Libungan, Cotabato – In a significant move toward sustainable forest management, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 12, through its Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cotabato, in partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Libungan, held a two-day Orientation and Levelling-Off Workshop for the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) on April 29–30, 2025.
The workshop gathered barangay officials and representatives from 13 forest-influenced barangays, along with members of the LGU and PENRO Technical Working Groups (TWGs), and other local stakeholders. The activity aimed to promote a shared understanding of the FLUP process and align stakeholders in developing a comprehensive plan for the management and protection of the municipality’s forestlands.
Participants were introduced to the legal basis and policy frameworks guiding forest land use planning, including Executive Order No. 318 (2004), which promotes sustainable forest management, and the DENR-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1998-01, which outlines the collaborative roles of national and local governments in natural resource management.
With technical assistance from DENR-PENRO Cotabato, the workshop featured interactive group activities and planning sessions designed to ensure that the resulting FLUP will be inclusive, data-driven, and responsive to local realities. A key focus was integrating the FLUP into Libungan’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), reinforcing its alignment with national development priorities.
The initiative is expected to contribute to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and improved governance over Libungan’s forestlands, marking a proactive step toward environmental sustainability and community empowerment.