Region 10 highlights initiatives on responsible land governance, LMB participates

The Land Management Bureau (LMB) participated in a learning exchange and field visit on June 16 to 17, 2022 in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental. The initiative is part of the Responsible Land Governance in Mindanao (RLGM) project, a technical assistance between the Federal Republic of Germany through the GIZ and the Republic of the Philippines through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

LMB Assistant Director Romeo Verzosa expresses the agency’s support of DENR Region 10’s activities for the project, and its collaborative efforts with local government units.

“It is a pleasure to know that our partner LGUs, particularly the Gingoog Bay Alliance (GBA), is actively involved in this project…..the RLGM project, in coordination with the LGUs, aims that its activities will ease the lives of those who are affected by the pandemic,” Verzosa said.

The DENR Assistant Regional Director for Region 10, Felix Mirasol, also expressed his gratitude to meet with the regional teams despite the pandemic, and thanked GIZ for their support in this endeavor. GIZ Principal Advisor Erlinda Dolatre assured that the foundation has been laid down for implementation.

The activity started with a meeting with the Regional Project Implementing Team (RPIT) of DENR Region 10. GIZ Senior Advisor Bong Gonzales presented project initiatives in Region 10. This included follow on activities, capacity building on the DENR’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism, and harmonization of local plans. Following this, a meeting with the regional Inter-Agency Technical Working Group (RIATWG), including the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), was conducted.

The LMB Team also visited Barangay Sibantang, Talisayan, and Barangay Mapua, Balingoan, which are the beneficiaries of the sustainable land use for food security initiatives under the Project. They shared their experiences in promoting local livelihood programs, and efforts in resolving political boundary conflicts between municipalities. In the course of the discussion, LMB expressed its support in aiding LGUs on the latter.

The LMB also met with City and Municipal Mayors of the Gingoog Bay Alliance (GBA), which received local subsidies under the Project. Majority of the activities in the LGUs are on capacity building, and efforts on harmonization of local land use plans. They encourage the DENR to support them by centralizing GIS information and maps of different land titling agencies. The GBA is led by Talisayan Mayor Rommel Maslog, and composed of Mayors Aaron Unabia of Balingoan, Donato Chan of Medina, Rey Buhisan of Magsaysay, and Erick Cañosa of Gingoog City.