COTABATO CITY — June 7, 2025 — In a significant step towards advancing environmental protection in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) convened a two-day Experts’ Review Workshop on June 3–4 to refine the Bangsamoro Sustainable Forestry Code.
Held in Cotabato City, the workshop was spearheaded by MENRE’s Forest Management Services (FMS) and brought together a diverse assembly of experts, government officials, legal practitioners, and civil society representatives. The event was a key highlight of BARMM’s observance of Philippine Environment Month this June.
MENRE Minister Akmad A. Brahim, in his keynote message, emphasized that the draft Forestry Code reflects the region’s unique ecological and cultural realities. “This is a profound commitment to the future of our forests and the Bangsamoro,” he said, stressing the Code’s alignment with moral governance, Shariah and Adat principles, and community-based approaches.
The proposed Forestry Code is designed to institutionalize sustainable forest management across the BARMM’s over 669,000 hectares of forestland. Formulated through a series of consultations throughout 2024, the Code aims to harmonize with national laws and global environmental standards, while respecting indigenous knowledge and local practices.
Atty. Badr E. Salendab, Bangsamoro Director General for Environment and Natural Resources, invoked the Islamic principle of stewardship in championing the Code. “In Islam, we are taught the concept of Al-Khalifa, that we are stewards of the Earth. This Code is an act of vicegerency, a recognition that our forests are a sacred trust that must be preserved, not exploited,” he said.
The workshop, made possible through support from The Asia Foundation (TAF) and Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), produced two major outcomes: a Preliminary Assessment Report on the legal and ecological aspects of the draft Code, and a refined version of the Code ready for submission to the Bangsamoro Parliament.
Myn Garcia, TAF Deputy Country Representative, underscored the link between environmental protection and lasting peace in the region. “The protection of the commons—like our forests and biodiversity—is essential to the transformative peace we envision for BARMM. There is no turning back,” she stated.
Participants included representatives from DENR’s Forest Management Bureau, CELPA, SFFI, KGI, academic institutions like MSU Marawi and MSU Maguindanao, and members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, including MP Tawakal Midtimbang, along with environmental law experts and grassroots partners.
The initiative reflects MENRE’s commitment to strengthening environmental governance in BARMM, resonating with this year’s Environment Month theme of collective action for a sustainable and resilient future.