Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro — Strengthening the link between community welfare and environmental protection, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) MIMAROPA Region, through the Mindoro Biodiversity (MBC) Corridor Project, awarded financial assistance to eleven (11) People’s Organizations (POs) on December 22, 2025, at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Calapan City. The activity further aligns with the DENR MIMAROPA Region’s continuing efforts to advance biodiversity conservation through sustainable livelihood development.
Of the twelve (12) organizations that earlier entered into Memoranda of Agreement with DENR MIMAROPA, eleven were granted support through the issuance of checks under the project’s Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprises (BDFE) intervention. The awarding ceremony was led by MBC Project Manager and PENR Officer in concurrent capacity, Annabelle M. Barquilla, with assistance from the MBC-PMU and BDFE technical staff.
The gathering was attended by BDFE beneficiaries composed of nine (9) People’s Organizations and two (2) Indigenous Peoples Organizations with prospective enterprises ranging from agroforestry products to eco-tourism and value-adding activities. The event also served as a venue to revisit the provisions of the MOA, particularly on the proper utilization of funds, compliance requirements, and reporting mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability.
In her message, PENRO Barquilla underscored the importance of developing community-based enterprises that are aligned with biodiversity goals. She noted that sustainable livelihood initiatives help reduce pressure on Mindoro’s critical ecosystems while improving the socio-economic conditions of local and Indigenous communities within the corridor.
The BDFE intervention is a key component of the MBC Project implemented by DENR with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative seeks to enhance livelihood opportunities that are environmentally sound, economically viable, and culturally appropriate, contributing directly to the conservation and sustainable management of the Mindoro biodiversity corridor.
Through this assistance, partner organizations are expected to expand their operations, improve production capacity and product quality, and strengthen market competitiveness. Ultimately, the DENR envisions that empowered communities with stable green enterprises will become frontline stewards of biodiversity, fostering inclusive development and long-term resilience for Mindoro.
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. ✍️🌱
