CALAMBA CITY, Laguna (PIA) – Protecting the environment and enhancing community resilience to the impacts of climate change require a collective effort from various government agencies and stakeholders, most importantly the private sector.
During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas episode, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) IV-A Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria highlighted the significance and progress of its newly launched initiative, Project TRANSFORM, which seeks to employ a whole-of-society approach to increase capacities for environment and natural resource management, climate and disaster resilience, and socio-economic development.
“Project TRANSFORM is a strategy for mobilizing other sectors in environmental projects. Typically, the mindset for protecting nature, utilizing resources, and safeguarding the environment is that it is not solely the government’s job. It requires a whole-of-society approach. Now, various sectors can contribute to realizing that mandate,” Tamoria stated.
The project stands for Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multi-stakeholder Engagement, with Rizal as the pilot province to test the environment, infrastructure, local economy, and sustainable development.
The project also addresses existing issues and challenges within the area, which the DENR has previously handled solely. It contributes to enhancing DENR Field Office organizations by institutionalizing project implementation mechanisms to guide and facilitate the project.
“This is the concept of Project TRANSFORM. We ensure that the project is participatory and that its success, especially in terms of the environment, depends on having many people working together.”
The project aims to address poverty, enhance community resilience, and foster public-private partnerships across the country’s provinces, municipalities, and cities through environment protection initiatives. In Rizal province, the project specifically aims to increase the forest cover of the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape, reduce its vulnerability to erosion and landslides, and increase the water supply in the lowland communities.
Aside from Rizal, the project has been rolled out in Limay, Mariveles, and Orion in Bataan province; Ormoc City in Leyte; Malimono, San Francisco, and Burgos in Surigao del Norte province. The DENR continuously aims to replicate the project nationwide, particularly in the Calabarzon region, to yield good results.
“Here in Calabarzon, the Secretary has announced that the next target site will be the coastal area of Batangas. So that will be next, and once it is institutionalized and produces good results, it can be replicated in various locations here in CALABARZON and nationwide.”
Tamoria affirms the continued meetings, training sessions, and consultations with other stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan for developing a responsive and sustainable environmental plan. (CO/PIA-4A)
