By Johny S. Natad
Surigao
City, February 18 – During the 6th LMDA Expanded Technical Working
Group (ETWG) meeting held on Monday at Philippine Gateway Hotel, this city, the
Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA) recently revealed accomplishments on
its Partnerships for
Biodiversity Conservation: Mainstreaming in Local Agricultural Landscapes
otherwise known as the Biodiversity Partnerships Projects (BPP) second
year implementation.
In
his presentation to ETWG, Mr. Omar Barillo, the LMDA-BPP project coordinator bared
the 2013 target deliverables and its achievements particularly on the mainstreaming
of biodiversity-friendly projects programs and policies in local government
units (LGUs) within Lake Mainit influence area.
He
bared that all LGUs have received necessary trainings/workshops and there are
seven out of 8 LGUs having Biodiversity Responsive Comprehensive Land Use Plans
(CLUPs).
The
project also conducted biodiversity mainstreaming in the Comprehensive
Development Plan (CDP) in the Municipality of Tubod, Surigao del Norte as the
pilot area among LGUs within Lake Mainit Key Biodiversity Area (LMKBA) which
was done on December 12-13, 2013 and February 12-14, 2014 while the third phase
of the training process will be set on March this year.
Barillo
said that the “Local Project Site Committee (LPSC) is operational. The LPSC is
also known as the Expanded Technical Working Group (ETWG) of LMDA”.
In
terms of data and knowledge management, Barillo bared that at least six
workshops were conducted in the transboundary planning. The workshop output aims
to update and enhance LMDA Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
As
part of the project deliverables, the LMDA also maintained website blogs;
conducted a documentation on LM- Unified Fishery Ordinance implementation and
level of attainment; conducted two (2) Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting; and
attended four (4) Inter-Agency Technical
Working Group (IATWG) meeting, two (2) workshops and a Mid-Year end Assessment.
Barillo
added that the project has conducted conservation awareness on biodiversity
conservation in Lake Mainit KBA documented. There were already two (2) local conservation
areas delineated and been lobbied with the Sangguniang Bayan of Alegria,
Surigao del Norte and Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte for deliberation at the
different committees.
Meanwhile,
the MS-Center for Optimal Research and Development (MS-CORD) has completed the biodiversity
assessment in four Agusan del Norte municipalities. Another biodiversity
assessment to Surigao del Norte municipalities will be conducted this year. (JSN/LMDA)
