A keen interest was generated from the League of Municipalities of the Philippines or LMP. In line with its thrusts on poverty alleviation, environmental protection and effective local governance, the LMP imbibed the principles of the SUD Model and decided to advocate for a national policy on and replication of sustainable upland development.

In November 2005 during the LMP’s 15th General Assembly held in Manila, the LMP passed a resolution requesting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the issuance of a national sustainable upland development policy and strategy to address the continuing poverty in the uplands and deterioration of watersheds.

SUD Policy Advocacy in UDP’s Extension Period

Cognizant of the potential impact of the SUD Model implementation and the requirement to mainstream the same into the present Philippine government systems, the UDP was afforded by the Government of the Philippines and the European Union an extension period of 18 months from January 2006 until June 2007.

Accordingly, UDP devoted its extension period primarily for mainstreaming efforts.

LMP Major Island Conferences and National Summit

On May 10, 2006, the LMP and UDP signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to jointly pursue the effort of sharing best local government unit (LGU) practices on sustainable upland development, particularly through the conduct of LMP Major Island Conferences with the theme “Sustainable Upland Development”. Both parties also agreed to push for a national policy on sustainable upland development with the SUD Model as a strategy.

Three LMP Major Island Conferences were conducted within the year. Close to 200 mayors were present at the Mindanao Island Conference in May 2006 in Davao City. Some 165 mayors attended the Visayas Island Conference in the following July in Bacolod City. And in August, another 200 mayors participated in the Luzon Island Conference in Davao City.

In all these conferences, selected mayors with LGUs and communities that have started reaping benefits from sustainable upland development shared their experiences and urged other mayors to practice the same. A synthesis on learning and insights was then presented followed by policy recommendations.

Messages of support for the policy recommendations and LMP’s initiatives were given by the Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or their representatives.

At each of these conferences, a draft Executive Order was deliberated on and endorsed.

In October 24-25, 2006, the LMP National Summit was held with two parts carrying the themes of Sustainable Upland Development and Mitigation of Hunger and Population.

At the Summit, LGUs’ best practices on sustainable upland development were presented by selected mayors who were then recognized for their achievements in their municipalities.

For Mindanao, Malalag Mayor Givel Mamaril reported on the implementation of the SUD Model by the LGU of Malalag and the resulting rewards to the communities and the environment.

Declarations of support to LMP’s initiative were made by the other leagues of local government units through their representatives namely: League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) National President Governor Erico Aumentado, League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) Treasurer Mayor Angelito C.

Gatlabayan, and Liga ng mga Barangay Secretary General Jonah Pedro Pimentel. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) also expressed full support for the initiative.