The key stakeholders are the communities where the target MSMEs evolve. Institutional strengthening especially of the Barangay LGUs as well as the Municipality and Provincial LGUs will be important ingredient to achieve an expected degree of success. Capacity needs assessments of various stakeholders therefore will be undertaken. In order to address the specific capacity building needs of each group of stakeholders identified as a result of the capacity assessment, the foregoing items are proposed activities. The main focus will be networking for best practices sharing and to capture local experience on the impact of trade and other trans-boundary activities.

The capacity building process in the proceeding project phases primarily on NRM is still wanting and inadequate,particularly in the municipality of Labo. While PFEC succeeded in capacitating the municipality to develop itsForest Land Use Plan, effectual operationalization of the plan will be another major task that need to be addressed. While the Labo experiences provided admirable results and impact, thus far, only three to four barangays of the municipality started implementing the FLUP. Other barangays with extensive forest resources need to be reach out. The target beneficiaries for this strategy will be the communities, LGUs in the barangay, municipal and provincial levels, and other stakeholders (agencies and institutions and groups directly involved in project implementation and development.

• Infrastructure and Business Operation Support

This strategy is very vital in the development of any enterprise. It calls for effective and efficient networking with partners to achieve desirable results. The local government units, for instance, is mandated to provide the necessary infrastructure support to the communities in terms of farm-to-market roads, buildings and other infrastructures to support and develop existing and emerging enterprises that may help propel local economy, including initial investment capital for starting enterprises, and more importantly, providing special business privileges (eg., Tax exemptions and/or privileges) and conducive policy environment to support enterprises. The Sanguniang Barangay, Sanguniang Bayan and Sanguniang Panlalawigan (Barangay, Municipal and Provincial Boards) are primemovers of the above potential supports to communities. 

Engaging community and local partners to national policy making processes is seen to be the effective strategy for policy and budget advocacies. By filling up the gaps on information and communication flow between and among the national and field levels, the local implementers are able to elevate their agenda and concerns. The established representation of PFEC to different policy making bodies such as the National CBFM Steering Committee and Philippine Development Forum has to be enhanced. On the same manner, the networks and working group mechanisms established in the regional/local levels will also be strengthened.

The support and collaborations with networks and partners is seen as a big factor to PFEC successes and gains in the past years. Among these networks include the NGO CBFM consortium, Alyansa Tigil Mina, Civil Society Counterpart Council for Sustainable Development and Alternative Budget Initiatives. The partnerships with these networks will be sustained and strengthened.

 

There is also a need to expand levels of engagements to other networks and groups that may complement the existing advocacy of PFEC such as those that are in involve in biodiversityconservation, climate change and sustainable social enterprises.

 

The Environmental Congresses that PFEC regularly conduct will serve as a venue for coming together, sharing and updating of partners' activities and advocacies on environment.

• Development Support Communication

The continuous education of partners as well as the staff on environment and natural resources management in an important strategy to meet the over-all goal of this program. Knowledge management such as documentation of IEC materials and engaging with media are among the activities that falls in this strategy.