ILIGAN CITY — To strengthen the involvement of local communities in the formulation of the ‘Kayod ka, Bangsamoro’ (KKB) Convergence Area Development Plan, MENRE, along with the MILG and BPDA, provided technical assistance and facilitated a 5-day Community-Based Participatory Planning (CBPP) Facilitators’ Training spearheaded by the World Food Programme (WFP) Cotabato City Sub-Office at Go Hotel, Iligan City.


The training of trainers was actively participated by the Provincial Staff from MENRE and MAFAR on January 25-29, 2021.

It is also consorted by the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators (MPDC), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Officers (MDRRO) and Municipal Environment and Natural Resource Officers (MENRO) from the three Local Government Units of the Province of Lanao del Sur for KKB Convergence in the Municipalities of Butig, Masiu, and Maguing.


The Provincial ENRE Officer of Lanao del Sur, Asmarie M. Labao, in his opening message emphasized the significance of integrating community participation in the program’s planning process.


MENRE Chief Forest Management Specialist, Faisal U. Akmad, presented the overview of the ‘Establishment of Convergence Model through IBGP: Kayud Ka Bangsamoro’. He noted in particular that “one of the major developments of the BARMM-MENRE is the conservation and rehabilitation of forests through the flagship program of the Ministry, the Integrated Bangsamoro Greening Program (IBGP) by mobilizing the Palaw Rangers.”

The ‘Kayud ka, Bangsamoro’ Convergence has MENRE as the lead agency in its implementation. It is one of the strategies of the Bangsamoro Government to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on food security. The soon-to-be decommissioned MILF-BIAF combatants being the priority partners of the program, they are urged to establish “survival gardens” in forestland areas suitable for vegetable and short-term crop production.


The CBPP approach tackles the formulation of Convergence Area Development Plan (CADP) that will give emphasis to the involvement of the combatants and their communities in the development process. In this manner, partners can appropriately design programs that can improve well-being of the Palaw Ranger partners and ensure ownership.