Implications of Community Involvement in DENR Plans and Strategic Directions
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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is essential to managing natural resources, protecting biodiversity, and tackling environmental issues in the face of population expansion, urbanization, and climate change. This study utilized the descriptive-correlational method of research to determine the status and potential variance of community participation in the development planning agenda of DENR. The statistical data of this study, elucidates the multifaceted dynamics of participatory governance within the Philippine environmental management landscape, bridging theoretical underpinnings with empirical realities to inform policy evolution. The findings confirm that community involvement, defined as active participation in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation (PIME), is not merely supplementary but essential to the strategic effectiveness of the DENR. Hence, through capacity-building modules, gender-disaggregated metrics, and results-based monitoring in line with national climate goals such as the Nationally Determined Contributions Implementation Plan, the proposed Community Involvement Framework (CIF) addresses these research gaps and provides a workable roadmap for integrating essentials into DENR strategic updates. This could be realized by combining environmental protection, natural resource management, and climate action pillars. This all-encompassing approach breaks down sectoral silos and promotes green jobs, nature-based solutions, and behavioral change advocacy through collaborations with NGOs and youth organizations.
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