by Nimfa Estrellado April 21, 2022 EU Ambassador Luc Veron (Photo from Municipal Government of Infanta) INFANTA, Quezon - Following a court...
April 21, 2022
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| EU Ambassador Luc Veron (Photo from Municipal Government of Infanta) |
INFANTA, Quezon - Following a courtesy visit recently with Infanta Mayor Filipina Grace America, EuropeanUnion (EU) Ambassador Luc Veron with his delegates held plenary meetings to the local government unit and some representatives from the Kalipunan ng Liping Piling Pilipina (KALIPI) in Infanta, Quezon.
During the meeting, the delegations discussed the LGU's programs and projects carried out by the GAD Focal Point System (GFPS) to empower and advance women's influence and leadership in the municipality. According to the report, political and economic issues, as well as humanitarian aid, were discussed.
Armida M. Concepcion (GFPS TWG Chairperson) also underlined the importance of the assistance provided by various foreign and domestic proponents to implement initiatives aimed at protecting the country's tangible and intangible resources while advocating for sustainable development and climate change adaptation and resilience.
Melanie Virrey of Mun. Social Welfare and Development Officer, Reynaldo Avila of Mun. Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Cristina Luna of KALIPI Infanta Federation President, and Riza Potencia of KALIPI Gumian President also gave their short presentations on the projects and activities implemented by their respective organizations with the support from the Women GO Project of Haribon Foundation.
Ambassador Véron highlights that “women are key actors in the inclusive and sustainable management of natural resources in the Philippines.” He adds that “the EU is determined to act on the gender dimension of environmental degradation and climate change and wants to contribute to promoting girls’ and women’s participation and leadership, through support to civil society organizations’ initiatives like the project implemented by Haribon”. In addition, “forests play a very significant role in the context of climate change by absorbing CO2, by helping prevent floods, retaining water for domestic use and agriculture and providing various sources of livelihood. It is why the EU supports forest governance actions.”
The activities visited by the Ambassador are: a training on Environmental Leadership and Organizational Development for women leaders, a Gender Sensitivity and Natural Resource Management Training Workshop for women leaders and their husbands, a Lemongrass planting site as the livelihood project of KALIPI Cawayan, in Real, and a Native and Fruit-bearing Tree Nursery site of the Forest Guard group SANAMAGMA, in Infanta, as part of their forest monitoring activities and as alternative source of income to their members and community.
Ambassador Véron had also the opportunity to plant kamagong and narra seedlings at the Native and Fruit-bearing Tree Nursery site. Kamagong and narra are endemic hardwood trees, which are both vulnerable in the country. The planting of these seedlings represents the efforts made to conserve the environment and the forests that protect community members from flooding, provide sources of income, and aid in the fight against climate change.
The EU Ambassador and his delegates; Christoph Wagner, Head of Cooperation; Stephanie Carette, Programme Officer; and Nicole Wiessman, visited General Nakar Mayor Eliseo R. Ruzol, Real Mayor Diana Abigail D. Aquino, women leaders of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI), Federations and Organizations and Kilos Unlad ng Mamamayan ng REAL (KUMARE).
Also with them are the representatives from Haribon Foundation Women Go Project, composed of Noel Resurreccion, Project Manager; Arlie Endonilla, Site Coordinator, and Nova Regalario Site, Conservation Specialist.
The visit centered on the Women Go and Forest Governance projects, implemented by the civil society organization Haribon Foundation and funded by the European Union. Typhoons have caused damage to Quezon province, and building resilience is a top priority for the region.
‘Enhancing the Role of Women in Protected Area Governance for Social Change’ – Women Go project
The project, implemented by Haribon Foundation and funded by the EU, aims to increase the level of influence and leadership of rural women in the governance of protected areas and in sustainable programs on Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and livelihood. A total of 9 women organizations, with 4 federations and 5 community/barangay based organizations are targeted. Project activities include Basic Life Skills Training (like communication skills and problem solving skills); sustainable livelihood activities; training activities on appropriate Natural Resource Management, Climate Change Adaptation, and Eco-DDR strategies to women’s organization group; experience sharing; awareness-raising activities on the importance of the role of women in society and environmental conservation; Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) membership; engagement of women organisations with Local authorities and mainstream Gender and Development in the local Protected Area Management Plan (PAMP). The project started in January 2020 and will last until December 2023, with an EU contribution of EUR 499, 975.
‘Strengthening Non-State Actor Involvement in Forest Governance in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea’ - Forest Governance project
The project, implemented by Birdlife International and Haribon Foundation, and funded by the EU, aims to increase participation of forest dependent communities in forest governance and policy processes, to effectively contribute to forest management and land use planning, across three Key Biodiversity Area sites, including Mount Irid-Angelo, in Sierra Madre. It particularly supported so far the establishment of a Mangrove Protected Area in Quezon covering around 600 hectares of mangrove forests adjoining the Mt Irid-Angelo Binuang KBA; implemented an Adult Literacy Programme for key indigenous peoples; supported the Mt Irid-Angelo-based SANAMAGMA people organization in conducting an organizational evaluation to define their strategic direction for forest governance in the Key Biodiversity Area under their jurisdiction; introduced the Citizens’ Action for Monitoring Ecosystem in partnership with the local communities; contributed to the development of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the newly enacted Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System. The project started in January 2017 and will last until July 2022 with an EU contribution of EUR 693,257 for the Philippine component.
The Women Go project (‘Enhancing the Role of Women in Protected Area Governance for Social Change’) aims to increase the level of influence and leadership of rural women in the governance of protected areas and in sustainable programs on Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and livelihood. The regional Forest Governance project (‘Strengthening Non-State Actor Involvement in Forest Governance in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea’) aims to increase participation of forest dependent communities in forest governance and policy processes, to effectively contribute to forest management and land use planning, across three Key Biodiversity Area sites, including Mount Irid-Angelo, in Sierra Madre.
On the other hand, Infanta Mayor expressed her sincerest gratitude to the visitors for their overwhelming assistance to the municipality through their collaboration with our LGU and our women's organizations. She also signified her support for the programs and projects of the EU and its counterparts.
The LGU of Infanta, Quezon, is grateful to the European Union and its counterparts for the assistance provided to this municipality.
Furthermore, we are looking forward to more collaborations and partnerships with the EU and its other civil society organization partners.
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