Quezon City, Philippines — Tanggol Kalikasan Inc. facilitated the Workshop on the Mainstreaming of the National Forest and Landscape Restoration (FLR) Action Plan cum Policy Consultation by the DENR-FMB, held from April 28 to 30, 2025, at SEDA Vertis North, Quezon City.
The workshop brought together representatives from various government agencies, development partners, and academic and civil society organizations. Participating entities included DENR-BMB, DENR-PPS, DebDev, DHSUD, DILG, CCC, BARMM, NCIP, DENR-CCS, DPWH, FDC, RTI, NAMRIA, CI, NCI-SRD, NIA, GEF-6, PPA, NRC, DTI-BOI, DBP, ADB, FFP, EDC, UPLB-CFNR, UPLB-FDC, DENR-RBCO, DOST-PCAARRD, CIFOR-ICRAF, DENR-ERDB, DENR-HRDS, and CCI-PH.
The main objectives of the workshop were to:
Present the final draft of the Philippine FLR 5-Year Action Plan;
Secure commitment and support from stakeholders to ensure successful implementation;
Identify effective mechanisms to mainstream FLR activities into national and regional development strategies;
Discuss key features of a draft policy guiding the development of Regional Comprehensive FLR Plans.
In his opening remarks, Atty. Ray Thomas F. Kabigting, Assistant Director of DENR-FMB, highlighted the significance of the finalized 5-year FLR Plan. He emphasized that it builds upon lessons from past challenges and integrates inclusive input from stakeholders across government, the private sector, the academe, and civil society. Unlike previous efforts, this plan adopts a holistic and governance-oriented approach aimed at addressing the root causes of environmental degradation. He stressed the importance of interagency collaboration and alignment of resources to advance biodiversity, water security, and forest health. Atty. Kabigting called for sustained engagement and partnership in mainstreaming efforts to meet both national and global environmental goals.
For. Jhun B. Barit, Chief of the Ecosystems and Forestry Subdivision at DENR-FMB, presented the rationale of the program and the updated final draft of the Philippine FLR Plan. Following this, Atty. Fritzielyn Q. Palmiery, Executive Director of Tanggol Kalikasan Inc., explained the workshop mechanics and guided participants through the planning matrix.
Participants were grouped according to specific goals and objectives outlined in the Action Plan. The working groups identified a total of 260 sub-activities as follows:
Group 1: 44 sub-activities
Group 2: 44 sub-activities
Group 3: 42 sub-activities
Group 4: 92 sub-activities
Group 5: 38 sub-activities
In the second part of the workshop, participants utilized Mentimeter to provide inputs for the draft Department Administrative Order (DAO). This included:
Key facts and observations for the explanatory note;
Legal bases and international commitments relevant to regional FLR planning;
Related agency plans and programs;
Objectives and titles for the proposed DAO;
Framework components and proposed implementation activities.
Using Google Forms, participants outlined the purpose, considerations, and suggested content for each component of the regional FLR framework. These were compiled and transposed into a draft DAO format by the facilitators from Tanggol Kalikasan.
The workshop concluded with a collaborative review and refinement of the draft DAO, marking a significant step toward institutionalizing a coordinated and inclusive approach to Forest and Landscape Restoration in the Philippines.
