o present the WILUP Project and to discuss the harmonization of plans and activities,  Dr. Vida Carandang and Dr. Rex Victor Cruz, along with the project research associates visited the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for a meeting last October 20.

The Forest Resources Conservation Division (FRCD) Chief Ma. Teresa G. Aquino called the meeting to order. Dr. Cruz presented the WILUP Project and once again emphasized the primary goal of the R2R/WEM Approach to land-use planning is to integrate frameworks for enhancing vital ecosystem services and minimizing losses brought about by land use and development-related activities.

During the discussion, the OIC Director of the Policy and Planning Service, Melinda Capistrano, asserted that the ideal scenario for IWMP is for the different regions to do the plan together for integration, but it is not implemented on the ground. They recognized that the lack of inclusion in the planning process may be one of the reasons why the produced plans are not well received by the locals.

The meeting ended with the appreciation of mainstreaming the R2R/WEM concept as a tool for planning in the DENR. Moving forward, the WILUP team will present the project to the DENR secretary as the attendees cordially recognize that IWMP, as the sole planning document, may solve the confusion in preparing the different plans that the DENR requires. The DENR representatives also suggested that drafting a joint MC/AO with concerned agencies is beneficial to facilitate coordination.