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SUD Policy Advocacy Page 5 of 6 |
Ambassador Jan de Kok, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, also gave a message of support for LMP’s initiative on pushing for a national policy that will ensure protection and preservation of upland resources. Ambassador de Kok stressed that sustainable upland development is in line with EU-RP development co-operation’s efforts on poverty alleviation.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, serving as Keynote Speaker at the Summit, committed to support
the move for a national policy on sustainable upland development and advised the LMP to coordinate with DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes to thresh out the details of the draft Executive Order.
the move for a national policy on sustainable upland development and advised the LMP to coordinate with DENR Secretary Angelo Reyes to thresh out the details of the draft Executive Order.
Issuance of Executive Order No. 606
After a review of the Executive Order vis-à-vis existing related policies, Executive Order No. 606 was issued by President Arroyo on February 27, 2007.
Said Executive Order calls for the pursuit of SUSTAINABLE UPLAND DEVELOPMENT ANCHORING ON FOOD, WOOD AND NON WOOD SECURITY AND ECONOMIC PRODUCTIVITY AND PROVIDING THE MECHANISMS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
The Executive Order states “NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order the pursuit of sustainable upland development anchoring on food, wood and non wood security and economic productivity that leads to the improvement in the quality of life of upland communities, increase economic productivity of upland areas, and ensure sustainable management of the country’s forest resources.”
The policy recognizes a sustainable approach to the development of the natural environment of the country through effective governance and improved delivery of basic services to the marginalized sectors of society. It stipulates basic guiding principles and strategies for implementing sustainable upland development such as co-management, convergence and participatory governance.
EO 606 mandates the LGUs to implement SUD in their respective localities while ensuring technical assistance from the national agencies, namely DA, DENR-NCIP, DAR, and DILG among others.
Mechanisms for Nationwide Replication of SUD Model
Following the signing of EO 606 by President Arroyo, the next concrete step to effectively enforce the policy is the drafting of the EO's implementing guidelines. Other necessary follow-through activities include the promotion of the SUD Model and the provision of training on SUD Model implementation for municipal mayors and concerned LGU officials.
Considering the LMP's firm commitment to sustainable upland development, the LMP's Mayor's Development Center (MDC), a training and capacity building facility to the LMP that is registered with the SEC, is seen as an appropriate and capable institution to handle these necessary steps and take the lead role in ensuring the replication of the SUD Model across municipalities nationwide.
With more than 50 per cent of the over 1,500 LMP member-LGUs being classified as uplands, the MDC will implement the nationwide replication of the SUD Model and its schemes in the uplands of the country, in close coordination with the other local government leagues particularly the
Liga ng mga Barangay and the League of Provinces of the Philippines.
Experiences in sustainable upland development were shared by municipal mayors representing Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao namely: Mayor Allan Jessie Mangaoang of Kalinga for Luzon, Mayor Fernando C. Corvera of San Jose de Buenavista for Visayas and Mayor Givel Mamaril of Malalag for Mindanao.
