Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro — Representatives from 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, together with members of the Sitio Dapdap Tribong Kababaihan Association (SDTKA), a Biodiversity-Friendly Enterprise (BDFE) beneficiary organization, assessed progress made by the association during its monitoring visit held on 26 May 2026 in Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro.
SDTKA is a women-led BDFE grantee engaged in sustainable livelihood activities using local materials such as nito, a fern vine that grows in low to medium altitude areas in the Philippines, and uway (rattan), a strong, flexible climbing palm that is widely used in producing furniture, baskets, and other woven handicrafts. They produce handcrafted beadwork made from Tigbi and woven products that reflect local culture and environment care. Through a financial grant provided by the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project, SDKTA was able to purchase supplies and equipment to improve production and strengthen their livelihood opportunities.
The monitoring activity highlighted the experiences of Ms. Gloria Pagispay, SDKTA president, on their livelihood situation before and after receipt of the financial grant, particularly on its contribution to improving their economic activities, while promoting the responsible use and conservation of natural resources in their community. These efforts and developments represent initial steps in their continuing journey toward a more sustainable livelihood system.
Ms. Pagispay shared that life in their community was once marked by difficulty and limited access to stable sources of income, with residents relying heavily on forest resources for basic needs. She said “Napakahirap po, ang mga kababaihan ay pumupunta lamang sa gubat at nanghuhukay ng ube.” The formation of their association became a turning point in improving their situation, as it opened opportunities for organized livelihood activities and external support that helped strengthen their capacity as a community-based group.
She emphasized the positive changes brought about by the financial and technical assistance. Previously, they had limited tools and relied mostly on manual processes, which restricted production and record-keeping capacity. Currently, they have gradually improved their operations through better documentation, basic equipment support, and more organized workflow, allowing them to strengthen both efficiency and enterprise management. Ms. Pagispay shared that “Kapag may nabenta, may kita kami… at natututo rin kaming pagyamanin at pag-ingatan ang kalikasan”, reinforcing responsible resource use through proper production and harvest, and protection of the natural environment.
This story is published under the DENR-UNDP/GEF Project “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, promote sustainable land management, and enhance local biodiversity-friendly livelihoods.
The project is led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the Sustainable Land Management (SLM) component being implemented by the Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). 🧺📝
