RELEASE NO. 20 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2019 FASPSUpdates The OfficialUpdates Newsletter of the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service The Philippines’ 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 Samar; Ms. Maria Caridad Sison Goteesan, Vice Governor of Province of Eastern Samar; 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 Masbate; Mr. Damian Mercado, Governor of Province of Southern Leyte; Mr. Francisco Matugas, Governor of Province of Surigao del Norte; Mr. Roy Cimatu, Secretary of DENR; Ms. Nieva Natural, Director of NEDA; Mr. Elmer De Peralta, Vice Governor of Province of Sarangani; Ms. Cristina Clarasa, Director of DBM; Mr. Jesus Posadas, Undersecretary of DOE; Mr. Vicente Sorupia Jr, Mayor of Aleosan, Province of North Cotabato. The DENR chairs the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, The provinces of Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR) composed Bukidnon, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat 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 Quezon 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, Sorsogon, Negros Oriental, Samar, Sarangani, Dinagat Islands, Through the RRP, climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk Surigao Del Norte, and Surigao Del Sur. These provinces were able to reduction efforts will benefit all Filipinos throughout the Philippines. develop their Investment Portfolio for Risk Resilience (IPRR) for 2020. 4 Release no. 20 October - December 2019 FASPS Updates 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 Palawan. .. 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