The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently bagged the Gold Anvil Award for its Project TRANSFORM (Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multistakeholder Engagement).
Project TRANSFORM is a multi-stakeholder engagement program that aims to reshape the landscape of environmental management and climate and disaster resilience in the Philippines.
“Through its evidence-based and whole-of-society approach, Project TRANSFORM engages Local Government Units (LGUs) and partners from the private sector and civil society in improving hazard response, promoting environmental sustainability, disaster resilience and development efforts in its partner LGUs,” said DENR Undersecretary Marilou G. Erni.
Project TRANSFORM was first launched in Ormoc City in 2023. In two years, it has already been launched in the provinces of Bataan, Rizal, Surigao del Norte and Lanao del Norte.
Sectoral partners have grown to 200, including national and local governments, academe, civil society, private sector, indigenous groups and the youth with 33 programs in various stages of implementation in four provinces and at least 30 municipalities all over the country.
Project TRANSFORM’s five original lead implementing partners were the National Resilience Council, Peace and Equity Foundation, Zuellig Family Foundation, First Philippine Holdings for Environment and the Philippine Business for Social Progress. The DENR has since increased its implementing partners to include Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC), Philippine Business for Environment Stewardship (PBEST), Ako ang Bukas, Kabuhayan sa Ganap na Kasarinlan Credit and Savings Cooperative (K-COOP) and Kasagana-ka Development Center Inc. (KDCI).
The other partners are Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA), Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP) and Pollution Control Association of the Philippines (PCAPI).
The launch of Project TRANSFORM in Bataan province has seen the LGU strengthen land-use transparency, mangrove restoration and the installation of air quality monitoring stations in various areas.
For Rizal Province, Project TRANSFORM has spurred the development and implementation of plans for sustainable water security, regenerative tourism, sustainable solid waste management, restoration and maintenance of waterways, nature trees preservation, greenhouse gas accounting and sustainable livelihood. DENR News