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Knowledge Products on Legal Empowerment by Balaod Mindanao and FPE, Available

As part of the FPE-supported project “Protecting the Watershed Forest Reserves Through Legal Empowerment”, the Balay Alternative Legal Advocates for Development in Mindanaw, Inc. (BALAOD Mindanaw) produced a documentation of the said project and a “Community-based Paralegal Formation Process and Training Toolkit.”

The documentation booklet entitled, “Legal Strategy Framework in Combating Threats to Biodiversity” described how to further bolster the campaign against mining in Surigao del Sur where lies Mt. Hilong-hilong – an important key biodiversity area. Creation of a community-based group to act as “forest guards”, formulation of a comprehensive environmental protection and land-use plan for Mt. Hilong-hilong, and strengthening the traditional governance of the Manobo and Mamanwa communities were recommended to sustain conservation efforts in the area.

On the other hand, “The training tool kit is produced based on the organization’s years of experience in doing community formation and legal empowerment”, according to BALAOD Mindanaw. The process and content of the toolkit are drawn from their work experience and commitment in “advancing the legal and justice issues of the marginalized sectors and communities in Mindanao through alternative lawyering, paralegalism, and active non-violence.”

The 201 pages tool kit contains three modules, namely: 1. Defining the framework and concept of environmental protection and other access to justice issues, 2. Laws and other issuances related to environmental development and protection, and 3. Enhancement and development skills of paralegals and environmental advocates for watershed protection.

For more information about these knowledge products, please contact: Atty. Normita V. Batula, Executive Director of BALAOD Mindanaw at balaodmindanaw@gmail.com or tel nos. (63) 8822-727432.