The Cordillera Highlands Agricultural Resource Management Phase 2 (CHARM-2) Project sponsored the Orientation for the Rewarding Upland Poor for the Environmental Services (RUPES) Concept last January 7-8, 2010 at the Pines View Hotel in Baguio City, Philippines.

The first day was devoted to series of talks to lay down the framework and the rationale of RUPES and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) while the second day focused on the initial planning for the second implementation phase of CHARM that cantered on the continuation of RUPES Project in Bakun, Benguet.
 
Mr. Cesar D. Rodriguez, Regional Director of Department of Agriculture - Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR), opened the first day with his welcome remarks citing the different programs of DA-CHARM in support of RUPES. Dr. Cameron Odsey, incumbent project manager for CHARM2, then gave the background of the initial CHARM and RUPES project from 1997-2004. Odsey reported that CHARM1 was funded by ADB and IFAD with aims of reducing poverty in three areas of the Cordillera Region: Abra, Benguet and Mountain Province. With its inception, CHARM1 increased the farmers’ incomes through assistance in basic agricultural infrastructure, support services, community planning, ancestral domain and land tilting and improved natural resource management. The World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF)'s RUPES program, which 'aims to build and test working models of best practices for successful environment transfer agreements adapted to the Asian context,' initiated CHARM1. With this, Bakun, Benguet was selected as the pilot area for the project.
 
Following the success of CHARM1, CHARM2, since the first quarter of 2009, is now an active participant in promoting the PES amidst the emerging steps being undertaken by the stakeholders in all the six areas of the Cordillera Administrative Region to which it recently expanded. Among the updates and concerns discussed include the Bakun Integrated Watershed Development and Management Plan (BIWDMP).
 
Dr. Florencia Pulhin of the Forestry Development Center in UPLB led the orientation with her presentation on the PES Concept and the Incentive Mechanisms, Climate Mitigation through Carbon Sequestration and Storage. Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) and Reduce Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Second to present was Dr. Edgardo Tongson of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) who discussed how changes in land use impact Watershed Hydrology and the implementations on the Watershed Conservation Project. Following him was Dr. Rowena Boquiren of the Conservation International (CI) Philippines with her topic on Biodiversity Conservation.  Fourth to give the presentation was from the Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies Inc. (REECS), represented by Ms. Rina Maria Rosales who talked about landscape and aesthetic beauty.

In the afternoon session of the first day, Pastor Delbert Rice of Kalahan Educational Foundation (KEF) shared relevant experiences, challenges and activities in the development of Ecological Park at Imugan, Santa Fe, Nueva Vizcaya. The Bakun Indigenous Tribal Organization (BITO), represented by Mr. Amos Beta-a, shared their experiences in working out the RUPES. Bringing up the rear was Dr. Emma Abasolo of ICRAF who talked about the RUPES concept which covered the ES compensation and incentives, quality controls for PES and the RUPES research sites.
 
Ninety three representatives from the BITO, KEF, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Regional Development Council-CAR, Local Government Units (LGUs), Government Agencies, Non-Government Organizations, People Organizations, and academe attended the Orientation.
 
Initial planning on the continuation of RUPES Project in Bakun, Benguet was facilitated by Mr. Balag-ey A. Claver on the second day. Twenty one participants from the Bakun (LGUs), BITO, and staff of DA-CHARM 2 comprised the planning group. Benefits were identified, stating that the project in Bakun is still strong and existing. Some concerns in the implementation of RUPES in the project site were also raised. In this regard, a follow-up Planning and Workshop was scheduled on 21-23 January, 2010 at Ampusongan, Bakun, Benguet to further discuss these issues and concerns, as well as to detail the enhancement of the implementation plans in Bakun.