BAGUIO CITY – The contingent was headed by Mr. Dian Risdianto, the Head of Section Plan of Management of the Directorate of Conservation Area of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Indonesia headed the team composed of 12 other officials, mostly the equivalent of Protected Area Superintendents in the DENR – CAR in a learning event on the rudiments of the successful implementation of Lawin in CAR.
The visit is after barely a year after the initiation of the Lawin Forest and Biodiversity Protection System is implemented within the DENR-CAR,
The Indonesian contingent is in the Cordilleras from July 19-20, 2017 and joined the Lawin patrollers from CENRO Baguio particularly at the Yellow and Blue Trails at Camp John Hay for a run-through of the patrolling routine and uploading of the data gathered during the patrol.
Accordingly, the Indonesian contingent chose to take up the simulation of the patrolling, uploading, synching of data and the actual retrieval of consolidated data with the DENR-CAR upon the recommendation of USAID and B+WISER as the Lawin patrollers of DENR-CAR posted an excellent rating nationwide on the implementation of the said forest and biodiversity protection system.
Lawin is jointly developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Biodiversity and Watersheds Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
DENR-CAR Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services For. Augusto D. Lagon led the welcome committee for the foreign visitors and acknowledged the commonality between Filipinos and Indonesians in language, in topography and in some food choices and or preferences.
Accordingly, Lagon was once a sent to Indonesia for studies in the implementation of the Free and Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) on Government Projects by the Local People (Indigenous Peoples).
“We are much alike especially in our love for the environment,” he stressed.
In a gesture of gratitude, Risdianto thanked the DENR-CAR for generously accommodating their request to share the best practices in the region not only in the implementation of Lawin but also in the measures for effective forest protection and management.
Through a translator, Risdianto said that their learnings will greatly benefit their own environmental programs in Indonesia.
Likewise, Regional Director Engr. Ralph C. Pablo gratefully accepted the compliments from the delegation and assured them that the visit not only meant that the region is doing well but also succeeding in upgrading its capabilities in forest protection.
The delegates were hosted by the Enforcement Division of the DENR-CAR Regional Office and representatives of CENRO Baguio.
By Alaska Turaray
