) Phi. Wealth Accounting and the 1% National Programme on Wealth $4.75 M Creation from the Philippines National Biodiversity Planning to Support the implementation of the CBD 2011-2020 Valuation of Ecosystem Services Strategic Plan in Republic of the Philippines (NSBAP) (Phil-WAVES) National Programme for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Conserved Project Preparatory Areas and Territories Technical Assistance Indigenous Practices for Biodiversity Conservation (IP4Biodiv) Project in Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) Integrated Persistent Organic Pollutants (IPOPs) Management Project Philippine Chillers Energy Efficiency Project Global Programme to Demonstrate the Viability and Removal of Barriers 5% The Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) Environmentthat Impede Adoption and Successful Implementation of Available, $24.89 M Program, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funded project with the Department of Non-Combustion Technologies for Destroying Persistent Organic Community-Based Forest and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), made significant headway in the first half of 2015. Pollutants Mangrove Management Project in Panay and Negros (CBFMMP) ODS - Institutional Strengthening Project - Phase IX (ODS-ISP) 8% B+WISER co-organized two major events, the 1st International Conference on Conservation Financing in $41.80 M Southeast Asia and the 3rd National Environmental Law Enforcement Summit, and inked two partnership HCFC Phase-out Management Plan Stage 1 (HPMP) Forestland Management Project agreements with thePhilippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) and the Department of Social Sector Plan to Phase-Out HCFC141b in the Foam Sector (FMP) Welfare and Development (DSWD) for forest-related economic activities of communities in B+WISER project Implementation of the POPs Monitoring Plan in the East Asian Region Integrated Natural Resources and sites. -REGIONAL * 10% $51.34 M Environmental Management Project BAT and BEP in Open Burning Activities in Response to the Stockholm (INREMP) Convention on POPs - REGIONAL * Enabling Activities to Review and Update the National Implementation Forest and Climate Protection in Panay Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (FORCLIM) Improve the health and environment of artisanal gold mining communities in Southeast Asia by reducing mercury emissions 12%$ 57.59M National REDD+ Mechanism for Ratification and Early Implementation of the Minamata Convention on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Mercury in the Philippines and Conservation of Biodiversity in the Philippines Strengthening Marine Protected Areas to Conserve the Marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the 63% (REDD+ Readiness) Philippines (MKBA) $309.59 M Support to the Implementation of the Tri-National -Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Comprehensive FORESTRY Action Plan (SSME) Applying Knowledge Management to Scale Up Partnership Investments for Sustainable Coastal Development of Large Marine and Coastal Ecosystem of the East Asia and their Coast Marine Release no. 02 April - June 2015 FASPS Updates

Editorial Board

Editorial Advisers: Training on designing, developing foreign-assisted projects gets under way

Undersecretary Manuel D. Gerochi and To further bolster the capability of DENR staff to design and develop needs-responsive projects, the Project Preparation Division of Foreign Assisted Assistant Secretary Rommel R. and Special Projects Service headed by Ms. Cristina Regunay and in close Abesamis coordination with the Human Resource Development Service of DENR spearheaded the Project Design and Development Training, whose trifurcate

Editor-in-Chief: focus was to: a) understand the interrelated processes and terms/concepts used in project proposal design and development; (b) gain knowledge on the Director Edwin G. Domingo relevant methods, tools and techniques of project design and development and apply these within their work environment; and (c) appreciate the importance of an intersectoral perspective in addressing concerns in a Screening and Editing Board: spatial/area context. Cristina Regunay/Conrado A. Bravante, Jr./Susan F. Castilla Turn to page 7

Managing Editor: Jeslina B. Gorospe by Joel B. Abunda Phil-WAVES conducts training on SedNet modeling Associate Managing Editor: Joel B. Abunda Assessing the value of a natural asset is a complicated business. "Everything is connected to everything else" and "the whole is more World Bank, the training was held on April 21 to April 24, 2015 in Circulation: Alma P. Estrada than the sum of its parts." For instance, how does one put a price tag Puerto Princesa City. on a forest? He measures and assigns a value to one ecosystem

Layout Artist: Laarni V. service it provides while holding others constant, he runs the risk of The SedNet, which stands forSediment and Nutrient Budgets for Marciano under-assessing its true worth. Finding an equation to describe the River Networks, was developed by Australia's CSIRO Land and Water pain of family members left behind by their breadwinners who Flagship. The "sediment and nutrient budgets" as used in this perished in a landslide after a freak amount of rain was dumped on context simply refers to the major sources, flow, and deposition of Contributing writers: a denuded forestland is quite tricky. sediment and nutrients in the river network. Joel Abunda/ Pao Agulay/ Elena Barth/ Faith Joy Be that as it may, one has to pick one quantifiable aspect of natural The tool can give an account of suspended sediment deposits in pemsea members convene capital somewhere to start moving. This is where the gift of science floodplains and accumulated sand and gravel in river beds which Buentipo/ Horace Cimafranca/ becomes a potent tool to allow the interplay of observations and reduce production of freshwater planktons and algae, which Mitch Confesor/ Rudolph Elmo assumptions to be tested. ultimately affect negatively fish and benthic invertebrates that Dela Cruz/ Elma Eleria/ Evelyn depend on them, and more importantly the sources of these Juanillo /Ma. Theresa Corazon Members of the national and local technical working groups of the sedimentation and nutrient deposits. Ladrera /Joarlyn Morano /Ma. Philippine Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (Phil-WAVES) for Southern Palawan went through a four-day The effect of any changes in watershed, such as conversion of forest Jemimah Peñaranda /Nick hands-on training on the use of SedNet, a modeling tool that can to agricultural crop, on erosion of sediments can be simulated to Pilcher /Dianne Razalan assist technical professionals, planners, and policy-makers project future riverine sediment loads and determine the optimum /Hannah Ritual /Angel understand the impacts of land use changes in the upstream region combination of management strategies within the watershed (e.g. Tiamson-Saceda /Alyanna of a watershed on riverine health in terms of sediment deposition "Should we leave barren land to sit idly for the years to come?"), and nutrient transport. especially in the upstream or headwater area, to enhance Kathleen Uy /Tricia Yambao watershed's ability to support life and maintain natural balance in Organized by the Phil-WAVES Technical Assistance Team with the entire ecosystem. support from the

Phil-WAVES to reach out to wider audience by Faith Joy P. Buentipo

June 23, 2015 – The Philippine Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (Phil-WAVES) Project 3rd Core Group Communications Meeting was held in NEDA sa Pasig and was attended by information officers (IOs) from agencies involved in the implementation of Phil-WAVES, which include the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Lake Development Authority (LLDA). Said meeting was called to discuss the integration of the Communications Road Map to Natural Capital Accounting’s framework.

Phil-WAVES wider audience-largeThe Phil-WAVES communications strategy aims not only to inform major stakeholders about the activities of Phil-WAVES but more importantly, to ensure sustainability of the initiatives of the project which would need the institutionalization of natural capital accounting (NCA) and to encourage participation of key players in NCA.

Meanwhile, a number of communications products packaged both in traditional and multimedia formats have been produced by the project, but distributed by traditional means, i.e., handing out. A World Bank communications specialist encouraged the IOs to start social media promotions in order to reach out to a wider audience which could include other WAVES-participating countries, the media, and the public in general.

Moving forward, each agency was required to come up with a communications plan that would be integrated into the overall communications plan of Phil-WAVES. Moreover, a communications planning workshop will be conducted later in July. PEMSEA members-representatives

3 FASPS Updates Release no. 02 April - June 2015

Editorial Board

Editorial Advisers: B+WISER makes headway ... About 100 conservation finance practitioners, wages, while B+WISER will provide 90,000 Undersecretary Manuel D. policy makers, resource economists and seedlings to be replanted in the 3,000-hectare Gerochi and protected area managers from eight countries National Greening Program (NGP) sites in the Assistant Secretary Rommel R. gathered in Manila on March 3-4 for the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape international conference. Delegates shared and the Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve that Abesamis innovative approaches on conservation financing were established in 2011 and 2012, where DENR by citing successes and challenges in developing support has ended. DENR will take the lead in the Editor-in-Chief: long-term, diversified and sustainable financing implementation and validation of areas replanted. Director Edwin G. Domingo sources for the provision of ecosystem services in the region. Meanwhile, the summit gathered 160 B+WISER was also instrumental in the crafting representatives from the Department of Justice and passing of a common trekking policy for Mt. Screening and Editing Board: (DOJ), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Apo Natural Park, a first for a Protected Area in Cristina Regunay/Conrado A. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the country. The new policy now applies to all Bravante, Jr./Susan F. Castilla Tagaytay City on April 15-16, which resulted in LGUs within the PA as a collaborative governance the crafting of a country-wide five-year roadmap mechanism to conserve the park, better manage

Managing Editor: Jeslina B. for environmental law enforcement. eco-tourism development, and improve Gorospe environmental law enforcement. The partnership with PTFCF will integrate

Associate Managing Editor: B+WISER’s science-based High Conservation To complement conservation and law Value Area (HCVA) and Forest Management Unit enforcement efforts, the B+WISER-developed Joel B. Abunda (FMU) approaches in interventions through NGO Landscape and Wildlife Indicators (LAWIN) partners in common sites, and fast-track grant tablet-based application for biodiversity and Circulation: Alma P. Estrada application for indigenous people organizations threats monitoring was piloted in HCVAs in three submitting nursery establishment and B+WISER project sites and will later be rolled out Layout Artist: Laarni V. forest-related micro-grant proposals. With in six sites. This innovative monitoring system will Marciano DSWD, the partnership will engage 1,000 enable timely response to observed threats to Conditional Cash Transfer Program beneficiaries natural forests and help inform the management Contributing writers: for forest restoration, protection and strategy for the protection of forests. maintenance. DSWD will allocate PhP9 million for Joel Abunda/ Pao Agulay/ Elena Barth/ Faith Joy Buentipo/ Horace Cimafranca/ pemsea members convene Mitch Confesor/ Rudolph Elmo Written by DENR-FASPS/ Hannah C. Ritual Dela Cruz/ Elma Eleria/ Evelyn Juanillo /Ma. Theresa Corazon The Department of Environment and Natural Resources represented by its Undersecretary and Chief of Sta Ladrera /Joarlyn Morano /Ma. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh who is also the Global Environment Facility -Operational Focal Point (GEF-OFP) for the Philippines shepherded the programming process of the country allocation under the 6th cycle of the Global Jemimah Peñaranda /Nick Environment Facility (GEF 6) covering the period from July - 2014 to June 2018. Pilcher /Dianne Razalan /Hannah Ritual /Angel Co-hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and with valuable Tiamson-Saceda /Alyanna assistance from the Palawan Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) headed by Kathleen Uy /Tricia Yambao OIC Juan C. Dela Cruz, the meeting was conducted in Puerto Princesa City.

Delegates from ten country partners and six non-country partners involved in the protection and rehabilitation of coastal resources along with representatives from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) participated in the council meeting.

Representing Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje and the Government of the Philippines, DENR Undersecretary-Chief of Staff and PEMSEA National Focal Person Atty. Analiza Rebuelta-Teh led the opening ceremony to welcome the delegates. She congratulated the Council and the Executive Committee members for their contributions, and the great deal of effort they provided in the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), which is a regional framework developed and adopted by PEMSEA country partners to facilitate trans-boundary initiatives for sustainable development.

The Partnership Council Meeting’s discussions were focused on the following key issues: (1) Updating the implementation of the SDS-SEA and setting its Post-2015 Targets; (2) Facilitating preparations for the conduct of the forthcoming ocean-based forum known as the East Asian Seas Congress and Ministerial Forum 2015; (3) Becoming a self-sustaining international organization; and (4) Establishing collaborative measures between country and non-country partners in order to scale up the implementation of the SDS-SEA.

PEMSEA and DENR have been longstanding advocates of sustainable development and the event provided a golden opportunity for both to renew commitment to rational management of human, natural, and economic resources among stakeholders in the region. PEMSEA members-representatives

2 FASPS Updates Release no. 02 April - June 2015 • motorcycles (88 units), 4x4 vehicles (5 units), laptops (30 units) inremp holds first review mission and desktops (53 units) have been procured; Written by INREMP/ Tricia Yambao and Ma. Theresa Corazon Ladrera • ongoing activities were undertaken to complete the watershed “We are here to facilitate the implementation of the Project and management plans, establish a project monitoring and not to hamper its activities.” evaluation system, improve policy and institutional structures, etc. These were the encouraging words of Mohammed Nasimul Islam, the newly appointed Project Ocer and Environment Specialist of the Asian To ensure that activities would proceed as planned, a Memorandum of Development Bank during the First Joint Review Mission of the Understanding between ADB, IFAD, and GOP was drafted and signed by Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management Project all parties concerned. Among the items agreed on in the MOU were: (INREMP). The review mission was conducted last May 18 to June 2, 2015 to assess the progress of INREMP. • drafting of Memorandum of Agreement with NAMRIA in establishment of baseline data and analysis of maps; The joint review team was composed of Su Chin Teoh, outgoing Project Ocer and Natural Resources Specialist (ADB); Karen Chua, Associate • establishment of a Monitoring and Evaluation system; Project Ocer (ADB); Yolando Arban, Country Programme Ocer (IFAD); and representatives from the Forest Management • nalization and implementation of the Watershed Management Bureau-National Project Coordinating Oce (FMB-NPCO) and Foreign Plans; Assisted and Special Project Services (FASPS). • engagement of the Firm of Consultants; Among the ndings of the mission were the following: • nalization of the manual for the rural infrastructure and natural • all Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR) resources management subprojects; project sta have been hired (national, regional and provincial levels); • formation and expansion of the Watershed Management Councils; and • ve assisting professionals (APs) have been hired out of the 10 required by the Project; • nalization of the list of People’s Organizations and Indigenous People’s Organizations. Biodiversity-friendly investment programs validated Written by DENR-FASPS/ Dianne D. Razalan Facilities, equipment, and materials used by the winery have been provided by the Lal-lo Local Government Unit (LGU) and Advocating and mainstreaming the use of biodiversity-friendly the DOST's Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program indigenous materials in a business enterprise is one of the (SET-UP). thematic goals the Partnerships for Biodiversity Conservation: The LGU employs 15 to 20 workers for wine-processing during Mainstreaming in Local Agricultural a cropping season while DOST provides dryer, acetator and Landscapes project hopes to achieve. wine kit/plastic storage barrels. Commonly referred to simply as the Biodiversity Partnership Project (BPP), it A farm, which was initially developed to produce the necessary primarily aims to enable key Lubeg fruits but abandoned in later years, is being revived stakeholders to effectively protect or through BPP support. However, the present condition leads to enhance the quality of the environment scarcity of Lubeg fruits relative to the demand of wine. To fill and sustainably manage its natural the supply gap, the winery buys the necessary raw material resources. from farmers including those from neighboring municipalities.

The Lubeg fruit and the Bakong plant, in According to the village chairperson, an average of 5 to 15 particular, fit squarely in the BPP program tanks (each tank carries 200 L) can be produced in one harvest implementation. Indigenous season. His complaint, though, is that of lack of storage tanks. to the region, Since March 2015, the wine maker has made do with only two the Lubeg fruit serves aluminum tanks, a fermentation barrel, two fermentation for its vinegar, jelly and drums for vinegar and several plastic storage tanks for wine products and fermented wines. by-products. The Bakong plant, on the A three-month-old Lubeg wine is 8 percent alcohol by volume other hand, grows (ABV). abundantly in Sta. Teresita, Cagayan and is Bakong Enterprise being utilized as raw Managed by the Municipal Project Development and material for making handicrafts Coordinating Office (MPDCO), Bakong Enterprise has been and decorative materials. providing alternative livelihood to the People’s Organization (PO) in Sta. Teresita, Cagayan, whose members are mostly Segovia’s Finest Lubeg Wine engaged in rice farming and fishing. The enterprise has been Operating since 2009 under the supervision producing ropes and assorted handicrafts. of Barangay Captain Vicente O. Tiu, Lubeg Wine Enterprise produces Lubeg wine – Ecological studies are ongoing to determine the sustainability considered as Lal-lo’s main product under the of Bakong plant as raw material as well as its impact to One Town, One Product (OTOP) program. wetlands. 4 Release no. 02 April - June 2015 FASPS Updates

Biodiversity assessment yields new island record of 'extinct' hornbill in Negros A total of five individuals (two males and three females) of Rufous-headed hornbill, thought to be extinct in Negros Island, were seen in Mt. Silay mountain range in NNNP. Reports of the Surveys conducted from 2013 to presence of the bird (one male and two females) in Balinsasayaw 2014 by the Philippines Biodiversity Twin Lakes were noted from visiting birdwatchers but visits to the Conservation Foundation, Inc. forests did not yield observations of the species. Out of the 12 (PBCFI) and biology students remaining forest areas surveyed, only NNNP has had confirmed from Mindanao State University - reports of the species’ presence. The Visayan Tarictic hornbill Iligan Institute of Technology (Penelopides panini), on the other hand, was recorded to be and University of St. La Salle - present in all 12 forests patches visited. The species appeared to Bacolod have verified and be persistent and to some extent tolerant to badly degraded evaluated the conservation forests as long as there were tall trees. status of hornbills in Negros Island. Under the DENR-BMB Following the discovery of Rufous-headed hornbill, PBCFI in and GEF-UNDP’s Biodiversity collaboration with DENR, local government units and Bantay Partnership Project (BPP) and with Bukid Brigade (community forest guards) established support from the Chester Zoo, the hornbill-monitoring trails in NNNP and Mt. Kanlaon Natural assessment was able to validate the Park. A similar monitoring mechanism will also be established in presence of population of Balinsasayao Twin Lakes by 2016. This initiative was made Rufous-headed hornbill possible with the support of BPP and other collaborating (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni) in partners namely, Chester Zoo, Virginia Zoo and the Zoological Northern Negros Natural Park Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP). (NNNP) and in Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park in Negros Oriental. NNNP is one of BPP’s - BPP/ PBCFI eight demonstration sites in the Philippines. (Image opposite) Rufous-headed hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus waldeni)

Written by GIZ-SSME/ Dr. Nick Tubbatah Reefs' sea turtles are healthy, experts say Pilcher (MRF) An exciting component of the Sulu Sulawesi Seascape marine turtle research programme recently took place in the astounding Results Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and World Heritage Site. The trip was The team of rangers and WWF’s M/Y Navorca boat organized by the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) and once crew managed to wrangle 198 turtles and bring again brought in the expertise of Dr. Nick Pilcher, from the Marine them back for inspection, providing Research Foundation (MRF), based in Sabah, Malaysia. robust sample size from which the team could This was the third of such collaborative efforts by TMO and MRF, base its scientific having conducted the first back in 2010, and the second in 2014. findings. Dr. Nick These last two research expeditions were funded by the Deutsche estimated the team Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH as part caught over 5,900 of its tri-national Sulu Sulawesi Seascape programme. kg of turtles in five days. The research expedition featured veterinary specialists Dr. Rizza Araceli Salinas from the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Dr. Teri Aquino from the Tubbataha Management Office and Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines, who were there to brush up on their skills working with sea turtles. ssme tubbataha measuring turtle 2-largeThe trip demonstrated the use of the latest in scientific techniques, with Dr. Pilcher and the vets using laparoscopy, a form of keyhole surgery, to determine the sex and reproductive status of sea turtles - which cannot be determined through simple external observations.

Sea turtles are cold-blooded reptile whose sex is determined by temperature, and not through the X and Y chromosomes. In sea turtles it is the temperature of the sand that determines if they will become male or female. And with climate change and a warming planet, scientists are concerned there might be impacts on sea turtle population, not only in the local scene but also in overall trends globally. Turn to next page Member of the team performing Laparoscopy on a sea turtle 5 Release no. 02 April - June 2015 FASPS Updates

Global Environment Facility (GEF)-Philippines Training on designing ... National Multi-Stakeholders dialogue gets under way Written by DENR-FASPS/ Ms. Elma M. Eleria The training was conducted on June 2-6, 2015 at Punta de Fabian, Baras, and was carried out by experts in the field of project management from academe and national government institutions. Staff members – veterans and young blood alike – from Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), Land Management Bureau (LMB), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and DENR Regional Offices attended the weeklong activities of lectures, interactive discussions, learning exercises, coaching, case studies, break out groups and output presentations.

- Evelyn M. Juanillo

(Image opposite) Participants in a round table discussion with Foreign-Assited and Special Projects Service Director Edwin G. Domingo of the DENR

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) organized the Philippines National Dialogue (PND). GEF provided represented by its Undersecretary and Chief of Sta Analiza funding support to the event. The dialogue also provided the venue for Rebuelta-Teh, who is also the Global Environment Facility -Operational the GEF Secretariat to present the global environmental issues and GEF Focal Point (GEF-OFP) for the Philippines, shepherded the overview (including Policies and Procedures) and GEF 2020 strategy. programming process of the country allocation under the 6th cycle of the Global Environment Facility (GEF 6) covering the period from July The National Dialogue was attended by 115 participants from civil 2014 to June 2018.The GEF serves as the nancial mechanism for the society organizations, representatives from Multilateral Environmental United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (UNCBD), UN Framework Agreement (MEA) Focal Points, government agencies, local Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Convention to Combat governments, peoples organizations and private sector representatives. Deserti cation and Drought (UNCCD) and Stockholm Convention on At the invitation of the OFP, representatives from GEF Implementing Persistent Organic Pollutants, Minamata Convention on Mercury, and Agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, World Bank, FAO, ADB) attended the other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The Facility was dialogue as observers. Experts from the GEF Secretariat served as established to achieve global environmental bene ts through resource persons during the event. nancing of incremental costs to produce such bene ts. It started in 1991 with Trust Fund coming from the contributions of developed After more than a year of programming process, the Philippines has countries. The GEF works with implementing agencies i.e. the World successfully come up with a shortlist of programs/project proposals for Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United development and endorsement to GEF Secretariat for funding under Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) among others to provide the GEF 6 cycle. The proposed programs/projects are as follows: executing agencies, i.e. government agencies, CSOs, and others that directly manage projects, oversight to deliver the outcomes/outputs Program 1: Integrated Approach in the Management of Major and report on the use of funds. Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines;

As early as March 2014, the GEF-OFP initiated the long process to Program 2: National Programme on Wealth Creation from the develop a National Program Formulation Document (NPFD) that would Philippines Biodiversity Genetic Pool and BD based friendly Enterprises; contain the portfolio of programs/projects for funding consideration Program 3: Sustainable Financing of the Philippines PA System; under the GEF 6 cycle. The process provided the venue to develop a framework for prioritizing project proposals submitted by various Program 4: Enhancing agro-ecosystem resiliency through soil and water proponents under the GEF focal areas, namely: (1) Biodiversity, (2) health monitoring and assessment and upscaling of Sustainable Land Climate Change, (3) Land Degradation, (4) Chemicals and Waste, (5) Management (SLM) Practices; International Waters, and (6) Sustainable Forest Management. It also identi ed the strategic links of the country priorities based on the major Program 5: Climate-Resilient, Low Carbon, Eco-Ecient and Sustainable drivers of environmental degradation, National Development Plan and Cities; its speci c plans per sector. Program 6: Environmentally Sound Management of Chemicals and To discuss and identify the national strategic priorities for funding Waste; under the GEF 6, the DENR’s Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS), which serves as the Secretariat of the GEF-OFP, Program 7: International Waters project proposals.

7 FASPS Updates Release no. 02 April - June 2015

Tubbatah Reefs' sea turtles are healthy, experts say ... The turtles were brought back to the base ship, where they were measured carefully, tagged, and then inspected using a laparoscope. This is a small scope that is used to look inside the turtles to determine the sex and the age-class. Of those caught, nearly 80% of turtles were juveniles, with just 17% sub adults and 5% adults. This suggests that Tubbataha is mostly a development ground for small turtles.

The examination also revealed that 69% were female which is quite common in turtles of this size in other parts of the world (roughly two-thirds). It is observed, however, that as turtles mature towards adulthood, the sex ratio balances but to nearly 50:50.

In Tubbataha most of the turtles were between 60 and 70 cm in length, and not yet considered adults. The team of scientists involved in the expedition has been trying to figure out if they will grow and stay on the Tubbataha Reefs, or move on to some distant nesting grounds, which can only be determined by genetic studies. The team also recorded an 8% influx of new recruits – turtles that had never been to reefs before – showing that there is a healthy life cycle going on.

The research concluded that the turtles were all in excellent condition, and contributing Member of the team measuring the length of a sea turtle to the life cycle of sea turtles in general in the Sulu Sulawesi Seascape.

Agencies collaborate to establish Balabac MPA Written by GIZ-SSME/ Ma. Jemimah Peñaranda

BFAR and BMB are operating under the coastal and marine resources management of the target MPA sites. GIZ-funded Support to the Implementation initiatives. of the Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Continuous meetings among the five Comprehensive Action Plan (SSME-CAP) MPA establishment in Balabac, Palawan agencies will be conducted in the following Project while ADB-RETA 7813 is working The SSME-CAP Project, which is funded by months to ensure streamlined activities in through its Coastal and Marine Resources the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Balabac. The team also aims to expand Management in the Coral Triangle – Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear cooperation among other environmental, Southeast Asia Project. CESD, on the other Safety on behalf of the Federal Republic of social and private agencies that are hand, is implementing the Developing Germany through the GIZ, together with working in Balabac in the interest of Sustainable Alternative Livelihoods in the aforementioned partner agencies, aims protecting the natural resources. Coastal Fishing Communities in the Coral to establish MPAs in Balabac. The first MPA Triangle: Indonesia and Philippines Project to be established will be in Barangay As this develops, the SSME Team together that is sponsored by the Japan Fund for Ramos, which is inhabited by the with partner agencies conducted Poverty Reduction (JFPR) Grant 9160. Indigenous Group of Molbogs. The second consultation meetings and site assessment will be in Barangay Salang while the third in in the three island-barangays in Balabac on Coordinated efforts in Balabac, Palawan is Barangay 5 under the governance of May 12-16, 2015. The team also had a essential to protect the municipality’s rich Balabac Poblacion. courtesy call with Mayor Astami to provide biological diversity as represented by the him with more information about the endemic Philippine Mouse Deer, locally Preliminary scoping meetings with the local SSME-CAP project. During community known as ‘Pilandok’, estuarine crocodile, government units of these barangays were consultation meetings, the team provided wild boar, ‘dugong’, green sea turtle and conducted. From these consultations, the lectures on sea turtle orientation and various fowl species like the Grey Imperial Project identified the need to reinforce shared DENR’s initiatives in sea turtle Pigeon, Blue Headed Racket tail, Philippine MPA establishment efforts with livelihood conservation, sea turtle tagging protocols Cockatoo, and the Palawan Hornbill. programs in order to offer sustainable and the relevance of climate change in Despite the evidently high conservation alternative sources of income to the coastal communities. Inhabitants in both value of Balabac, the municipality has no communities and discourage them from barangays were receptive to the designated marine protected area (MPA) participating in sea turtle poaching, illegal establishment of an MPA in their areas and yet. In fact, the Philippine Development fishing as well as tan barking. were very grateful to receive such new, yet Plan (PDP) 2011-2016 mentioned the Consequently, the livelihood arm of the critical insights on sea turtle conservation. Balabac Strait Corridor as one of the marine team through the CESD Project will take corridors in the country that requires charge of this component for the residents

66 Release no. 02 April - June 2015 FASPS Updates

PAME restages 'Selfie for Biodiversity' tree-planting. The winning photos were also exhibited during contest DENR-BMB’s celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity last May 22 at the Crown Regency Hotel in Ortigas City. Written by PAME/ Pao Agulay and Rudolph Elmo Dela Cruz The photos brought to life DENR-BMB Director Theresa Mundita Lim’s vision that the contest would “not only show pictures of the beauty of nature, but also teach individuals the value of biodiversity.” Dir. Lim added that she hoped such learning experience would be remembered and shared.

The winners were treated to a knowledge-enriching exposure trip for two to any DENR-declared protected area of their choice.

Allan Jay Quesada, a second-time entrant of the national photo contest, is a certified outdoor enthusiast. His adventurous spirit did not stop him to continue submitting photos of his captured moments with nature. An architect by profession and a self-taught photographer, he won the grand prize for the amateur category with his “Mirror of Nature’s Grandeur” entry featuring the Mt. The siblings (Allan and Lauralyn Quesada) flying in a speeding Bulusan Protected Landscape. zipline at Hikong Nature Park 7 Falls Lake Sebu in South Last June 19-21, Allan was joined by his sister Lauralyn A. Quesada A year after the successful run of the Selfie for Biodiversity contest and traveled all the way from Metro Manila to Bay of the Protected Area Management Enhancement (PAME) project Protected Seascape, General Santos City and Lake Sebu 7 Falls for of GIZ and the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau his grand prize destination. (DENR-BMB), the best new photos of Philippine biodiversity were again feted on this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity “My sister and I chose , specifically Sarangani Bay, through the Selfie Take 2 for Biodiversity contest. GenSan and Lake Sebu. We wanted something different this time, something adventurous with a serene atmosphere. We were The winning photos told stories of care for biodiversity through craving for a destination with a rich heirloom of culture but still safe simple acts, such as following environmental rules during trips to and accessible. We were aiming for breath-taking landscapes and nature parks and rescuing a fallen bird. The other entries conveyed Instagram-worthy shots. And yes, we made the perfect choice. messages of harmonious and equally beneficial coexistence among South Cotabato certainly did not disappoint,” Allan said as he also humans, plants, and animals; of the environmental roles of excitingly shared this memorable experience in one of his social mangroves, corals, and waterfalls; of the pros and cons of water media account. lilies; and of the joys of bird watching, fish-feeding, and

This photograph was taken by Allan from more than a hundred meters approaching the highest waterfall in 7 Falls of Hikong Nature Park 7 Falls in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

9 FASPS Updates Release no. 02 April - June 2015

Southern Leyte holds environment summit 2015, awards environment- friendly LGUs

Written by NewCAPP/ Mitch R. Confesor

The provincial government of conducted on June 29 its 2015 Environment Summit and Awarding of Most Environment-Friendly LGUs, simultaneous with the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) director Theresa Mundita Lim (2nd commemoration of the 55th (Emerald Green) provincial founding from left) presents Southern Leyte´s most environment-friendly municipal anniversary at the provincial capitol coliseum. government first-place award to Mayor Napoleon Cuaton (above, 5th from left) of Saint Bernard town Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado highlighted the contribution of various local government units (LGUs) in biodiversity conservation of Southern Leyte passed an ordinance in October 2012 declaring especially within the vicinity of Mt. Nacolod, a key biodiversity area Mt. Nacolod as a Forest Protected Area, covering the original (KBA) and one of the local conservation area (LCA) pilot sites of the Nacolod Forest Reserve due to the ecological significance of the New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP). landscape.

Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) Director Theresa Mundita Also through NewCAPP, the five municipalities of Southern Leyte Lim, also the National Project Director of NewCAPP, presented and two municipalities of (Northern) Leyte have decided to Southern Leyte’s most environment-friendly municipal government collaborate in developing a Conservation Management Framework first-place award to Mayor Napoleon Cuaton of Saint Bernard town for this KBA. The framework was envisioned to guide and and second-place award to Mayor Fe Edillo of Macrohon town. consolidate conservation efforts of all concerned stakeholders by Director Lim also presented the fourth-place award to Mayor Oliver increasing community awareness, enforcing socially acceptable Ranque of Libagon town. Hinunangan town, which won the land use plans and zoning ordinances, securing sustainable third-place award, sent a representative through its Municipal financing, and implementing an effective monitoring and Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO). evaluation mechanism.

Aside from Gov. Mercado and Dir. Lim, the others who co-presented With its various IUCN-vulnerable and threatened species, Mt. the awards for most environment-friendly municipal and barangay Nacolod is a KBA which straddles the municipalities of Silago, Saint LGUs were Southern Leyte Rep. Damian Mercado, DENR Region 8 Bernard, Hinunangan, Libagon, and Sogod in Southern Leyte, and Director Leonardo Sibbaluca, and Sangguniang Panlalawigan Mahaplag and Abuyog in (Northern) Leyte province. It hosts two Member and Environment Committee Chair Daisy Llaenes. significant watersheds in the region: the Buac Watershed Forest Reserve and Hinabian-Lawigan Watershed Reservation. Through the assistance of NewCAPP, the provincial lawmaking body

IPOPs Management Project holds stakeholders consultation on POPs contaminated sites Written by IPOPs Project/ Alyanna Kathleen B. Uy

The Integrated Persistent Organic Pollutants (IPOPs) Management Project together with AECOM conducted on June 29-30, 2015 the Stakeholder’s Consultation on the National Strategy for the Management of POPs Contaminated Sites at Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City. The two-day consultation intended to solicit comments and suggestions from the EMB Regional Oces, other government agencies, and private industries on a draft national strategy which addresses the identi ed gaps in the management of POPs contaminated sites in the country.

In related development, the Project sent EMB Regional Directors to the International Training Course on Contaminated and Hazardous Waste Site in Toronto, Canada on June 8-12, 2015. Previously representatives Jue 29-30, 2015 - Stakeholders consultation with the Environmental from EMB Central Oce and partner agencies attended the Management Bureau Regional Offices International Symposium on Environmental Risk Assessment and Management of POPs/PCBs on May 22-23, 2015 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

8 FASPS Updates Release no. 02 April - June 2015 CCC launches online 'community of practice' Written by PhilCCAP/ Horace Cimafranca The website platform, which is currently moderated by CCC, is typical of most online forums where users are able to communicate through public postings but only after signing up.

The platform also allows users to upload a variety of electronic data, including text documents, videos and photos. A user may choose to have the files available for viewing for all other users or to restrict access only to a certain group.

The most useful feature of the online platform is its moderated feedback system. Users who have questions about a certain file uploaded to the online platform may address these questions to the uploader. A moderator from CCC then makes sure that the uploader responds to the questions.

As part of continuing development of the online platform, CCC organized a consultation forum in March, which saw the participation of many heads of agencies under PhilCCAP, and representatives from other government offices such as NAMRIA. Screenshot of the Community of Practice (CoP) web platform The consultation was moderated by Atty. Gia Ibay, a CCC consultant In the digital age, easy and open access to data is increasingly being and an environmental lawyer who formerly worked for the DENR. taken for granted. But for the government and the public, the She laid out the general guidelines of the proposed protocol for the attainment of such access to vital information and resources on platform, covering issues such as which information to pick and to climate remains elusive. whom it becomes available.

The Philippine Climate Change Adaptation Project (PhilCCAP) will Reservations concerning the lack of a vetting process to ensure that soon eliminate this challenge with the development of a climate the data uploaded are accurate and the absence of an intellectual information-sharing platform, a massive knowledge-exchange property rights guideline were raised during the consultation. Atty. effort being undertaken through the Climate Change Commission Ibay assured the participants that these are to be covered by the (CCC). The platform will provide an online venue for government final draft of the protocol being developed for the online agencies to access and contribute verified information, including community of practice. surveys, studies and statistics, relating to climate. Currently, CCC is organizing training sessions for government The online “community of practice”, now seemingly the moniker for officers in the provinces to familiarize them with the features of the the climate information-sharing platform, was introduced to online platform. PhilCCAP agencies by Donna Sanidad of CCC at a gathering in City. The online community of practice is still in its beta stage. This will be launched after all its features have been fully tested.

Philippine SSME partners harmonize SSME project workplans to move forward Written by GIZ-SSME/ Joarlyn Morano, Elena Barth & Pao Agulay The Support to the Implementation of the including updates on existing projects the most opportune time to get all their Tri-National Sulu-Sulawesi Marine within the sea turtle MPA network acts together to overcome challenges in the Ecoregion Comprehensive Action Plan (ST-MPAN) particularly in Turtle Islands implementation. (GIZ-SSME) Project together with its Wildlife Sanctuary (TIWS) in Tawi-tawi, Philippine partners recently conducted a Balabac in Palawan, the Tubbataha Reefs Equipped with a clear work plan, SSME’s writeshop for the harmonization of the Natural Park (TRNP) and El Nido Managed Philippine partners are again ready to move SSME project work plan. Resource Protected Area (ENMRPA). The ahead with their activities, such as the activity also gave an avenue for them to development of the sea turtle MPA network At least 30 representatives from the clarify their roles and implementing and safe guarding their habitats through Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), mechanisms, and identify significant issues connectivity researches and promoting Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources affecting project implementation to further ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries (BFAR), and Conservation International (CI) optimize synergies among the partners in management. came together for the project work the Philippines. planning held at the GIZ-SSME Office in Capacity-building programs are also Quezon City. The activity aimed to establish Mr. Berthold Schirm, GIZ-SSME Principal programmed within 2015, with topics ways forward to effectively beat the Adviser and Program Coordinator, ranging from vulnerability assessment, implementing challenges for the SSME emphasized the importance of the activity livelihood development, to sea turtle project in the future. for GIZ to find areas for further support and research and ecosystem approach to collaboration towards the sustainable fisheries management (EAFM). The writeshop sessions gave the management of the SSME. He also participants the opportunity to update the expressed his gratitude to the continued work plans of each respective component, support of the partners and said that this is

10 Release no. 02 April - June 2015 FASPS Updates

Instructions: Search up, down, forward, backward, and on the diagonal to find the hidden words. Hidden Words

BIODIVERSITY MARINE COASTAL WATERSHEDS ANCESTRAL DOMAIN POLLUTION REEFS CLIMATE CHANGE ENVIRONMENT MANGROVES AFFORESTATION SOLID WASTE WATERMAK E YQUALITYOUR OWN WO R K S HE E ECOSYSTEMTS ONLINE @ WWW .A TOZTE ACHE FORESTRYR S TUFF.COM NAME :______DATE :______

B E R C A E C W R W M H D I H Z V G Y Y BIODIVE R Q Y R L D N F E O A E R G X M M V B B T MAR INE X R W V F C C P N C X P O L L U T I O N C OAS TAL H S E A L A L E C V Z S N B J S P O V L WATE R S H M Y O E T Q F I S O I V X N V W Y D L A FOR E S TR O U J L F E Q F M T A R H P B M Y I I F P OLLUTIO E R C W I S R B O A R Y B G V R V Q O R E E FS Z U Z U B D Y S R R T A M N C O C E R R C LIMATE C J Y L L L P W K H I E E LO R M S P R E E E NVIR ON M Y F T E Z H A L E T S C D G E F S E S MANG R O B G A E I D Y A S S D C T H O U N I P T AFFOR E S G M U V J O U R Y T K S N A A M U T O R ANC E S TR F L A E M Q Z S W V E R G O T N A Y A Y S OLIDWA M V K N R C O A S T A L J Z E I G I A C WATE R QU B S Z E G C W X K L P N E X U B O E N C E C OS YS T D Q T Y E R J U C G L S G H U P X N B P G A B F Z X O I F N S D K E A S A E J S W I K W T L O V A K F M P X V F L I D I R H F X C D H U E Z H K B M L O L O K D Y K I X X I X R K S M A R I N E T Y O W

FASPS Updates

Published quarterly by the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). FASPS serves as the focal point for generating and managing additional resources and facilitating 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 Ave., Diliman, Q.C. Web (FASPS): http://fasps.denr.gov.ph Telefax: 926-8052 Email:[email protected]

11