As part of the target implementation under the Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program (CMEMP), particularly the Development of Biodiversity Friendly Enterprise (BDFE) per coastal city/municipality, the DENR PENRO Cavite through the Coastal and Marine Management Unit (CMMU) conducted an orientation seminar on Biodiversity Friendly Enterprise (BDFE) to the local communities of Ternate, Naic, Tanza, Rosario and Cavite City held at Daluyan Community Resource Center, Brgy. Malainen Bago, Naic, Cavite.

The Chief of Conservation and Development Section (CDS), Forester Alipia D. Espiritu rendered the welcome remarks as she emphasized that BDFE program is a support mechanism in providing technical and/or financial assistance to People’s Organization with existing enterprise in order to make their enterprise sustainable.

Highlights of activities under Biodiversity Friendly Enterprise, Marine Turtle Conservation, Locally Managed Marine Protected Area particularly, the Ternate Marine Park, Corregidor Islands Marine Park and the Entrada de Manila Bay Marine Protected Area Network, as well as updates on corals, seagrass and mangrove ecosystems where shared by Forester Marvin B. Oakes of CMMU.

Forester Ariane Mugol discussed the salient provisions of DENR Administrative Order No. 2021- 13 “Guidelines for the Development and Recognition of BDFEs in Protected Areas under the National Integrated Areas System (NIPAS) and Conservation Areas, Providing for Incentives and Supporting Mechanisms. She gave emphasis on the pillars of BDFE, which are ecological integrity, economic viability, equity and legality. Different BDFE categories under the said DAO such as the production (sustainable forestry, sustainable fisheries, and sustainable agriculture); manufacturing, and services, were also discussed. She also explained that the said DAO primarily applies to Micro and Small Enterprises of People’s Organizations within Multiple Use Zones (MUZs) and buffer zones of terrestrial and marine protected areas and other conservation areas.

On the other hand, Development Management Officer II Andrea A. Panganiban presented the beneficiaries of BDFE projects in the Province of Cavite namely: Mamamayan Para sa Lambat at Dagat Multi-Purpose Cooperative (2018); Mangrove Farmers Association in Noveleta, Cavite Inc. (2018); and Buhay at Kabuhayan sa Nayon (2021). She elucidated the profile of each POs and the enterprise they cater. She also highlighted that the Buhay at Kabuhayan sa Nayon was qualified and granted a One Million Pesos (Php 1M) financial assistance in order to enhance and develop their enterprise sustainably.

The last part of the activity was the consultation with the representatives of LGU to talk about the status of People's Organization in their respective city/ municipalities. Per discussion during the open forum, Mr. Jhoslee Ganan from Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Tanza inquired about the qualifications or standards to be considered as a conservation area which will be coordinated and addressed to the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB). Subsequently, Ms. Pamela Cordero of MAO-Naic showed her interest in the establishment of Marine Protected Area in their municipality for the sustainable protection of their aquatic resources as well as to help the community for livelihood purposes.

After the series of presentations, the participants were able to understand the salient provision of DAO 2021-13 and the mechanism of BDFE. The CMMU will conduct cluster meetings in order to assess the People’s Organization with existing enterprise within the coastal towns of Cavite. ###

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Published: 01 April 2022