A major external review of the project was undertaken in the Philippines from November 21 to 28, 2006. The review was conducted by Dr Michael Blyth, a private consultant from Canberra, and Dr Maripaz Perez, Under-Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology in Manila. The reviewers were accompanied throughout the review by the ACIAR Program Manager, Dr Ken Menz, from Canberra. 

 

The review team visited field sites in the Misamis Oriental and Bohol project areas, followed by a review workshop with project staff in Manila. In Misamis Oriental, the review team visited landcare sites in the municipalities of Claveria and Alujibid, as well as interacting with officials from Local Government Units (LGUs), the Landcare Foundation of the Philippines, the Claveria Land Care Association, Farmer Training Groups set up under the project and the Landcare Provincial Technical Working Group. In Bohol, the review team visited landcare sites in the municipalities of Alicia, Pilar and San Isidro, as well as interacting with officials from LGUs, the Bohol Environment and Management Office (BEMO), the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) and the Farmer Training Group. The review workshop in Manila involved the Landcare Coordinators Network and the Project Management Committee and consisted of three presentation and discussion sessions – one on progress at the other three sites of Bukidnon, South Cotabato and Agusan del Sur, one on research progress, and one on project management.

 

The review was a great learning experience for project staff involved and many useful and interesting discussions on the future of Landcare occurred during the field visits and review workshop. Recommendations from the review team are currently being considered by the project funders and the project team.