Highlights:

The meeting was presided by CDD Chief Danilo Lorilla. He reiterated about the relevance of these
activities to the what the office is currently doing. Ms. Evelyn Pajantoy discussed the agenda of the
meeting which are the following: biophysical assessment presentation, FIPA draft policy, and status of
finances. She also presented the accomplishments of FIPA activity in Region 6 since day 1 to present.

Mr. Apolinario Combal, who lead the assessment team, discussed about the identified structures
needed for the proposed investment areas. These includes the following: road construction (1.7km
stretch), viewing deck (located at the highest peak), swimming holes with the use of limestone (around
20-40meters), green fencing, green hills, trails, and other biodiversity appreciation. They also included
the idea of having All Terrain Vehicle (ATVs). These were identified to complement the religious
activities prominent in the area. However, the details for these identified structures need to be asserted
by experts who knows how to put the said area to its best optimized form. The team considered the
idea of engaging assisting professionals in this case. Basically, the AP will be a landscape architect who is
knowledgable in outdoor landscaping, its structural and architectural design intended for ecotourism.

Upon checking on the development of the Work and Financial Plan (WFP) of FIPA, only the assessment
phase has been accomplished. To recall, the FIPA project in region 6 started last July of this year, but
they have accomplished the anticipated longest phase of the project which includes biophysical and
socioeconomic assessment of the area. Therefore, there are still activities need to accomplished, yet so
limited time. With that, the group agreed that the existing WFP be requested for revision. This also
entails the revision of the Memorandum of Agreement, stipulating the amendment of duration of the
project.

With regards to the presentation of the draft FIPA policy, there were some comments on who should be
the people to be considered part of the FIPA Review Committee and the FIPA Technical Working Group
(TWG). There were also suggestion on the inclusion of the terms such as ecotourism products and
ecotourism services, especially now that they are the ‘in’ thing, aside from the fact that we deal with an
ecotourism investment.

The revisions and endorsment were target to accomplished until December of this year, including the
partial liquidation of the FIPA budget.