The Development Academy of the Philippines’ Center for Governance conducted the course on policy development for the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, last August 1-3 at the Hive Hotel in Quezon City.

The course, which aims to deepen the understanding of DENR-BMB on the basic concepts and steps in developing a sound policy and conducting an effective impact evaluation of the bureau’s projects and programs, is the first of two courses that the CFG will deliver for the bureau in August. A total of 28 officers and staffers from the different divisions of the BMB was in attendance in this first course.

BMB Officer in Charge and Assistant Director Armida P. Andres thanked the DAP for designing and delivering the course. She expressed the hope that the BMB will be able to step up to the challenge of formulating policies to protect biodiversity in the Philippines. She also pointed out that the mention of biodiversity in the recent State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte has made the role of the BMB more significant to national development. 

Resource persons of the course included Professor Jalton G. Taguibao of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Dr. Alan S. Cajes of the DAP Graduate School, DENR Regional Director Atty. Maria Paz Luna, and Director Gilbert E. Lumantao of the DAP-CFG Policy Research Office.

At the end of the three-day training, the participants produced draft policy papers addressing identified challenges faced by the BMB’s different divisions after being given guidance on how they can improve and make their policy papers more effective.

Meanwhile, the second course on monitoring and evaluation will be conducted on August 29-31, 2018 and will train 30 participants from the BMB.