Digos City, Davao del Sur | April 22, 2025 — To support smarter, more sustainable land use planning, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) under the leadership of Director Gina Parde-Nilo, Ph.D. and Assistant Director Denise A. Solano, through its Agricultural Land Management and Evaluation Division (ALMED) headed by its Chief Ms. Jovette T. Almeda, conducted the Technical Briefing on High Value Crops (HVC) Land Suitability Mapping and the Integration of Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZ) into Local Development Plans.  This was held at the Provincial Agriculture Office, Digos City, Davao del Sur.

The session brought together local planners and agricultural officers from various municipalities in Davao del Sur. The activity aims to equip them with tools and knowledge for better land use decisions.

During the Technical Briefing, the Staff from the ALMED covered key topics such as Land Suitability Evaluation, SAFDZ and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) integration into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), and updates aligned with the National Soil Health Program (NSHP).

Davao del Sur Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Engr. Marvin Reyes delivered the Welcome Remarks where he emphasized the significance of sustainable land management and the relevance of the activity to local development planning and agricultural productivity. He also highlighted the importance of planning for long-term land productivity.

The initiative reflects BSWM’s continued commitment to empower local stakeholders through science-based planning and sustainable agricultural development.

(Sherielyn L. Brion, ALMED)