DENR 13 Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Forester Maritess M. Ocampo expressed the agency's support to the Dinagat Communities for Conservation (Dinagat C4C) Project as she graced its launching and MOA signing held at Tavern Hotel, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte on August 17, 2023.
The Project, which is an initiative to preserve and conserve the unique biodiversity of the Province of Dinagat Islands, is a partnership of the Municipal Local Government Units of the Province of Dinagat Islands and the coalition of different non-government organizations (NGOs), both local and international, which allied to ensure the preservation and conservation of the various and unique biodiversity of Dinagat Islands.
The Project covers the municipalities of Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Loreto, and Tubajon of the province in collaboration with the concerned NGOs that signed the MOA. These are the Rainforest Trust (RFT), Kaisahan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansaksahan (KAISAHAN), Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw (BALAOD Mindanaw), Philippine Association for Intercultural Development (PAFID), and International Land Coalition (ILC) Asia.
The consortium aims to reach the following goals: 1) To declare and designate Mounts Kambinliw and Redondo as key biodiversity areas (KBA), critical watershed, local conservation (LCA), and local community conserved (LCCAs) areas, 2) To assess the biodiversity of the rainforest and critical habitat of the native flora and fauna found within the KBA and expanded areas, 3) To increase the capacities of duty-bearers and communities to plan, manage, and conserve the protected areas and 4) To provide further learning sessions to stakeholders through the International Land Coalition (ILC) Capacity Building Support package.
With ARD Ocampo were PDI PENR Officer Modesto U. Lagumbay, Jr. and Supervising Ecosystems Management Specialist Forester Celsa G. Espadero of the PENR Office of Surigao del Norte, representing PENR Officer Agapito T. Patubo.
