DENR Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service

03/08/2026

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗗𝗔, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗗𝗢 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗦𝗗 𝟭𝟬-𝗠 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘄𝗶-𝗧𝗮𝘄𝗶

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its role as the National Designated Authority to the Adaptation Fund, joined the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) (MinDA), the UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization, and development partners in the ceremonial launch and signing of the Project Agreement for the Philippines' first-ever Adaptation Fund-financed project.

The USD 10-million, four-year initiative, "Harnessing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus to Address and Adapt to Climate Change Impacts in Tawi-Tawi," aims to strengthen climate resilience and improve water security, livelihoods, and sustainable development for more than 71,000 residents of Sitangkai and Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi.

As the National Designated Authority to the Adaptation Fund, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) helps ensure that climate finance supports well-designed, impactful, and sustainable initiatives that benefit vulnerable Filipino communities.

👉 Read the full story through the link in the comments and learn how this landmark project is advancing climate resilience and sustainable development in Tawi-Tawi.

30/07/2026

29/07/2026

𝕎𝔸𝕋ℂℍ: 10 months after release, how is Lakpue the Philippine Eagle faring in the wild?

29/07/2026

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮: DENR marked the 2016 Arbitral Award by uniting scientists, policymakers, and partners—linking research with action to protect and sustainably manage our marine resources.

28/07/2026

𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗥 𝗟𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗘-𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮

To mark the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award, the DENR unveiled The Wonderful West Philippine Sea, a three-part children’s e-book series designed to introduce young Filipinos to marine biodiversity and the importance of protecting our seas.

🐢 The first book follows Pawi the Sea Turtle on a journey through mangroves, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and coastal communities—teaching kids about whale sharks, giant clams, reef fishes, and the people safeguarding them. It also explains threats like pollution and overfishing in simple, child-friendly language.

🎨 With species-spotting activities, coloring pages, and a family pledge for eco-friendly actions, the series fosters environmental awareness and stewardship among children ages 6–9.

🌊 Secretary Mitch Cuna emphasized: “Protecting the West Philippine Sea means protecting our food security, livelihoods, biodiversity, and shared heritage.”

Two more titles will be released in August and September, complementing DENR’s broader conservation efforts. The e-books are free to download via the DENR website and will also be distributed to coastal schools and communities.

👉 Read the full article in the comments section and download the e-book to share with your family.

28/07/2026

𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗥 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮

The DENR is moving to declare ecologically vital zones in the Kalayaan Island Group as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), backed by nearly a decade of Filipino-led marine scientific research.

🔬 Studies under CARE-CaDRES, PROTECT-WPS, and BioConSeq-WPS projects revealed rare corals, seagrass beds, and 49 previously unrecorded fish species—including endangered wrasses and eagle rays. Research also showed the area could sustain 1,000–2,000 metric tons of fisheries yield annually, highlighting its importance for food security.

⚠️ Yet threats remain: Pag-asa Island is eroding rapidly, losing 1,500 square meters of land each year due to man-made structures.

DENR Secretary Mitch Cuna emphasized: “True sovereignty is built on active stewardship.” The agency is also set to operationalize nine Marine Scientific Research Stations, including one on Pag-asa Island, to strengthen biodiversity monitoring and evidence-based policymaking.

👉 Read the full article in the comments section to learn more about how science and stewardship are shaping the future of the West Philippine Sea.

28/07/2026

BD Corridor ➡️ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

🦅 A new study reveals that 46% of Indigenous ancestral domains in Eastern Mindanao contain highly suitable nesting habitats for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle. That’s nearly 1 in 2 ancestral domains serving as eagle strongholds.

🚨 But mining overlaps with 41% of these habitats, posing serious risks.
🌳 Protect Indigenous lands. Protect the Philippine Eagle.

👉 Read the full study below or in the comments section.

#𝐁𝐃𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.

🚨 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙬𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙀𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙚’𝙨 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙨?

🦅 They’re Indigenous communities.

A recent scientific study found that 46% of Indigenous Ancestral Domains in the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor contain highly suitable nesting habitat for the critically endangered Philippine Eagle.

📖 Read the full study here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.19.654818v1.full
Source: bioRxiv

That’s nearly 1 in every 2 ancestral domains serving as potential eagle strongholds.

For generations, Indigenous Peoples have protected these forests—not because they were declared protected areas, but because they are home.

Today, science is confirming what many have long known:
🌳 Protect Indigenous lands. Protect the Philippine Eagle.

That’s why the Philippine Eagle Foundation’s engagement as a partner in the formulation of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plans (ADSDPPs) and Conservation and Community Protection Plans (CCPs) for 14 priority ancestral domains along the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor—under the DENR–UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project—is so strategic.

These plans strengthen Indigenous community-led governance and management of forests and natural resources, ensuring that conservation is built on Indigenous rights, knowledge, and leadership.

💚 When Indigenous communities thrive, forests thrive.
🦅 And when forests thrive, the Philippine Eagle has a fighting chance.

28/07/2026

𝕃𝕀𝕍𝔼 ℕ𝕆𝕎 || 𝗔 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 𝗔 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

For ten years, Filipino scientists and the DENR have worked hand in hand to deepen our understanding of the rich marine ecosystems of the West Philippine Sea, advancing science that strengthens conservation, informs policy, and safeguards our nation's natural heritage.
Join us as we commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award through the forum, "Science-to-Stewardship-to-Sovereignty: A Decade of Marine Scientific Research in the West Philippine Sea."
Witness how science is shaping environmental stewardship and reinforcing the Philippines' commitment to protecting our marine biodiversity for present and future generations.

28/07/2026

𝟭𝟴𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗔𝗦 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲

PEMSEA Country Partners reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen regional cooperation and advance the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) Implementation Plan 2023–2030.

The Intergovernmental Session provided strategic guidance on priorities, sustainability planning, and resource mobilization to position PEMSEA as a regional solutions platform. Country Partners also approved the PRF Work Plan and Budget for 2026–2027, ensuring continued alignment with national agencies and capacity building.

🤝 With active participation from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam, the Council set the course for stronger collaboration toward 2030.

👉 Read the full post from our partner to learn more about the strategic directions and commitments made.

18TH EAS PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL CONCLUDES IN SINGAPORE, INTERGOVERNMENTAL SESSION GEARS FOR STRATEGIC DIRECTION TO 2030

The 18th East Asian Seas (EAS) Partnership Council concluded in Singapore on 23 July 2026, with the Intergovernmental Session emphasizing the commitment of PEMSEA Country Partners to strengthen regional cooperation and advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) Implementation Plan 2023–2030.

Led by Intergovernmental Session Chair Mr. Le Dai Thang and Co-Chair Dr. Yu Xinwei, the Session provided policy guidance on PEMSEA's strategic, institutional, and financial priorities while reviewing work programs, budget allocations, and the implementation of the SDS-SEA.

The session deliberated on PEMSEA’s Sustainability Plan, which outlines the long-term financial and institutional sustainability of the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) to support the effective implementation of the SDS-SEA Implementation Plan 2023–2030. The Session also discussed the Business Development and Resource Mobilization Plan 2026–2030, which aims to enhance PEMSEA’s position as a regional solutions platform and investment enabler through diversified financing, strengthened technical services, project preparation support, and blue finance facilitation.

The Partnership Council reviewed the Organizational Capacity Assessment and Capacity Building Plan to strengthen alignment with national agencies and support staff development. The Council also approved the PRF Work Plan and Budget for 2026–2027.

The 18th EAS Partnership Council Meeting brought together Country Partners from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam.

23/07/2026

BD Corridor ➡️ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿‑𝗟𝗚𝗨 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼

In Eastern Mindanao, the DENR-UNDP/GEF Biodiversity Corridor Project supports the creation of an Inter-LGU Alliance for managing the watersheds of Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental. This initiative advances Integrated Ecosystem Management (IEM)—anchored on shared landscapes, shared responsibility, shared benefits, and a shared future. 🤝🌱

👉 See the full post below.