YEAR 1 QUARTER 4

Another meeting with the LGU of San Gabriel was held on October 10, 2022 with Vice Mayor Ramolito Guinomma, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, including the Chairman of the Land Use Committee, Mr. Jerry Fernandez, and some of the municipal key officials of the MENRO, MAO, MDRRM, and Tourism. The main objective of the meeting was to present the Situational Analysis of San Gabriel and to discuss the MOA between the project and the LGU. It has been decided that the final draft of the MOA should be forwarded to the LGU and be evaluated by the Sangguniang Bayan. Additionally, any amendments to the draft MOA should be acknowledged and addressed through legal authorities by both parties. The LGU assured their continued support for the project advocacy and its activities in the pilot site.

On the same day, the team also had a short meeting with the La Union PPDCO to discuss ways forward and direction of project activities for the upcoming months. It was decided that the project and PGLU should formulate a draft MOA which can be uploaded as a Google Doc so both teams can review and edit at the same time. If the MOA can be signed within the year, the project and the PPDCO can do the capacity building activities together with DHSUD. EnP. Michaela Louise T. Delfinado, head of the La Union PPDCO, stated that she will also check the inventory of officers and planners that will be included in the capacity building.

A meeting with the Los Baños LGU and representatives from the SB committee was arranged on October 7, 2022 to present activities and workplan for LB Watershed, discuss MOA and finalization of reconciliation of LB maps. For the updates on the MOA, initial revision from LB LGU was already sent to WILUP, with the presented revisions Dr. Rex Cruz deemed reasonable. Dr. Vida Carandang also suggests that the comments from the UPLB Legal team and the LGU should be incorporated into one document. Regarding the maps that will be used, PSA maps/data will be considered in the development of plans. The MENRO office and the WILUP experts, Dr. Yusuf Sucol and along with Prof. Jan Joseph Dida, will coordinate on the reconciliation of barangay boundaries.

The third meeting’s primary agenda was to discuss and review the draft guidelines on WILUP with the TWG members. This was attended by representatives from DHSUD, OCD, DILG, CODE-NGO, NCIP, DENR, LCP and DA. There are recommendations on bringing together the planning for ADSDPP and WILUP, and non-conforming uses together with the recommended mitigation measures, should be part of the CLUP and in the local ordinances as well. The CDRA was also discussed, particularly the approval of a CDRA using a watershed-based process. A deadline was then set for the submission of comments and inputs of the TWG members for the draft WILUP guidelines.

The WILUP Team held a meeting with the LGU of Los Baños to discuss the boundary barangays and LGU boundaries, the draft MOA with UPLB, and other concerns. For the boundary, it was agreed that the maps from PSA and PPDO will be reconciled first to finalize the boundary for Los Baños. Meanwhile, the Committee on Land Use planning will review the draft MOA and will endorse it at the next SB meeting if they have no other comments with it. They will then draft the resolution which they will give to the Mayor for the signing of MOA. Councilor Jonathan Siytiap, Sangguniang Bayan member, also suggested to form an Ad hoc Committee for Los Baños and UPLB. The activities for the project will be given priority after the Bañamos Festival including the resolution from the SB on the draft MOA.

The WILUP team organized another set of Stakeholders’ Consultations and Workshops with the other LGUs within the boundary of Baroro watershed to identify problems observed in the watershed from different sectors such as environmental, social and institutional, economic, disaster/risks, and infrastructures. For the Cluster 1, the LGUs of Bacnotan and San Fernando were invited last September 5. Key municipal offices from Bacnotan attended the workshop including representatives from MENRO, MAO, MPDO, MEO, Social, and Treasury office while offices from CENRO and Office of the City Assessor represented the city of San Fernando.

On September 6, 2022, Santol and the San Juan LGUs were invited to participate in the team's activities. The workshop was attended by 31 San Juan barangay representatives, as well as personnel from the municipal key offices of MAO, MENRO, MDRRM, and MEO. Participants from Santol LGU, on the other hand, comprised members from MENRO and MAO, as well as representatives from two barangays.

The WILUP team also held a meeting with the Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (OPPDC) attended by its head, EnP. Michaela Louise T. Delfinado and other members of the office. The Committee on Housing, Land Use and Relocation was also invited to the meeting as the project was endorsed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to the said Committee during the presentation on August 9, 2022. In attendance were also representatives from the Committee on Agriculture & Aquatic Resources and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Secretariat. The meeting was held primarily to present the main concept of the Ridge-to-Reef/Watershed Ecosystem Management approach and how it can be adopted into the provincial scale through the Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plan (PPFDP). Another small roundtable discussion will be arranged, with the head of the Committee on Housing, Land Use and Relocation present, where Dr. Cruz is requested to present the project and discuss the project objectives and activities in more detail.

The last workshop was held with Bagulin on September 7, 2022 which was attended by representatives from municipal offices of MAO, MEO, MDRRM, and MPDO and three barangay captains. Other information that will be needed for stakeholders’ analysis will be gathered through key informant interviews (KII).

On August 30, 2022, the WILUP Team visited the Laguna Provincial Planning Development and Coordination Office (Laguna-PPDCO) to present the WILUP Advocacy Project and to discuss the Ridge-to-Reef/Watershed Ecosystem Management (R2R/WEM) Approach. Engr. Pablo V. Delmundo Jr., officer-in-charge of the Laguna-PPDCO, acknowledged the importance of this approach, especially to the Provincial Physical Development Framework Plan of the Province of Laguna. Consequently, the Laguna-PPDCO expressed their interest and willingness to collaborate with the WILUP Team in the implementation of the project as well as incorporating R2R/WEM in the succeeding plans of their office.

On August 10, 2022, the "Institutionalization of Guidelines on Watershed Integrated Area Land Use Planning Towards Resiliency" (WILUP) advocacy project conducted a stakeholders' consultation and workshop in the municipality of San Gabriel in La Union, one of the project's pilot sites. The event was organized in line with one of the project activities aimed at understanding the consequences and degrees of influence of various stakeholders in determining how land and other resources in the watershed are utilized.

Representatives from key San Gabriel LGU departments such as the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, Municipal Planning and Development Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Municipal Tourism Office, and Municipal Treasury Office were in attendance. The workshop, which was held in San Gabriel LGU Covert Court, was also participated by key representatives from the barangays Amontoc, Apayao, Balbalayang, Bayabas, Bucao, Bumbuneg, Daking, Lacong, Lipay Este and Norte, Lonoy, Poblacion, and Polipol.

Dr. Lorena Sabino, WILUP project staff, facilitated the stakeholders' workshop. The session covered various activities, including group reporting and discussion. Moreover, participants were divided into five groups; environmental, social/institutional, economic, institutional, and disaster risk reduction management/infrastructures. Each team was headed by municipal key office representatives and co-facilitated by a WILUP staff.

Dr. Cruz presented a short message at the end of the session to formally wrap it and thank all the participants who dedicated their time and knowledge to the WILUP project team.

On August 9, 2022, Dr. Rex Victor Cruz, project staff and watershed expert, led the team of the advocacy project "Institutionalization of Guidelines on Watershed Integrated Area Land Use Planning Towards Resiliency" (WILUP) on a courtesy visit and project presentation to the provincial government of La Union. WILUP team and "The Integration of Traditional and Modern Bioproduction Systems for a Sustainable and Resilient Future Under Climate and Ecosystem Changes" (ITMoB), headed by Dr. Juan Pulhin, officially spoke with the new provincial leadership under Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega David to introduce the two projects being conducted in the province. 

Both project teams presented before Governor Ortega-David; however, in the absence of Vice-Governor Mario Eduardo Ortega, Gerard G. Ostrea, SP Committee member acted as the temporary presiding officer during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. 

Dr. Cruz outlined the project objectives, which entail assisting with the implementation of the proposed guidelines on watershed integrated area land use planning (WILUP). He stressed the need to adopt the R2R approach to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of watersheds, ecosystems, and communities. Furthermore, the project intends to expand LGUs' awareness and technical knowledge of watershed management, which can be employed in formulating development plans such as comprehensive land use planning (CLUP).

During his presentation, Dr. Cruz also proposed that if the Governor is interested, the project might help with the updating of La Union's Provincial Development Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) that would adopt the R2R/WEM framework.

Furthermore, Dr. Cruz and Dr. Pulhin underlined the project proposals to the provincial governments, particularly addressing the Office of the Governor. One of the proposals is the issuance of an Executive Order directing the appointment of focal individuals from the Provincial and Municipal LGU in coordination with the WILUP and ITMoB teams. 

Likewise, the project proponents sought the Office of the Governor to help co-organize meetings and engage with the different municipalities in coordinating efforts within the Baroro Watershed. The joint coordination would serve to increase project publicity and allow smooth communication with the concerned MLGUs. It would also aid in better educating the community about the project's objectives and strengthen the capacity of the various stakeholders in Baroro.

Finally, the projects proposed to the Governor's Office and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to release a policy document endorsing and supporting the project implementation of both WILUP and ITMoB.

The two projects, as well as the issues and concerns highlighted, were referred to the SP Committees, including the lead committee of Housing, Land Use, and Relocation, as well as the SP Committees on Public Works and Utilities, Environment, Human Ecology, and Security, and Finance, Budget, and Appropriations.

The courtesy visits and project presentations concluded with Governor Ortega and SP members' enthusiasm and approval. They expressed their interest and willingness to collaborate with the WILUP and ITMoB teams in accomplishing their targets for the province of La Union as one of the two projects' sites. 

Dr. Rex Victor Cruz headed the team of the advocacy project "Institutionalization of Guidelines on Watershed Integrated Area Land Use Planning Towards Resiliency" (WILUP) on a courtesy visit to one of their pilot sites. On August 8, 2022, the team paid a courtesy call and presented the project objectives to the municipality of San Gabriel in La Union.

The WILUP team, along with the "The Integration of Traditional and Modern Bioproduction Systems for a Sustainable and Resilient Future Under Climate and Ecosystem Changes" (ITMoB) project team, personally met with honorable Mayor Lany Baobaoen Carbonell and honorable Vice Mayor Ramolito Guinomma to discuss their respective project objectives and proposals. The Sangguniang Bayan of San Gabriel was also present during the presentations and actively engaged in the Q&A.

Dr. Rex Victor Cruz, WILUP watershed expert, delivered a brief yet impactful lecture on the Ridge-to-Reef approach, which is one of the advocacy project's primary objectives. Dr. Cruz emphasized the need for the LGU planning unit to use the R2R model in formulating development plans such as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP). The project also aims to unify the guidelines for drafting development plans, as well as drafting policies across various private and government agencies. According to Dr. Cruz, interagency collaboration is the only way to accomplish this harmonization.

Furthermore, it was discussed that updating the Provincial Development Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP) will assist local governments in creating their local development plans. With that, local and provincial planning units should coordinate, particularly in updating and improving their existing development plans. Dr. Cruz stated that the project team would recommend to the Provincial Government to use the R2R approach in crafting the PDPFP. Lastly, WILUP detailed its collaboration with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). The project guarantees that all initiatives are coordinated with DHSUD in order to maintain track of the harmonization between current DHSUD guidelines and the WILUP guidelines.

During the Q&A, one of the concerns raised centered on land classification. A member of the Sangguniang Bayan enquired the project team about land zoning in San Gabriel, particularly in the forested areas. The member said that residents might dispute why forested areas are being categorized as protected zones as certain forested areas are being utilized for production, primarily for local subsistence. 

Dr. Cruz emphasized the relevance of land zoning and the R2R approach in defining the specific land classification and land uses of forested areas to local communities. The team also pointed out that relocating the residents to another site is the ideal action when a protected area is declared. However, it is unavoidable that the residents would resist these changes. Thus, the alternative is to teach the community enhanced farming practices to minimize forest degradation.

The courtesy visit and project presentation concluded with the Sangguniang Bayan members' enthusiasm and approval. They expressed their interest and willingness to collaborate with the WILUP and ITMoB teams in accomplishing their targets for the municipality of San Gabriel as one of the two projects' sites. 

The team arranged another meeting with DHSUD on July 26 to consult about the WILUP guidelines and the R2R approach in relation to DHSUD. Mr. Ivan Sumilang of DHSUD stated that they advocate the use of R2R for PPFDP as the project moves forward and they are hoping that there will be an implementation of R2R in a regional level. Dr. Vida Carandang also inquired how the WILUP Guidelines can be fitted with the generated zoning from the PPFDP that DHSUD is working on and recommended Dr. Rex to be a member of their process to make sure that WILUP will be integrated. There are also talk of plans to meet up face-to-face to further discuss the integration of CLUP HLURB guidelines with WILUP and capacity building activities to be held.