PASAY CITY – The Province of Apayao in its bid to be inscribed as the 4th Biosphere Reserve of the Philippines, submitted today, September 13, the nomination Dossier to the UNESCO Philippine National Commission at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Pasay City.
This move paves a way for the province to be qualified for the next step which is the evaluation of the nomination.
Apayao Governor Elias C. Bulut, Jr.’s staff led by his Executive Assistant IV Jerome Lacambra and Environment and Natural Resources Division OIC EnP. Marcelo Menor, handed hardbound copies of the Dossier, in time with the deadline set on September 30.
In behalf of UNACOM, Rex Ubac, Jr. and Michelle Dulay received the Dossier and commended the PGA for finally submitting all the necessary documents needed to process the inscription of the Province.
“At this moment, we congratulate you for making this far and for keeping well with the deadlines. Whatever inputs from different committees, we shall let you know,” Dulay stressed.
Meanwhile, Ubac said usually after forwarding the documents to the UNESCO main office in Paris, France for evaluation, in one week time or two, there will be inputs that should be considered and incorporated to the Dossier.
“If the necessary revisions shall be made to the Nomination Dossier, and it conforms well eventually to the guidelines set, hopefully by next year, the inscription shall be formally awarded,” Ubac added.
The group including Atty. Gerriahzon Sebastian and PGA’s consultant Ma. Susana Legaspi of the Philippine Eagle Foundation thanked the UNACOM for all the technical assistance made to the Province.
It can be recalled that Engr. Henry Caluducan, the Nomination Coordinator and head of the technical working group of the task force “Biosphere Reserve of the yApayaos (BRyA)”, visited the UNACOM for an orientation last January 18, 2019.
With the timely submission of the Dossier for the proposed BRyA, Apayao has high hopes to be really inscribed as the 4th UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of the Philippines next to Albay, Palawan and Puerto Gallera. By PIO Apayao
