LGU-PASSI CITY & DENR 6 INK MILESTONE FLUP MOA

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 headed by Regional Executive Director Livino  B. Duran and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Passi City under the helm of Mayor Stephen A. Palmares signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) concerning the implementation of the city’s updated Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) on February 15, 2024 at Zuri Hotel, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

This development makes Passi City as the first LGU in the whole of Western Visayas to have an updated FLUP. The plan aims to effectively manage the usage of natural resources and forest lands within a local government’s jurisdiction. Passi City’s FLUP was formulated in the year 2010 and was adopted on 2011.

Joining RED Duran and Mayor Palmares in the MOA signing are key officials including Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services- Raul L. Lorilla who also served as the Chairperson of the Regional Technical Review Committee (RTRC), Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director- Engr. Carmelo F. Orbista, Passi CGENRO Alicia Dalipe, PENR Officer Salvador C. Manglinong Jr. of PENRO Iloilo, CENR Officer Glenn S. Del Norte of CENRO Barotac Nuevo, chiefs and representatives of the different DENR regional office divisions and line bureaus who also form part of the RTRC, as well as other personnel from the Passi City Government and DENR 6.

Mayor Palmares presented the updated FLUP of Passi City which was followed by the critiquing of the plan by RTRC members to iron out details. An open forum was also done and after which, the plan was approved. The MOA was signed and witnessed by the parties involved.

In his message, RED Duran stressed the importance of the undertaking, pointing out the DENR and LGU’s responsibility to strike a balance between growth and development without sacrificing environmental protection.

“We have already the approved Forest Land Use Plan and we have the Memorandum of Agreement. Meaning, this is now the sharing of responsibility between the National Government and City of Passi,” RED Duran stated.

Engr. Orbista also shared a message in behalf of DILG 6 Regional Director Juan Jovian E. Ingeniero.

“As our population continues to grow, land is becoming more of a limited resource which is why it is important to institutionalize the proper allocation and classification of lands,” he said.

In response, Mayor Palmares expressed his gratitude to DENR 6 and all those who extended assistance in crafting the FLUP and emphasized the need for public servants to serve the people with competence, integrity, and compassion.

“Kinahanglan mag obra kita it matuod-tuod, para sa aton mga ahensysa. LGU ka man or national agency ka man. Let us continue to be a partner to the national government agencies. Without the partnership with national offices like DENR or DILG, ayawan kita ka pa-progreso ka lugar naton…If you are in government service, you must serve from the heart…This FLUP will be our guiding principle or handbook para ma-proteksyunan naton, while we are going for development, we have to balance our environment,” Mayor Palmares said.

DENR 6 is encouraging local governments in the region for cooperation in crafting their respective FLUPs to strengthen capacities in protecting forest lands within their jurisdictions.

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