The DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project (BD Corridor Project) held its corridor-level Year-End Assessment and Planning Workshops on November 4-7, 2025 at the Sotogrande Hotel, Batangas for the Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor (MBC) and November 10-13, 2025 at the Cavanico Mare Resort, Samal Island for the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC). With only less than 2 years for implementation, the conduct of the workshops allowed for further assessment of achievements, addressed implementation delays, and planned activities across workstreams to meet end-of-project targets.
The Project Management Units (PMUs) of the MBC, EMBC, National Project Management Unit (NPMU), Forest Management Bureau (FMB), Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA- BSWM), Biodiversity Management Bureau and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS), as well as project consultants, reviewed achievements and cumulative progress and looked into the physical and financial performance. In addition, the PMUs held in-depth discussions on the status of implementation vis-à-vis the end of project targets and fund utilization per project component and PMU, bottlenecks on the different workstreams, next steps for delivering outputs and key milestones, and sustainability mechanisms beyond project life. They also refined the project’s CY 2025 Annual Progress Report, 2026-2027 Annual Work Plan, and Work and Financial Plan.
MBC Year-End Assessment and Planning
Ms. Cheryl Loise T. Leal, Director of the DENR-Policy and Planning Service and Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Technical Working Group, delivered her welcome message speech with appreciation for the participants’ continued efforts and emphasized that the Project’s success relies on strong collaboration. She also highlighted that the 2025 Year-end Assessment and Planning Workshop serves as a crucial avenue to accelerate implementation and strengthen catch-up strategies through plenary discussions, finalization of timelines, and the deepening of national and corridor-level plans. She stressed the importance of addressing bottlenecks, enhancing coordination and decision-making mechanisms, and fostering open, constructive engagement among stakeholders. She reaffirmed the DENR and the Biodiversity Management Bureau’s commitment to delivering high-quality outputs that will benefit multiple sectors and support future impactful initiatives.
EMBC Year-End Assessment and Planning
In his welcome message, DENR Region XI – Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Mr. Victor Billones emphasized that everyone present was gathered for a shared and vital mission which is to conserve globally significant species, protect the forests, and secure sustainable livelihoods for communities. He highlighted that the project should review its progress without illusions, celebrating the wins while squarely confronting challenges to extract crucial lessons. Working together is essential to identifying actionable steps to overcome bottlenecks across all workstreams. In closing, he urged participants to use the time not only to plan but also to recommit—para sa kalikasan at para sa bayan. The EMBC-PMU placed emphasis on the importance of ensuring the integrated ecosystems management approach of the Project, recognizing cross-cutting and convergence actions across different workstreams, ensuring governance and institutional structures are identified and are in place, interventions effectively implemented, and stakeholders engaged.
Moving Forward
The project will continue to implement its “greenlane”, fast-tracking implementation and focusing on activities that directly contribute to reaching the end-of-project targets and reducing physical and financial slippage. The workshops provided an opportunity for a detailed assessment and planning at the corridor-levels, with the hope and resolve of each PMU to intensify strategic efforts to project implementation and completion.
This initiative is part of the DENR-UNDP/GEF project on “Integrated Approach in the Management of Major Biodiversity Corridors in the Philippines” or BD Corridor Project, which seeks to operationalize integrated management of biodiversity corridors to generate multiple benefits, including effective conservation of globally threatened species and high conservation value forests, reduce deforestation and degradation, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the Global Environment Facility. 💡👥
