Categories Newsflash, The Philippines

UNDP bags ‘Development Aid of the Year Award’ for Biodiversity

First published on 04/05/2019, and last updated on 04/29/2019

By the UNDP in Philippines

Manila 5 April 2019 – United Nations Development Programme received the “Development Aid of the Year Award” for Biodiversity at the Mission: PHL Envoys & Expats Recognition Awards last April 4, 2019 at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.

UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Enrico Gaveglia received the award in a ceremony attended by members of the diplomatic community, bilateral and multilateral aid agencies, government officials, and the media. Mr. Gaveglia dedicated the award to the local communities

UNDP is working with, and encouraged the attendees to “commit to a common purpose of pursuing sustainable progress not at the expense of for future generations.”

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teoodoro Locsin Jr. also conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the diplomatic corps and multilateral and bilateral aid agencies in the Philippines. He added that “development cooperation is a shared responsibility and vision with the desire to uplift the lives of people in the most effective and efficient way.”

Most of the biodiversity focused projects implemented by the UNDP is done with DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF). One of its commendable projects is the Philippine ICCA Project aims to strengthen the conservation, protection, and management of biodiversity sites in the Philippines by institutionalizing ICCAs as a sustainable addition to the national protected areas (PA) estate.

Since its launch in 2016, the Project has mapped more than 150,000 hectares of forest and marine ecosystems with high biodiversity values in its 10 partner IP communities, inventoried the flora and fauna contained therein, documented the traditional resource management practices of the IPs, and supported biodiversity friendly livelihoods that benefitted 50,000 individuals, 46% of whom are women.  It has also successfully lobbied for the inclusion of IP-responsive provisions in the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (ENIPAS) Law of 2018 and trained different government personnel on ICCA Documentation and Cultural Appreciation.

Organized by Business Mirror, Mission:PHL celebrates the role of nations and development aid partners in helping the Philippine government improve the lives and future of the Filipino people. It is the first and only recognition awards of its kind in the country today. Apart from the Biodiversity Award, Business Mirror also bestowed the following recognition to projects in different sectors from agriculture, trade, technology, education and tourism.

Mr. Conrad Bravante of DENR-Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Mr. Enrico Gaveglia poses, Ms. Grace Tena of UNDP-Inclusive and Sustainable Development Unit, and Mr. Garie Rigor and Mr. Sam Pedragosa of the Philippine ICCA Project after receiving Business Mirror’s Mission:PHL “Development Aid Partner of the Year Award for Biodiversity”

Photo credits: UNDP Philippines