Cotabato City, Philippines – In its continued pursuit of climate action and environmental resilience, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) recently concluded a series of activities aimed at strengthening watershed and coastal ecosystem management across the region.
From June 9 to 13, MENRE’s Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Research, and Development Services (BERDS), through its Biodiversity Resource Management Division, conducted a five-day monitoring and validation activity focusing on the watershed characterization and vulnerability assessment of Lake Lanao. This included river profiling of the Malaig River in Masiu, Lanao del Sur.
The team identified critical geophysical, socioeconomic, and biological features of the area—essential data for understanding both natural and human-induced changes in the watershed. These findings will serve as the basis for science- and evidence-based policy-making and sustainable watershed management.
A key concern raised during the activity was the worsening siltation in the Malaig River, largely due to improper household waste disposal. This has directly affected local livelihoods, particularly fishing. In response, BERDS also led an Information and Education Campaign to raise awareness and promote stronger community participation in protecting the watershed.
The initiative was carried out in partnership with the Provincial Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy Office (PENREO) of Lanao del Sur, led by PENREO Asmari Labao, CENREO Asnawi Dataman, and representatives from the Local Government of Masiu.
Simultaneously, from June 9 to 12, BERDS also spearheaded a coastal site identification activity in Barangay Nalkan, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, in collaboration with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Datu Blah Sinsuat.
This four-day coastal mapping effort aimed to identify areas for eco-tourism, sustainable aquaculture, and community-based marine conservation. The site visit also supported the integration of local environmental policies into the municipality’s disaster risk reduction planning.
MENRE’s team was led by Protected Area Management Division Chief Joeffry L. Kamid and Ecosystems Management Specialist Wildanah M. Usman, along with Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Peter John Lugasing and community stakeholders.
Following the site identification, BERDS is set to conduct a follow-up assessment to help formulate a sustainable coastal marine management plan.
MENRE emphasized the importance of continued collaboration with local communities, NGOs, and government agencies, highlighting the need for capacity building and open data sharing. These initiatives are part of MENRE’s broader goal to create a more inclusive and coordinated approach to environmental governance in BARMM.