On August 2, 2023, the WILUP team convened its seventh meeting with the TWG members, including representatives from OCD-NDRRMC, NEDA-ANRES, DENR-FMB, DHSUD-ELUPDB, and DILG-BLGD. The primary objective of the meeting was to provide updates on the project, including the National Policy Forum event on June 26, 2023.

Ms. Pandora Timshel Albayda of the WILUP Team, provided updates on the project implementation while Dr. Rex Victor Cruz presented key points from the National Policy Forum. The highlights encompassed attendee count, discussed policies, emphasized features of R2R, and outlined requirements for a robust application of the R2R/WEM approach to land use planning.

During the open discussion, potential contradictions between the Integrated Coastal Management Bill and guidelines for the Integrated Ecosystem Management approach for the biodiversity corridor project vis-à-vis the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board guidelines were raised. Additionally, Dr. Cruz suggested that a roundtable discussion may be conducted to present and discuss all the planning approaches.

As the meeting concluded, the participants agreed to schedule the eighth TWG meeting for October 2023 tentatively.