Kidapawan city, Cotabato – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region XII and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Magpet have formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the formulation and crafting of the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP). The ceremonial signing was held on October 6, 2025, at Parklay Suites, Kidapawan City, attended by RED Atty. Felix S. Alicer, Magpet Mayor Jay Laurence S. Gonzaga, and 29 barangay captains and officials from forestland areas of the municipality.

The MOA aims to strengthen local governance, promote sustainable forest management, and integrate the FLUP into Magpet’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan. This ensures a balance between environmental protection and community development, allowing forest resources to support local livelihoods while maintaining ecological sustainability. The agreement will remain in effect until the FLUP is completed and fully incorporated into the CLUP.

The partnership is guided by key legal frameworks, including EO No. 192 (1987), RA 7160 (1991 Local Government Code), Joint DENR-DILG Memorandum Circulars, and EO 318 (2004), which provide a clear framework for collaborative forest management. This milestone demonstrates Magpet’s commitment to environmental stewardship and reinforces the vital role of DENR-LGU collaboration in sustainable land and forest management.