Dr. Vida Carandang and Dr. Rex Victor Cruz, along with the team, met with the Sangguniang Bayan of San Gabriel LGU to present the Situational Analysis of San Gabriel and to discuss the Memorandum of Agreement between the Municipal Government of San Gabriel and the DOST-PCARRD funded UPLB project “Institutionalization of Guidelines on Watershed Integrated Area Land Use Planning Towards Resiliency” (WILUP). The meeting was held on October 10, 2022, with Vice Mayor Ramolito Guinomma and members of the Sangguniang Bayan, including the Chairman of the Land Use Committee, Mr. Jerry Fernandez, in attendance. Some municipal key officials as core members of the TWG, such as MENRO, MAO, MDRRM, and Tourism Officer, are also present at the discussion.

Dr. Vida Carandang discussed the draft Memorandum of Agreement proposed by the WILUP Team to the San Gabriel LGU. It has been decided that the final draft of the MOA should be forwarded to the LGU and be evaluated by the Sangguniang Bayan. Additionally, any amendments to the draft MOA should be acknowledged and addressed through legal authorities by both parties.

The meeting ended with a cordial acceptance and engagement from the San Gabriel LGU. The advocacy project will continue to lobby for the R2R approach in watershed management planning and intends to capacitate LGUs, particularly San Gabriel, in developing appropriate and scientifically based plans.