DENR VI, AFoCO JOINED FORCES TO BOOST ILOILO’S ‘GREEN GOLD’ Inbox

Iloilo City- At the heart of the “Bamboo Capital of the Panay,” a sustainable and eco-friendly transformation is taking shape through a powerful international collaboration.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in partnership with the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO), is leading a regional initiative designed to revolutionize the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. By focusing on the sustainable development of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) within Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) areas, the project aims to transition local residents from a traditional “gather and sell” mindset towards other bamboo handicraft.

The focus of this initiative is the Katilingban sang Pumuluyo nga Naga-atipan sa Watershed sang Maasin (KAPAWA), a federation of People’s Organizations in the Municipality of Maasin, Iloilo. Under the AFoCO project titled “Improved Local Community Livelihoods through Increased Income from Non-Timber Forest Products,” KAPAWA members are receiving specialized trainings, enterprise developments, and workshops necessary to upscale them in selling bamboo crafts and products. This shift allows the community to move beyond basic harvesting into the creation of durable, high-quality bamboo crafts.

Choosing bamboo for the AFoCO project was based on the plant’s unique biological properties, its environmental role in the Maasin Watershed, and its immense economic potential. Unlike traditional hardwood trees that take 20 to 50 years to mature, bamboo reaches its full height in just one growing season and achieves optimal structural strength for use in only 3 to 5 years.

In ensuring the long-term success of these efforts, a monitoring and evaluation was conducted from January 6 to 8, 2026. The three-day visit served to verify that the project’s implementation remains aligned with its established timeframe and objectives. The delegation included representatives from the AFoCO Secretariat in South Korea and Vietnam, the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS), and the NTFP-Exchange Program (EP) Philippines.

DENR VI Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla welcomed the delegation together with ARD for Technical Services Edgardo M. Rostata, Province of Iloilo PENR Officer Salvador C. Manglinong, Jr., Guimbal CENR Officer Armin D. Halili, and staffs from Regional Office, PENRO Iloilo, and CENRO Guimbal.

RED Lorilla also extend his commitment in supporting the AfoCO project and any other project that can support the livelihood of the community without destroying the forest canopy.

“The AFoCO project in Maasin proves that we do not have to choose between protecting our forests and providing for the community, because we can do both. By empowering KAPAWA to process Non-Timber Forest Products, we are reducing the pressure on our natural timber while giving the community livelihood and ensuring the health and sustainability of the Maasin Watershed,” said DENR VI Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla.

“When the community thrives through sustainable means, the forest thrives with them,” he ended.

ARD Rostata in his message commended the project stating that, “this project follows the three pillars of sustainable development – economic, environment, and social sustainability. This project does not only affect the lives of the people during project lifespan but it will sustain their future.”

On the final day of the visit, the committee reviewed the financial utilization, addressed logistical challenges, and established a strategic roadmap for the project’s next phase. /DENR 6