March 7, 2024

Eighteen local government officials, city and municipal personnel, and CSOs (civil society organizations) representatives from Tabaco City and Municipality of Del Carmen visited the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail in Barangay Tomongtong E. B. Magalona Monday [March 4] as part of their 4-day Negros Study Tour on March 4 to 7.

Tabaco City belongs to the Province of Albay, while Del Carmen is a town on Siargao Island, Province of Surigao del Norte.

Welcoming them to the eco-trail were Vice Mayor Eric Matulac, who represented Mayor Marvin Malacon; Acting Municipal Budget Officer Debbie Ann Dioneo- Monte, and MENRO-designate Jojo Vargas.

Upon arrival, guests were welcomed with a dance number by the members of the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail Women's Association.

Accompanying the delegates were Galing Pook Foundation executive director Georgina Ann Hernandez Yang, member Rafael "Lito" Coscolluela, former governor of Negros Occidental; and program officer Ginno Briones.

Vargas made a video presentation on the Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail, highlighting its best practices on eco-tourism, community participation and involvement, and food security-related initiatives and their impact to the community.

Vargas underscored that it was during Coscolluela's time as governor when personnel of Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), environmentalists, members of the academe, and residents of the barangay started planting mangroves in this area of Tomongtong, and later, it was under the administration of Mayor Marvin Malacon in 2019 when it was established as Tomongtong Mangrove Eco-Trail.

After the presentation, Vargas and Matulac answered questions from the delegates, who in turn, also respectfully made suggestions on how to improve its operations, based on their own insights and experiences in their respective local government units (LGUs).

The study tour serves as a two-way learning experience between the participants and the host LGUs by fostering dialogues, sharing of best practices, and forging new partnerships for sustainable development.

The Negros Study Tour, which includes Bacolod City, Victorias City, E. B. Magalona, and Bago City in Negros Occidental; and Bayawan City and Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, was an activity of SPACES [Strengthening Participation and Accountability through CSOs (civil society organizations) and Engagement with Subnational and national government], supported by the Australian Government in partnership with Oxfam Pilipinas, AGREA Foundation, and ISEA (Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia).

The SPACES Project aims to promote collaboration between LGUs and CSOs in co-creating local food security and nutrition policy reforms and social accountability mechanisms.

The SPACES Study Tour aims to foster an interactive learning environment where LGUs and CSOs can exchange successful strategies, navigate challenges, and gain valuable insights in advancing collaborative food security and nutrition initiatives.

It also aims to showcase innovative governance models and citizens engagement practices within LGUs; and to explore diverse approaches used by LGUs, identifying actionable strategies adaptable to each locality's unique context.*

E. B. MAGALONA PIO