GENERAL LUNA, Surigao del Norte — To further capacitate and strengthen the management of the BARMM’s marine ecosystems and protected areas, the Ministry’s Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Research, and Development Services (BERDS) participated in a specialized National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Marine Protected Area (MPA) training workshop organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB) and the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Management Program (CMEMP), held from October 7 to 11 in General Luna, Surigao del Norte.

The workshop, which focused on damage assessment, restoration, and monitoring of natural resources, consisted of seven components, one of which was capacity building. Led by Chief Joeffry L. Kamid and Forester Mohaimen G. Maco, participants from MENRE trained to further develop their ability to provide ecological goods and services to improve the quality of life of coastal populations, particularly in ensuring food security, climate change resilience, and disaster risk reduction.

The activity, part of the National Integrated Protected Areas System Marine Protected Areas Capacity Building Program (NIMCAP), was developed to ensure the sustainability of CMEMP’s implementation.

The training workshop also included participants from DENR’s national and regional offices, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

As a way forward, the NIMCAP program will integrate BARMM into the national mentorship cluster, fostering continued capacity-building initiatives for protected marine areas.