GIZ-DENR’s RoLMin Partners Forum and Project Closing Ceremony

The Promotion of the Rule of Law in Mindanao (RoLMin) project, a two-year technical cooperation initiative between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Land Management Bureau (LMB), and the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), concluded with a Closing Event and Partners Forum on September 25, 2024, at the Park Inn Hotel in Davao City.

The forum gathered key officials from the DENR, including LMB Director Atty. Emelyne Talabis, DENR Region XI Regional Executive Director (RED), Atty. Ma. Mercedes Dumagan, Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Management Services Engr. Maribel Alicer, and Davao Del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Chamberlaine Babiera.  Also in attendance were LMB Legal Division Chief Atty. Marlou P. Alutaya and Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS) Project Management Division Chief Eddie Abugan, Jr.

The event began with a vibrant cultural presentation by the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Youth Theatre Group. In her welcome remarks, RED Dumagan underscored the importance of sustainability in ensuring the continuity of the project’s progress and the nurturing of partnerships it helped establish. She emphasized the significance of collaboration with various government agencies, local communities, civil society organizations, and international partners in advancing peace, justice, and sustainable development in Mindanao.

In his opening message, Mathias Kruse, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, highlighted that peacebuilding and development in Mindanao remains a cornerstone of German development cooperation with the Philippines. He emphasized that the RoLMin project exemplifies Germany’s long-standing commitment to supporting peace and development in the region.

DENR Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr., delivered his keynote address virtually, lauding the RoLMin project’s achievements in improving land governance, strengthening institutional frameworks, and promoting gender and social inclusion in land dispute resolution. He noted that RoLMin’s initiatives have helped develop tools and resources, conducted capacity-building activities, and fostered a culture of dialogue. These efforts, he explained, have contributed to a more effective, transparent, and equitable land management practices, especially in the Davao Region and Mount Apo Natural Park.

Atty. Talabis presented a comprehensive overview of the project and its accomplishments. She highlighted RoLMin’s role in reducing the potential for violence and conflict arising from land use and land allocation through improved access to justice. Her presentation addressed various approaches undertaken by the project, including assistance to joint policy formulation, the promotion of gender-responsive Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and capacity building at the local level. She also shared key insights from study visits to Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, focusing on applying the rule of law and ensuring access to justice in land administration, environmental management, and gender inclusion.

The forum also featured an open thematic panel discussion facilitated by GIZ Senior Consultants with the key RoLMin partners. The panel offered a valuable opportunity to examine the project’s impact and engage in discussions about the potential for sustaining its initiatives moving forward.

A ceremonial handover of RoLMin’s knowledge products followed, where Atty. Talabis and GIZ-RoLMin Principal Advisor Christina Rentzmann formally transferred the outputs developed during the project to relevant stakeholders. Plaques of appreciation were also awarded to distinguished partners for their contributions.

In her closing remarks, Rentzmann reaffirmed GIZ’s commitment to advocating for policy reforms that enhance legal protections for land rights, particularly for marginalized groups. “Going forward, GIZ remains dedicated to supporting the Philippines in its journey to economic and social transformation,” she said.

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