DENR assesses foreshore delineation pilot in Capiz

In a key evaluation of its pilot program, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region VI conducted a midyear assessment of the Foreshore Area Delineation and Profiling (FDAP) initiative in the province of Capiz.

Held from Aug. 5 to 6, 2025, at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel, the activity aimed to review accomplishments, address operational challenges, and refine strategies for more effective implementation.

The FDAP program seeks to improve coastal resource management, streamline land use, and boost government revenue through comprehensive mapping and inventory of foreshore areas.

Since its rollout, DENR Region VI and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Capiz have conducted field activities to delineate foreshore zones in coastal municipalities.

The assessment highlighted both achievements and challenges, including logistical constraints, equipment limitations, inaccessible locations, and exposure to environmental risks.

Despite these hurdles, field teams introduced innovations such as the KoboCollect app, AlpineQuest, and a structure tagging system to enhance data accuracy and eliminate duplication during profiling.

A consolidated action plan was presented and approved during the assessment, identifying priority tasks and setting clear timelines to fast-track completion of remaining targets.

DENR Region VI Regional Executive Director Raul L. Lorilla commended the dedication of field personnel and emphasized the role of foreshore profiling in improving land administration and environmental governance.

“Capiz is a pilot province, and your work here will be rolled out in the other provinces,” Lorilla said.

“That’s why documenting our learnings and accomplishments is crucial.”

Joining him were Assistant Regional Director for Management Services June Melissa C. Garol and Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services Edgardo M. Rostata.

The activity also brought together staff from the DENR regional office, PENRO Capiz, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Mambusao, as well as hired geodetic engineers and enumerators.

PENRO Capiz Officer Ernest C. Federiso expressed his gratitude to all field staff, especially Contract of Service workers, for their continued commitment to the program’s success.

The FDAP initiative in Capiz involves mapping and profiling the foreshore—the stretch of land alternately submerged and exposed by tidal movement—to establish legal boundaries, assess current site conditions, and gather data to support coastal management and disaster resilience planning.

As the pilot site, Capiz will serve as a model for future implementation of the foreshore delineation program in other provinces and regions across the country.