BAGUIO CITY – Apayao delegates participated in a two-day training workshop focused on advancing Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) practices, an initiative under the E2RB Project.
Led by Apayao Lone District Representative Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang, the Apayao contingent included representatives from provincial and municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices (ENRO). The workshop’s primary objective was to enhance the integration of ecosystem values into the sustainable management of two crucial river basins in the Philippines.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in collaboration with the River Basin Control Office (RBCO) of DENR and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), organized and spearheaded the training workshop for the Apayao-Abulug River Basin Management Council. The event drew participants from the Cagayan provincial government, municipalities along the Apayao-Abulug River, various government agencies, and academic institutions in the Cordillera and Region 2.
DENR-CAR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno stressed the significance of concerted partnerships among stakeholders, including government entities, NGOs, academia, and local communities, in preserving natural resources and encouraging inclusive development. This shared effort aligns with DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga’s recent advocacy for strengthened protection and management of the Apayao-Abulug River Basin.
Cong. Bulut-Begtang commended DENR’s prioritization of major river basin conservation efforts and emphasized the need for a complete environmental protection approach.
Key presentations included GIZ’s insights on ecosystem-based flood protection and the E2RB Project, DENR-CAR’s Gladys Palberas’ presentation of the Apayao-Abulug River Basin Masterplan, and RBCO Deputy Executive Director Nelson Gorospe’s overview of RBCO’s mandates, highlighting various Philippine river basins, including Apayao-Abulug.
Resource speakers from Monkayo, Davao de Oro, and Mabinay, Negros Oriental shared their experiences with ecosystem-based adaptation practices. Dr. Robert Guino-o from Silliman University contributed insights on integrating EbA into river basin master plans, citing the Ilog-Hilibangan River Basin Master Plan as a noteworthy model. By PIO Apayao
