QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project conducted a Writeshop to update the published Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) Instruments based on the results of the consultation and initial assessment made with the stakeholders after the first year of Project SPLIT implementation. 

DAR Bureau of Agrarian Legal Assistance (BALA) Director Atty. Marjorie P. Ayson said that it is high time for the ESS Instruments to be updated. The updating she said would include the actual risks and impacts that were encountered on the ground, validation of the effectiveness of the different management measures, and incorporation of the suggestions and recommendations made by the different stakeholders based on the engagements that were conducted.

“The updating of the ESS Instruments is also part of the commitment plan of the DAR to the World Bank, which has funded the SPLIT Project,” she said.

Ayson said the updated ESS Instruments would reflect the changes created during the project implementation. This move she said would make the proposed project activities more efficient, not only in compliance with the department’s commitment to the WB but more importantly to see how the project is going, ensure the relevant issues and concerns are immediately addressed, and identify new mitigation measures on environmental and social risks.

Other DAR officials who were in the event are Undersecretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office Virginia Orogo, Assistant Secretary and  SPLIT National Project Director Rene Colocar,  OIC-Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Office Engr. Joey Sumatra, OIC-Assistant Secretary for Finance, Management and Administration Office Aurita Ang, Management Information Systems Service Director Nestor Bayoneto and other SPLIT technical leaders and staff.

The Writeshop is being conducted on April 19-22, 2022 in Lucena City, Quezon province. (DAR)