ANTIQUE — The provincial government of Antique has partnered with the Haribon Foundation and Germany-based agency Engagement Global to empower Antiqueño women to take a more active role in environmental protection and sustainable resource management.
The collaboration was formalized following a courtesy visit by Arlie Jo Endonila, chief operating officer of the Haribon Foundation, and Jelena Jacobsen, senior advisor for the Foreign Projects Funding Division of Engagement Global, to Governor Paolo Javier on April 29.
The initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (OPENRO) through the project “Strengthening Women as Actors for the Protection and Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the Philippines” (SWAN-Philippines).
SWAN-Philippines adopts a community-based approach that seeks to empower women from Barangay Imparayan in Sibalom, as well as Barangays Lapak and Orquia in San Remigio, to take the lead in protecting the Sibalom-Tipuluan River Watershed.
Under the program, participating women will be trained and organized as community leaders tasked with promoting responsible management of water and natural resources.
Governor Javier expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing the vital role of women in safeguarding the environment.
“Environmental protection is the responsibility of everyone in the community. Through this program, we are placing women in leading roles in protecting and sustaining watershed areas, especially here in the municipality of Sibalom,” he said.
Engagement Global will provide funding support for the project, including the development of alternative livelihood opportunities for women that will help sustain the watershed while reducing activities that may contribute to environmental degradation.
Provincial officials said the partnership underscores Antique’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development by strengthening grassroots participation in environmental conservation./PN
