The Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently conducting the Cluster I of the Pilot Testing of the Developed REDD+ Safeguards Information System (SIS) in Bicol Region from June 02-05, 2025 at Proxy by the Oriental, Legazpi City, Albay.
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and the Role of Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks (REDD+) is one of the strategies being implemented to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses from deforestation and forest degradation. During the COP 19 in November 2013, the body adopted the Warsaw Framework for REDD+ (WFR) which provides for the decisions regarding technical assessment of submissions of the different REDD+ components under the WFR.
To be able to access Results-Based Payment (RBP) under REDD+, four components should be in place – National Strategy/Action Plan, Forest Reference Emission Level (FRL/FREL), Safeguards Information System (SIS), and National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS).
REDD+ Safeguards are social and environmental standards that ensure that there are no severe negative impacts on local communities or indigenous peoples (LCs/IPs) while undertaking REDD+ activities. Hence, Developing country Parties implementing REDD+ activities should periodically provide a summary of information on how the safeguards are being addressed and respected.
Last 2024, the Forest Management Bureau engaged a third-party service provider to develop the REDD+ SIS based on the prototype made by the Ateneo School of Governance. Said system will be later adopted through a DENR Administrative Order, recognizing SIS as a tool or database as to how the UNFCCC REDD+ safeguards are being addressed and respected in the context of the implementation of the proposed REDD+ activities.
Prior to its official launching, the Forest Management Bureau, through the Environmental Forestry Section of the Forest Resources Conservation Division will pilot-test and assess the developed Safeguards Information System, and request feedback from the target users (DENR Regional and Field Offices). Said pilot-testing will be conducted in three clusters. The main objective of this undertaking is to pilot-test the Safeguards Information System developed by the service provider in the REDD+ sites across the Philippines. Further, the pilot-testing activity aims to:
- Gauge the accessibility and functionality of the REDD+ SIS by testing, executing, and verifying the test scripts, test cases, identify, fix, and do end-to-end testing;
- Solicit inputs/ recommendations, such as issues and challenges encountered, for the enhancement of the SIS before its roll-out; and
- Capacitate the selected Regional Offices, including PENROs and CENROs on the use of the SIS.
Representatives from the DENR Regional V (from Conservation and Development Division and Planning and Management Division) and PENROs (Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon) are joining the workshop.
