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SAN JUAN, La Union- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Region- I (DENR- I) through the Conservation and Development Division (CDD), conducted the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) Capacity Building in line with the minimum health protocols at Puerto de San Juan Resort, San Juan, La Union on February 22- 24, 2021.

FLUP is a planning tool that equips local government units (LGUs), DENR and other stakeholders to comprehensively map out future economic progress of an area in the context of sustainable forest management, biodiversity management, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and management and forest degradation. In the implementation of FLUP, there has to be a balance between economic development and environmental protection and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between DENR and LGUs that serves as a symbol of partnership to co- manage the forest and forestland resources of a certain town to ensure sustainable benefit for the benefit of the people.

During the opening program, DENR- I Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Felix Taguba welcomed the participants from CDD, PENROs and CENROs who physically attended the event except the representatives from Ilocos Norte who participated via Zoom. ARD Taguba urged the attendees to actively participate in the capacity building for a uniformed FLUP. Likewise. DENR- I Regional Executive Director Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo virtually delivered his inspirational message via Zoom. He urged the participants to be governance- oriented in the FLUP as a tool to improve participatory- process in planning the allocation of forest and forest lands and reminded them that “FLUP is very essential as one basis in the outcome of the Performance – Based Bonus (PBB).”

After the FLUP training/ workshop, field personnel will be armed with technical tools and skills to instil knowledge on a governance- related concepts as well as analysing FLUP data and maps to be able to translate them into strategic programs. In the conclusion of the training, participants were expected to have increased capability in providing guidance to DENR personnel in responding to LGU requests for assistance in FLUP formulation given the need to harmonize the use of forest resources and implement a “ridge to reef” approach. (GCG- RSCIG)