The training was sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Climate Change Commission (CCC) through a Technical Assistance (TA) titled, TA-8111 PHI: Climate Resilience and Green Growth in the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape: Demonstrating the Eco-town Framework.The TA is supervised by Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, ADB Principal Climate Change Specialist under the Southeast Asia Department. CCC serves as the implementing agency of the TA.
The training was attended by 15 key technical personnel from the local government units (LGUs) of Antipolo City, Rodriguez, and Tanay, all in the province of Rizal. The training aimed to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of key technical staff of UMRBPL partner-LGUs and the members of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) in integrating economic variables in natural resource management for green growth and climate change resilience.
Dr. Nicomedes Briones, Natural Resource Management (NRM) Specialist lectured on the status of UMRBPL’s natural resources and their contribution to the economy particularly in the agriculture, water resources, and forestry sectors. Dr. Emmanuel Lleva, NRM Specialist of ERGONS, discussed forest resource management to enhance the integrity of water resources, and Dr. Rico Ancog, UPLB Professor, lectured on Benefit-Cost Analysis (Economic Valuation).
Forester Alexis Lapiz, CCC Overall Program Manager, gave a brief overview of the ecotown framework espoused by the Philippine government. Mr. Rey Alo, Multimedia Specialist, and Mr. Allan Dela Cruz, GIS Assistant, served as technical resource persons and process documentors. Ms. Jade Ayanna Fernandez, Research Assistant, and Ms. Hilda Ronquillo, Administrative Assistant, provided technical and administrative support during the training. (Jade Fernandez)