The Department of the Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) joined the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources – National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) for an alignment meeting on the implementation of the Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multi-stakeholder Engagement (Project TRANSFORM) on May 2, 2025, at the DENR-NCR Operations Center, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

The meeting focused on the key provisions of the DENR-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2024, issued on October 3, 2024, which outlines the guidelines for implementing Project TRANSFORM. DENR-NCR representatives also provided a brief update on the status of the project in the region, following initial coordination meetings with the Quezon City Government, City Government of Caloocan, and Municipal Government of Pateros. 

Launched in 2023, Project TRANSFORM serves as DENR’s holistic disaster and climate risk management program that utilizes science, technology, and traditional knowledge to enhance local governance efforts. Specifically, the project aims to strengthen the resilience efforts of local government units by ensuring the active engagement of various sectors in environment and natural resources governance.

Present at the meeting were DENR-NCR OIC Assistant Regional Director for Management Services Erlinda O. Daquigan, DBA; Planning and Management Division Assistant Chief Adrian Kirby E. Dacug; and Ecosystems Management Specialist II Atty. Lemuel L. Tolosa, Forester II Mark Gabriel B. de Guzman, Forester II Angie Lee Grace Joarqiue, Forester I Aira Marie Carlos, Forest Technician II Leonela Saavedra, Forest Extension Officer Ia Denise Collantes, and Admin Aide I Princess Angelic Carreon of the Conservation and Development Division.

Representing DILG-NCR were LGOO VI/Assistant Chief Maria Jasmin D. Diaz, LGOO III John Benedict J. Asuncion, and PEO III Tracey Jayne L. Molina of the Local Government Capability Development Division; LGOO III Mervin Angelo C. Tumada of the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division; LGOO VI Benjielyn F. Yu-Roxas of the DILG Quezon City Field Office; and LGOO V Abelardo A. Tality III of the DILG Caloocan Field Office.

Toward the end of the alignment meeting, potential areas for collaboration and points for further discussion were identified to ensure the effective implementation of the project in NCR. The DILG-NCR also expressed its commitment to supporting DENR-NCR in carrying out the project, in line with its broader efforts to advance climate and disaster resilience in the region.