Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro — The Mindoro Biodiversity Corridor (MBC) Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) –United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/ Global Environment Facility (GEF) Biodiversity Corridor Project conducted the CY 2026 Mid-Year Assessment and Planning (MYAP) Workshop from May 20 to 22, 2026, at Vizales Hotel and Events Place in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.
The workshop brought together key officials and technical representatives from various implementing units and partner agencies such as the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), DENR MIMAROPA Regional Office, National Project Management Unit (NPMU), the DENR-Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), the Geographic Innovations for Development Solutions, Inc. (GRIDS Inc.), the Palec & Amigos Urban Environ Forestry Support Services (PAUEFSS), the Tamaraw Conservation Program Office (TCPO), and the Protected Area Management Offices (PAMO) in Mindoro.
The activity aimed to review project implementation, assess accomplishments, and align plans and priorities for the succeeding months and became a venue for discussing key components of the project such as corridor planning, protected area management and boundary modification, species monitoring, sustainable land and forest management, biodiversity-friendly enterprises, and communication and knowledge management initiatives.
It was also characterized by intensive technical discussions and active exchanges among participants, where implementing units and partner agencies raised clarifications on implementation status, data requirements, timelines, and compliance processes. In-depth question-and-answer sessions were conducted particularly on protected area management and boundary modification, species monitoring, and other ongoing field activities, allowing technical concerns and operational issues to be thoroughly discussed and addressed. These exchanges provided an opportunity to surface implementation gaps and ensure that technical directions were properly aligned across all concerned offices. The discussions also underscored the need for all project management units to accelerate field activities, particularly the implementation of community-based grants such as Sustainable Forest Management (SFM), Biodiversity-friendly Enterprises (BDFEs), and Sustainable Land Management (SLM).
This became an opportunity to reinforce strong coordination among various partner agencies and stakeholders, where responses and recommendations were provided in relation to field implementation challenges and planning adjustments. Concerns on reporting requirements, monitoring systems, and coordination protocols were clarified through continuous dialogue between national and regional offices, project implementers, and technical partners. This dynamic discussion helped ensure that all inputs were properly integrated into the planning process and that responsibilities across components were clearly understood.
Through sustained discussions and inter-agency coordination, the activity strengthened collaboration among stakeholders, improved alignment of implementation strategies, and clarified operational priorities and next steps across project components. It likewise consolidated agreed actions on key priorities, timelines, and reporting requirements, resulting in a more streamlined and coordinated implementation of activities moving forward in support of the MBC Project.
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. 📋🤝
