BALER, AURORA - November 3-6, 2025. Representatives from ten grantee organizations gathered in Baler for a four-day Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Training and Planning Workshop, reinforcing their capacity to implement projects that are socially responsible, inclusive, and environmentally sound. The activity brought together community organizations working across diverse landscapes to deepen their understanding of safeguards and improve the quality of their documentation and planning.

Participants came from DALUHAY, CMRPOI, SAKAILAP, SUBKALN, Buklurang Agtas ng Peninsula, SAKADA II, SABAKAC, DETA, and DETFAWAI, all of whom took part in interactive sessions designed to strengthen their application of SES principles. The training emphasized practical approaches that grantees can use within their respective communities, particularly those facing environmental and climate-related challenges.

Organized by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) in partnership with the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), the workshop covered core SES components such as Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMP) and the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM). Resource speakers Dr. Leajim A. Villanueva (FPE), Dr. RB J. Gallego (ASCOT), and Mr. Alex C. Acuña (FPE) facilitated eight sessions tackling risk identification, project categorization, stakeholder engagement, mitigation planning, and the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process.

Hands-on exercises allowed participants to refine their SES Plans using tools specifically adapted to their project sites and partner communities. By the final day, grantees reported increased confidence in applying safeguards to both ongoing and upcoming initiatives, noting that the workshop strengthened their capacity to balance community development goals with the protection of local ecosystems.

The training supports broader efforts aligned with SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), reinforcing collaboration toward resilient, sustainable, and community-centered environmental action.

#SDG13 #Climate Action #SDG15 #LifeonLand #SDG17 #Partnershipsforthe Goals