April 25-26, 2018 (Club Balai Isabel, Talisay, Batangas)—The Forestland Management Project (FMP), a project aiming to improve forestland management in critical river basins, made possible through a collaboration between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), organized the first-ever national People’s Organization (PO) summit. While regional PO summits were conducted in the past, this year’s summit was monumental as it gathered all the 147 POs involved in the initiative into a single forum to discuss updates, challenges, and accomplishments.
The two-day event was attended by more than 400 delegates from four different regions (Cordillera Autonomous Region, Region 2, Region 3, and Region 6), comprised of community leaders, local government unit representatives, regional and provincial DENR officials, and field implementers. Bannering the theme “Ako bilang lakas ng pagbabago sa kagubatan at pamayanan ko,” the summit showcased inspiring stories from successful POs.
Stories from the ground as shared by community leaders were heartwarming as they revealed how the FMP contributed in the enhancement of quality of life in participating communities. Many of the POs pointed out how the Project has augmented their source of livelihood, primarily farming, the same way that it has made them feel esteemed in supporting the government’s aspiration to maintain the integrity of the country’s forested areas. A women’s organization also highlighted how the Project has empowered women in their community, by enabling them to prove that they can successfully manage site development activities, simultaneous to fulfilling their usual reproductive roles in the household.
JICA Philippines emissaries were present during the summit, led by Senior Representative Ayumu Ohshima, who similarly expressed her gratitude and encouragement to the delegation. PO participants were appreciative of her presence, especially that Ms. Ohshima visited their communities previously during earlier site validation activities.
The keynote speech by DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu was delivered by Forester Lourdes Wagan, Director of the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service division, underscoring the desire of the Department not only in implementing projects that protect the environment but also in making sure that people’s organizations in forested areas are engaged as partners in these projects.
Assistant Secretary for Staff Bureau, Forester Ricardo Calderon likewise graced the event, expressing how the FMP is close to his heart and encouraging the delegates to inspire one another as it is the power of collaboration which will make the Project even more successful. ASec Calderon also encouraged the POs to think creatively in improving their products. Notably, almost 25% of the participating POs already have an operational social enterprise, which involve value adding, trading, and product development, among others. Some POs exhibited these products during the event.
Most essentially, representatives from other government agencies such as PAGASA, DTI, DOST, and Cooperative Development Authority communicated important information that could help the POs in planning and implementing their daily activities, including climate outlook for the next six months, developing microenterprise, enhancing product packaging, and establishing cooperatives, respectively. Questions regarding project components on agro-support facilities and institutional development were enlightened by reports and sharing from FMP consultants.
The FMP, already in its sixth year, has achieved significant milestones, as shared in the report of Forester Nonito Tamayo, Director of Forest Management Bureau, on how the Project, since its inception, has contributed in sustaining the country’s forest cover. The outlook for the next four years before the Project ends is bright notwithstanding the challenge to efficiently accomplish site development targets in the remaining areas. It is the desire of the Project to equip POs and empower them to take part in their respective local watershed management councils as a strategy for sustainability.
The summit ended with an optimistic outlook and a call to action from the Project Director of FMP, Forester Orlando Panganiban, hinting the possibility of another national summit next year once the current year’s targets are achieved. The FMP PO Summit’s Organizing Committee was grateful for the positive remarks and feedback from the delegations.
Nephtaly Joel Botor 