26 October 2022
The University of the Philippines Los Baños Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Environment Management (UPLB-INREM) organized a national stakeholder consultation titled “Let the Ideas and Water Flow: National Stocktaking Workshop on Water Ecosystem Service Initiatives” on October 20-21, 2022. The knowledge-sharing event, which forms part of the project “Assessment of Payment for Water Ecosystem Service (P-WES) Initiatives Towards the Development of a Philippine PES Protocol,” had 204 participants and was held online via Zoom and live streamed on UPLB-INREM’s Facebook page.
Speakers from diverse sectors shared their experiences and discussed problems and solutions in implementing Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and PES-like initiatives across the country, focusing on water resources.
Forester Marlo D. Mendoza, Dean of the College of Forestry and Natural Resources, welcomed the speakers and guests and highlighted the relevance and timeliness of the event. He also emphasized water as essential for the survival of all living forms, echoing Da Vinci’s statement that “water is the driving force of all nature.” UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. described the workshop as an important avenue in building the foundation for a standardized PES protocol grounded in authentic experiences that were multi-sectoral, inclusive, and sustainable.
Meanwhile, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), stated that while the Philippines is a megadiverse country with numerous ecosystems providing various services, the value of ecosystem services is often overlooked. Afterward, Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, P-WES Project Leader and UPLB-INREM Chair, presented the project overview and rationale.
Ms. Maria Rosa E. Solis, Executive Director of the Global Environment and Nature Ecosystems Society (GENESYS) Foundation, and Forester Raoul T. Geollegue, member of the Board of Directors of Hineleban Foundation Inc. represented the civil society. Ideas started to flow as Solis and Geollegue shared their experiences in developing and implementing PES schemes in the watersheds of Baticulan, Negros Occidental and Manupali, Bukidnon, respectively.
Drawing lessons from the efforts in the government sector, Forester Roman V. Corpuz, Head of the Waterworks and Sewerage System-Corporate Office’s (MWSS-CO) Watershed Management Division, discussed the case of the Angat-Ipo-Umiray and La Mesa dams. On behalf of Mayor Nicholas M. Yulo of Bago City, Negros Occidental, Engr. Vicente D. Mesias of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office talked about the lessons learned from managing the Bago River Watershed.
Dr. Grace B. Villamor, Senior Scientist and Research Group Leader for Economy and Society at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute, shared the experiences and outlook of research institutions on PES initiatives. Bringing the conversation to the regional level, Dr. Herminia A. Francisco, adviser for the Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), explained the key takeaways from implementing PES and PES-like initiatives in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.
Two speakers focused on the lessons learned and the drivers of success in implementing PES. Dr. Margaret M. Calderon, CFNR Professor, presented perspectives of an academic and scholar while Dr. Ernesto S. Guiang, Chief of Party of the United States Agency for International Development’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes or SIBOL project, talked from the point of view of international organizations.
To provide the key learnings of the project team, Dr. Asa Jose U. Sajise, Professor at the College of Economics and Management, discussed the preliminary findings of the P-WES project which, together with the presentations and conversations in the workshop, would inform the creation of the national protocol.
In closing, Dr. Juan M. Pulhin laid out the direction of the project going forward, enumerating future project activities, such as continued consultation with relevant stakeholders, visits to identified PES and PES-like sites, finalization of the criteria for assessing and identifying factors affecting the performance of initiatives, and drafting of a PWES protocol and national policy through sustained engagement with stakeholders. (Kyle Vincent R. Singson, UPRI and UPLB-IDSC-INREM)
You may access the proceedings here:
Day1: https://www.facebook.com/idsc.inrem/videos/553441469925763
Day2: https://www.facebook.com/idsc.inrem/videos/1312115272894175