A series of Courtesy calls and Key Informant Interviews were conducted by the project team of Integration of Traditional and Modern Bioproduction Systems for a Sustainable and Resilient Future Under Climate and Ecosystems Changes (ITMoB) in the municipalities of Bacnotan, Bagulin, San Fernando, San Juan, and Santol which are situated in Baroro Watershed, La Union during the early week of October.

The team was grateful for the opportunity to meet and discuss the goals and ways forward of the project with Mayor Virgilio Flor of Bagulin, Mayor Arturo Valdriz of San Juan, and Mayor Magno Wailan of Santol. As local leaders, they expressed their joy and support for the initiatives of the study to propose interventions for the improvement of the Baroro Watershed.

The dominant bioproduction systems (BPS), problems & solutions faced by the BPS, location, value chain analysis, trend analysis, and scenario-building information were gathered through key informant interviews with the Municipal Agriculturist (MAO), Municipal Planning and Development Officer (MPDO), Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO), and designated GIS staff.

Moreover, the team would like to extend their appreciation to the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG ENRO) of La Union for their utmost support and assistance throughout the entire fieldwork activity. (Laizha Lomente – University Research Associate II, UPLB INREM)