Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1100
Tel. Nos.: (632) 929-6626 to 29; (632) 929-6252
929-6620; 929-6633 to 35

LETTER OF SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT

June 20, 2023

DR. RENATO SOLIDUM, JR.

DOST Secretary
4th Floor, DOST Main Building, DOST Complex
General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City

Thru: DR. LEAH J. BUENDIA

Undersecretary for Research and Development

Dear Secretary Solidum:

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has vowed

to continue leading the fight against climate change impacts and ensure that the
Philippines will fulfill its climate commitments. Part of these efforts is accelerating
climate actions and developing innovative works to address our commitments to the
National GHG (Greenhouse Gas) Inventory and the NDC (Nationally Determined
Contribution) National Implementation Plan.

We are grateful that the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and
Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) Governing
Council has approved the implementation of a project by our DENR’s research arm –
the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) on Real-time Carbon
Flux Monitoring in Mangrove, Natural, Plantation Forests in Mindanao, Philippines:
An Eddy Covariance Approach (PhilFlux).

During the deliberation with the Governing Council, one of their major
concerns is the security of the instruments and the flux tower (Please see attached
comments from the GC). The proponents addressed these concerns in the detailed
Sustainability Plan where the security and protection of the instruments are assured
(See in the Proposal the Methods 1b and Item 15). Another important document
required by the Governing Council is the sheer commitment of the DENR Central
Office for the continuity of the measurements beyond the project duration. In this
regard, the proponents are seeking your assistance to obtain a Letter of
Commitment from the DENR Secretary as this must be resolved at the top
management level. A draft Letter of Commitment is hereto attached.

The approval of this project is a positive response to our call for a collective
effort to combat climate change. We are committed to echoing this appeal to fortify
our pledge of a projected reduction and avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions of
75 percent covering the period 2020-2030 can be achieved.

Backgrounder

On May 15, 2023, ERDB Director Maria Lourdes Ferrer endorsed the
abovementioned proposal (PhilFlux) to DOST-PCAARRD. It was officially
deliberated by Director’s Council and Governing Council of DOST-PCAARRD last
May 16, 2023 and June 8, 2023, respectively. In which, Project Leader, Supervising
Science Research Specialist Rustum A. Aguilos of ERDB-Forest and Wetland
Research Development and Extension Center (FWRDEC) presented the said
proposal.

This project aims to quantify the ecosystem-level carbon fluxes (sequestration

and emission) from various forest ecosystems using the state-of-the-art Eddy
Covariance System - a gold standard in forest carbon fluxes measurements. Data
from this effort will serve as a reference point in carbon-related forest inventories
required by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other
worldwide carbon monitoring entities. It will also develop prediction models that
capture the major controls on forest ecosystem functions through in-depth monitoring
of the ecosystem-level carbon and hydrologic processes and extrapolate
biogeochemical consequences across the three forest ecosystems (mangrove,
plantation, and natural forests) in Mindanao. It has a 3-year duration with a
budgetary requirements of ₱13,971,916.80.

Fund Source

With expanded coverage, functions, and responsibilities, the Council DOST-

PCAARRD formulates policies, plans, and programs for S&T-based R&D in the
different sectors under its concern. It coordinates, evaluates, and monitors national
R&D efforts in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector. It also
allocates government and external funds for R&D and generates resources to
support its program.

It also supports the National Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources

Research and Development Network (NAARDN), of which DENR-ERDB is a
member.

The Project’s Outcome and Logical Framework

The project’s outcome will provide us with the information on the quantification
of our various forest ecosystem towards carbon storage exchange and dynamics
and a basis for enhanced forest management or action towards resilient and
sustainable forest ecosystem. Through this project, we would be able to evaluate the
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City 1100
Tel. Nos.: (632) 929-6626 to 29; (632) 929-6252
929-6620; 929-6633 to 35

response of forests to climate change in which appropriate forest management

interventions can be developed to promote ecosystem resiliency and improve
climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

We have attached the logical framework of the project to present the details of
the activities, outputs and outcome of the project.

Given the approval of this proposal, we, from the DENR are committed to
support this project for its continuity beyond its project duration of three (3) years
(2023-2026). We shall prioritize the appropriation of funds therein subject to the
Department’s fund availability in accordance with existing policies.

We look forward to our continued cooperation for sustainable forest

ecosystems.

Very truly yours,

MARIA ANTONIA YULO LOYZAGA

Secretary