EAAF R and D Congress Recognizes Gender and Development Concerns on Wetlands and Migratory Waterbirds Conservation

Gising DIwa and

Environmental Outreach Programs

held in Pagsanjan, Laguna

2

ERDB GAD Advocates

Disaster Preparedness

2

GADFPS conducts

Gising Diwa Program in Cavinti, Laguna

3

The Women of Olango

Island Wildlife Sanctuary

3

GAD Activities

Highlights

4

Gender Dimension on

Valuing Natural Forest IPs

5

ERDB Hosts Meeting of

DENR YOUTH Coordinators

6

YES-O Monitoring in

Region 7

6

Inside this issue:

n December 1 to 5, 2014, the

Ecosystems Research and

Development Bureau (ERDB), in

partnership with the Biodiversity

Management Bureau (BMB),

conducted the First Research and

Development (R&D) Congress on

Wetlands and Migratory

Waterbirds Conservation Within

the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF Congress for “brevity”) at

Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and

Spa Hotel in Cebu City,

Philippines. Ninety seven (97)

participants from eleven (11)

countries namely, China, India,

Germany, Netherlands, Lao PDR,

Cambodia, Denmark, South

Korea, Russia, Australia,

Bangladesh, and the Philippines

attended the said international

event. Twenty two (22) papers

were presented covering the

topics on bird migration and

climate change; habitat, feeding

ecology and reproductive biology

of migratory waterbirds at their

breeding/roosting sites; the

science of migratory bird counting;

policy, socio-cultural and gender issues in relation to bird migra-

tion; and avian influenza. The

topic on policy, socio-cultural and

gender issues in relation to bird

migration comprised of six papers,

Page 3

July-December, 2014 Volume 9, Issue 2 A semi-annual newsletter published by the Gender and Development Focal Point System (GADFPS) of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), College, Laguna.

One of the paper presenters, Ms. Rachel Ubana from Calauag,

Quezon

On August 14-15, 2014, the ERDB GAD Focal Point System conducted a leveling-off

workshop on the enhanced gender analysis tools and preparation of GAD Road Map

(2015-2017). It was attended by 33 members (26 females and 7 males) of the

GADFPS under the leadership of Dr. Marilyn Q. Landicho, GAD Focal Point. Dr. Portia

G. Lapitan gave an inspirational message during the workshop emphasizing the

importance of the role of each member, both technical and administrative, in terms

of completing the goals of the Bureau. The said workshop had been very fruitful

since everyone was cooperative and open in sharing their thoughts. Both the

technical and administrative group enjoyed while doing their work.

ERDB GAD FPS conducts Leveling-off workshop on Gender Analysis Tools and Preparation of GAD Road

Map

Page 2 GADREACH

who rendered the opening

remarks. She promised the

participants that “Kaisa nyo kami

(ERDB) sa pagsisikap na maging

laging handa sa pagdating ng

kalamidad.”

Mr. Martin Q. Imatong, Municipal

Disaster Risk Reduction and

ender and Development (GAD)

is concerned with the overall

welfare of women including

resiliency on any kind of disaster.

Hence, a seminar on disaster

preparedness entitled “Handa ka

na ba sa Oras ng Kalamidad?”

was conducted by the Ecosystems

Research and Development

Bureau (ERDB) Gender and Development Focal Point System

(GAD FPS) on September 26,

2014. The seminar was attended

and participated in by 58

participants, mostly female,

composed of barangay officials

and citizens of Barangay Bagong

Silang in Los Baños and

Barangays Dila, Bitin, San

Antonio, Sto. Domingo, and

Tagum in Bay, Laguna. The

seminar was graced by Dr. Portia

G. Lapitan, ERDB OIC-Director,

M a n a g e m e n t ( M D R R M )

Coordinator of the Municipality of

L o s B a ñ o s , p r e s e n t e d

“Paghahanda sa Kalamidad: Mga

Aral Para sa Barangay”. He

stressed that each individual

should both have the “knowledge

an d sk i l l s ” o n d i sas t e r

preparedness especially those

who do not have the financial capacity, other means, and power

to cope with any disaster.

Everybody should always be

p repared since “sa a tin

nagsisimula ang ating ikasasama,

at sa atin din magmumula ang

ating ikabubuti”. He strongly

believes that “the key to

preparedness is that everyone

should have a workable plan for

any event when a disaster

comes”. His lecture ended-up by

ERDB GAD Advocates Disaster Preparedness

Page 8

Mr. Imatong explains the earth’s natural events including

typhoons which are very common in the Philippines

Gising Diwa and Environmental Outreach Programs held in Pagsanjan, Laguna

students to listen to the lectures.

She also said, “We have only one

planet to live, se we must take

good care of mother earth.”

Ms. Marla V. Cambay gave the

rationale of the Gising Diwa

Program and introduced the

resource speakers. Afterwards,

For. Romana A. Mauricio lectured on Climate Change and Its Impact

on Watershed while Ms. Salvacion

T. Orobia discussed the topic on

Roles of Gender on Disaster

Preparedness.

In the afternoon, For. Mauricio

lectured on Bamboo Propagation

while Mr. Edgardo Castillo of the

he ERDB GADFPS-IEC (Gender

and Development Focal Point

S y s t e m - I n f o r m a t i o n ,

Education, and Communication)

Committee headed by For.

Romana A. Mauricio conducted

t h e G i s i n g D i w a a n d

Environmental Outreach Programs

on September 23, 2014 in

Pagsanjan Academy, Pagsanjan, Laguna. The participants were

composed of 103 (59 boys and

44 girls) Grades 7 and 8 students.

The program started with the

opening prayer from a student.

Ms. Editha B. Abarquez, the

school principal gave the welcome

remarks. She encouraged the

Los Baños Experiment Station

(LBES) demonstrated how

bamboos are planted.

In between the lectures, questions

were asked to students and prizes

were given to them. Marla V.

Cambay, TDD

During the demonstration of bamboo planting,

students showed interest and enthusiasm in learning.

Page 3

GADFPS conducts Gising Diwa Program in Cavinti, Laguna

Lumban, Laguna were For. Jesse

Carlo P. Fajardo and For. Divina

Lachica.

The program started with the

opening prayer from a student

followed by the singing of the Na-

tional Anthem. The guidance

counselor, Mrs. Dolores Morales

gave the opening remarks. She thanked the ERDB for choosing

their school to be the recipient of

the Gising Diwa.

After the opening program, Ms.

Cambay gave a brief introduction

about ERDB and the Gising Diwa

Program and served as master of

ceremony. For. Mauricio talked

about “Climate Change and Its

Effects on Watershed” which was

followed by For. Fajardo’s lecture

on “Forest Laws”. He also gave a

b r i e f b a c k g r o u n d ab o u t

he ERDB GADFPS-IEC (Gender

and Development Focal Point

S y s t e m - I n f o r m a t i o n ,

Education, and Communication)

Committee conducted the Gising

Diwa Program on November 20,

2014 in Bukal National High

School, Brgy. Bukal, Cavinti,

L ag u n a . Th e ac t i v i t y w as

conducted in partnership with the National Power Corporation

(NAPOCOR). Participants were

composed of Grade VIII students

of the said high school.

The lecturers from ERDB were For.

Romana A. Mauricio, Ms.

Salvacion T. Orobia, and Ms.

Marla V. Cambay. Also part of the

E R D B w e r e M s . J an i c e

Cabuscabus and Mr. Richard

Villarin who assisted in the

conduct of the activity. On the

other hand, NAPOCOR team in

NAPOCOR, including its history.

Finally, Ms. Salvacion Orobia

tackled about “Role of Gender in

Disaster Preparedness”.

In between the lectures, questions

were asked to students and prizes

were given to them. A video titled

“Kalma Klima, Best Student

Projects on Climate Change” was

also shown to the participants.

Marla V. Cambay, TDD and

Romana A. Mauricio, FERD

The ERDB GADFPS-IEC Commiittee and NAPOCOR team

with the students of Bukal National High School.

The Women of Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary

uring the Research and

Development (R&D) Congress

on Wetlands and Migratory

Waterbirds Conservation Within

the East Asian-Australasian

Flyway (EAAF Congress for

“brevity”) at Shangri-la’s Mactan

Resort and Spa Hotel in Cebu City,

Philippines, a short visit to the

Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary (OIWS) in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

was done. On December 4, 2014,

the participants proceeded to

OIWS. During the field trip, the

breakfast was served by an

organization named San Vicente

F i s h e r f o l k A s s o c i a t i o n ,

Incorporated or SVFAI. There are

62 members wherein 19 are

females. Their secretary and

treasurer are women, which is

the usual role of women in an

organization. The group was

formed on November 25, 2012

and the members have been

actively participating in all the

activities in OIWS.

Another organization named

Olango Island Eco-Tourism

Association (OIETA) served

lunch for all the participants of

the EAAF Congress. This

organization consisted of 40

members with 22 females

including its Vice-president. This

organization is composed of

four barangays namely, Sabang,

Sta. Rosa, San Vicente,

Dr. Landicho poses at the entrance of the Olango Island

Wildlife Sanctuary

Page 7

GAD Activities Highlights

Page 4 GADREACH

September 26, 2014: The resource person, Mr. Martin Q. Imatong (right, 2nd row standing), with the members of the GAD FPS and the participants during the Seminar on Disaster

Preparedness

August 22, 2014: Non-GADFPS members actively participate during the hands-on

activity in the “Leveling-Off Workshop on the Enhanced Gender Analysis Tools”

November 25, 2014: Ms. Fides Z. Tambalo discussed about biotechnology products;

participants actively joined in the open forum

August 14-15, 2014: Dr. Marilyn Q. Landicho presents Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation

Framework (GMEF) during the session in the “Leveling-Off Workshop on the Enhanced

Gender Analysis Tools and Preparation of Road Map (2015-1017)” in Tagaytay City

August 14-15, 2014: GAD FPS members at work. Some of the members during one of

the workshops done during the “Leveling-Off Workshop on the Enhanced Gender

Analysis Tools and Preparation of Road Map (2015-1017)” in Tagaytay City

Page 5

(FGDs) were likewise conducted

on 14 October 2014 and 17

October 2014. The FGDs were

attended and participated in by

22 local peoples of Brgy.

Kumaliskis composed of 15

males and 7 females and 32 local

peoples of Spur 19, Brgy. Bunga

with 14 males and 18 females.

The indigenous people adapted

the art of “Kali” as their cultural

heritage, otherwise known as

“ARNIS” or “Escrima”, the

traditional martial arts of the

Filipino people since the 7th

Century. The Kali is designed for

the physical training, mental

development and spiritual

upliftment of the individuals to

strengthen their moral value. The

celebration of “KALIKALIHAN”

harvest festival is highlighted

every month of February.

Almost all indigenous respondents

claimed that the cultural rite is the

best value of the natural forest.

wo (2) groups of indigenous

people (IP), the Ata and

Bukidnon living within the natural

forest of Bago watershed in the

municipality of Don Salvador

Benedicto covering four (4)

barangays were interviewed

personally by Dr. Aurora S. Jose

and Marciana T. Orobia together

with Forest Ranger Hadji D. Piansay and Raffy A. Teguihanon

Forest Management (FM) staff.

Three males and 1 female of the

Peoples Organization (PO), Don

Salvador Benedicto Agro-Forest

Farmers Association, Incorporated

assisted the team in the interview.

The indigenous peoples (IPs) were

selected using the snow ball

sampling with age ranging from

60 years old and above. A total of

50 Bukidnon and 16 Ata which

composed of 39 males and 27

females were interviewed

regarding the value of natural

forest on the ecosystem services

in Bago watershed, province of

Negros Occidental. To provide

supplemental data, seven (7) key

informants consisting of 4 males

and 3 females key officials of the

government and non-government

o r g an i z a t i o n s w e r e a l so

interviewed. One of the key

informants was Mr. Richard S.

Impil, chair of the Negros ATA

Bukidnon Development Project,

Inc.

Also, two focus group discussions

They perceive that the ecosystem

services of the natural forest of

Bago watershed were significantly

important to their culture.

Both male and women respondents

have moderate level of perception

on the ecosystem’s supporting

services in terms of nutrient cycling,

seed dispersal and primary production of the natural forest. In

the provisioning services of the

ecosystem, the women have high

knowledge on medicinal values of

plants as compared to men. On the

regulating services of the natural

forest, the men have high level of

perception on carbon and climate,

waste decomposition, purification

of air and water and crop

production. On the cultural aspect,

both men and women of indigenous

people have moderate to high level

perception on the cultural services

of the natural forest of Bago

watershed. Antonio M. Daño,

Assistant Director and Aurora S.

Jose, FERD

Gender Dimension on Valuing Natural Forests of IPs

R&D Corner

The group of indigenous people (IP), Ata in Barangay Bagong Silang, Don Salvador were interviewed by Dr. Jose

and the spot-hired interviewer.

Page 6 GADREACH

Youth Corner

he 10th regular meeting of

DENR Youth Coordinators last

October 9, 2014 was hosted by

the Ecosystems Research and

Development Bureau (ERDB). The

meeting was held at the ERDB

Auditorium at about 9:30 AM. It

was presided by the DENR national youth coordinator, Ms.

Maria Magnolia Q. Danganan of

DENR Special Concerns Office

(SCO). It was attended by different

youth coordinators from DENR

staff bureaus (ERDB, FMB, BMB),

line bureau ( LMB), attached

agency (LLDA), OSEC and regional

offices (Regions 4B, 5).

ERDB OIC Director, Dr. Portia G.

L a p i t a n , w e l c o m e d t h e

participants. She emphasized in

her welcome remarks the

important role of the youth as

potent force in environmental

protection and sustainable use

and development of natural

resources towards improved

quality of life. She also mentioned

that working with the youth sector

is fun and enjoyable because they

are the most energetic among the

societal groups. As a final word

she quipped that the DENR Youth

Coordinators’ group should

continue working towards the

attainment of its objectives. Direc-

tor Lapitan was given a coffee

table book “Treasures of the

Philippine Wild” courtesy of

Biodiversity Management Bureau.

The meeting proper was called to

order by Ms. Danganan. The

following agenda were discussed,

namely: 1) finalization of the

Youth for Environment in Schools

Organization (YES-O) awards

guidelines; 2) accomplishments of

the group covering different

activities i.e. YES-O monitoring of

4 schools conducted in Region 5,

En v i ro n me n t al A w are n e ss

Seminar conducted in Kalayaan

High School, Caloocan City ,

Ecological Fair at the Assumption

School in Antipolo, Rizal. Tackled also were the conduct of the

scheduled YES-O monitoring in

Region 7 (Dumaguete City),

Region 11 (Davao Oriental) and

CARAGA (Dinagat Island). The

g r o u p a l so p l an n e d an

assessment and planning

workshop for Youth Road Map

2015 to be conducted tentatively

on December 2-4, 2014 at Los

Baños, Laguna.

After adjournment of the meeting

and simple lunch the group visited

ERDB’s Bamboo and Rattan

Gallery and then proceeded to

UPLB, IRRI, UPOU, Biotech and

IPB for a campus tour to the

delight of everyone. Romana A.

Mauricio, FERD

ERDB Hosts Meeting of DENR Youth Coordinators

Welcome Remarks. The ERDB OIC-Director as she

welcomed the DENR Youth Coordinators during a

meeting held at the ERDB Auditorium

YES-O Monitoring in Region 7

very year the Department of

Education – Center for

Students and Co-Curricular

Affairs (DepEd-CSA) and the

Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR)

conducts actual monitoring and

evaluation (M&E) of Youth for

E n v i r o n me n t i n S ch o o l s

Organization (YES-O) program.

This is conducted nationwide in

YES –O Certified schools. The

monitoring team was composed

of the DENR national youth

coordinator, Ms. Maria Magnolia

Danganan, Ms. Alice Robles (Land

Management Bureau), For.

Romana Mauricio (Ecosystems

Research and Development

Bureau), Engr. Eddie Llamedo

(Mines and Geoscience Bureau

R7), Ms. Maricita Basa (RPAO R7)

and Ms. Judi Ann Tagbat

(Environmental Management

Bureau R7).

In Region 7 specifically in

Dumaguete City three (3) schools

were monitored and evaluated.

Next page

Page 7

These were Ramon Teves Pastor

Memorial (RTPM) Dumaguete

Science High School, Junob High

School and Dumaguete City High

School. In the former all 538

students are required to be a

member of the YES-O Club. The

science and biological clubs

were integrated into one

organization which is the YES-O. In Junog High School YES-O

membership is more than 200

students only. The YES-O

coordinator mentioned that

implementation of their plans and

programs this year is problematic

due to DepEd’s K+12 program.

Teachers find a hard time

adjusting to the new set-up. In

D u m ag u e t e H i g h S ch o o l

membership undergo a selection

process hence their membership

is limited only to those who

passed the requirements. The

school plans to collaborate with

other schools in a tree planting

activity but their participation is in

the maintenance and protection

of the outplanted seedlings. It was

observed that the YES-O coordinators of the three schools

are not so young but still very

active, energetic and dynamic.

Results of the M & E conducted

showed that these schools are

sustainably implementing their

plans, projects and activities (PPA)

based on their targets pertinent to

YES Program.

YES-O Monitoring … from page 6

The monitoring team also visited

Siquijor province to coordinate

with YES-O Certified schools for

the next M&E activity at Region 7 in CY 2015. DENR PENRO

Siquijor and Governor’s Office

were visited as well as the

DENR’s projects were also visited. Romana A. Mauricio,

FERD

Monitoring and Evaluation. The YES-O Monitoring

Team during a meeting with one of the concerned

schools in Region 7.

The Women of Olango … from page 3

and Pangan-an. According to

them, both organizations, SVFAI

and OIETA, are active in the

protection and maintenance of

OIWS. Each (male or female)

member has significant roles and

functions being played in the

island. It is indeed worth noting

that the protection of a wildlife

sanctuary is no longer a man’s role but by female as well. It is

because of women’s patience,

courage and ingenuity that their

roles are now recognized. As what

f o r m e r P r i m e

Minister Margaret

Thatcher once said,

“ I f y o u w a n t

something said, ask

a MAN. But if you

want something

d o n e , a s k a

WOMAN”. Marilyn Q.

Landicho, UFERD

SVFAI and OIETA women

and men prepare simple

dishes for the EAAF

participants on December

4, 2014.

The GADREACH is published semi-annually by the Gender and

Development Focal Point System (GADFPS) of the Ecosystems

Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) of the Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Contents does not

necessarily reflect the views and policies of ERDB.

Any comments, view, opinion, or inquiries may be addressed to the

Editor, GADREACH, ERDB.

EDITORIAL STAFF

Technical Adviser Dr. Marilyn Q. Landicho

Editor For. Romana A. Mauricio

Assistant Editor Ms. Salvacion T. Orobia

Contributors Dr. Antonio M. Daño

Dr. Marilyn Q. Landicho

Dr. Aurora S. Jose

For. Romana A. Mauricio

Ms. Marla V. Cambay

Ms. Paulina Rowena C. Payuan

Lay-out Artist Ms. Richel Joanne dR. Abescoro

recommending general mitigation measures for natural disasters and

safety tips and guidelines inside/outside the house and during/after a

flood. Among others are: 1) designating a common place to meet other

members of the family in case separated during the disaster,

2) preparing a stand by emergency kit/bag which contains supplies of

ready to eat food, potable water, medicines and clothings, and

3) self-tagging for proper identification. Rowena C. Payuan, UFERD

ERDB GAD … from page 2 “We’ve begun

raising daughters

more like sons …

but few have the

courage to raise

their sons more

like daughters.”

-Gloria Steinem

EAAF R and D Congress Recognizes … from page 1

three of which focused on gender

concerns. The first paper with

gender consideration was entitled

“Women’s participation in

wetlands conservation: The case

of Lopez (Lalaguna) Marsh”,

which was presented by Ms.

Rachel Ubana from CENRO-

Calauag, Quezon, Philippines. It

focused on the roles, involvement, and functions of women in the

conservation of wetlands. The

second paper was titled “Women,

wetland, and food security: The

case of Cambodia-HARVEST

program along Tonle Sap Lake”.

This paper was prepared by Ms.

Moung Kagna from Cambodia and

was presented by Dr. Josefina

Dizon from College of Public Af-

fairs, UPLB. It dealt with the roles

of women in addressing food

security especially in fishery

production in the wetlands. The

third paper entitled “Fishing and

socio-economic considerations in

building partnerships for wildlife

conservation with urban coastal

communities of Metro Cebu”

considered the gender relations to

understand resource use

including conservation values.

On the other hand, 22 posters

were submitted and displayed

during the Congress. Of these,

one poster, submitted by Ms.

Ayesha Sarapuddin, Miss Clarissa

Ruzol, Dr. Rico Ancog, and Mr.

T i mo t h y Joh n P asi co l an,

emphasized on gender aspect

entitled “Engaging women to win wetland conservation dividends

for all”. It described that women

play critical roles across the

supply chain of an artisanal

f ishing sector in coastal

communities adjacent to the

Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary

(OIWS). Marilyn Q. Landicho,

UFERD

One of the posters submitted during the Congress.

(Photo credits to Ms. Ayesha Sarapuddin, et. al.)