policy forum on the environment

[Year]

Kalikasan, Ngayon at Kinabukasan!Policy Forum on the Environment

Asian Institute of Management Conference Center Paseo de Roxas, Makati City

October 2, 2009

Kalikasan, Ngayon at Kinabukasan! Policy Forum on the Environment October 2, 2009 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................. 3 Forum Concept ................................................................................................................... 5 Forum Objectives ................................................................................................................ 5 Welcome Address ............................................................................................................... 6 Presentation of Best Practices ............................................................................................ 6 Albay’s Disaster Risk Reduction Program ....................................................................... 6 Community‐Based Eco‐Tourism Program in Guimaras .................................................. 9 Solid Waste Management in Los Baños, Laguna .......................................................... 11 Puerto Princesa’s Sustainable Environmental Development Program ........................ 12 Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Development and Protection Program ................... 14 Dauin’s Coastal Resource Management Program ........................................................ 15 Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance ............................................................. 17

Policy Recommendations .................................................................................................. 18 Reaction ............................................................................................................................ 20 Open Forum Highlights ..................................................................................................... 22 Closing Address ................................................................................................................. 23 Forum Evaluation .............................................................................................................. 24

ANNEX 1. GP Solutions for the Environment ................................................................ 26 ANNEX 2. Forum Program ............................................................................................. 33 ANNEX 3. Forum Participants ...................................................................................... 34 ANNEX 4. Photo Gallery ................................................................................................ 36


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Executive Summary The Kalikasan, Ngayon at Kinabukasan! Policy Forum on the Environment is the last in a series of forums sponsored by Galing Pook together with its partners, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Land Bank of the Philippines, and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment. Seven outstanding local environment programs were presented to inspire and engage other local governments and organizations to pursue and support similar projects. These previous winners of Galing Pook are:

• Albay Disaster Risk Reduction Program • Community‐Based Eco‐Tourism Program in Guimaras • Solid Waste Management in Los Baños, Laguna • Puerto Princesa Sustainable Environmental Development Program • Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Development and Protection Program • Dauin’s Coastal Resource Management Program • Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance

In all these projects, it is evident that the project champions consistently demonstrated strong leadership and political will over the entire stages of the projects, from project design, planning, community organizing, capacity building, to implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. For the community based eco‐tourism enterprises such as those in Dauin, Misamis Occidental and Guimaras, it is also clear that environmental protection and income generation can go hand in hand. The programs in Albay and Allah Valley underscore the importance of mustering collaborative and constructive engagements within and across political boundaries, among all stakeholders to bring about positive change. The mayors of Puerto Princesa and Los Baños attest to the power of leadership by example, and sincere convictions. Other lessons from the LGU best practices include the need to establish the appropriate legal framework to ensure the sustainability of programs beyond the term of the current leader; to constructively engage development partners and the private sector to augment limited resources; and the adoption holistic strategies for best results. But the most important and common thread among these projects’ heartwarming success are the patient and determined efforts to implement true community‐based participatory approaches to gain the people’s support, win their hearts and minds, and enrich the quality of their lives. Prof. Neric Acosta, the principal author of landmark environmental laws in the Philippines – Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Solid Waste Management Act, Biodiversity Protection Act – emphasized that protecting the environment is synonymous to protecting “our economy and our homes.” The environment is especially important to sustain the poor since more than half of the country’s population is dependent on the


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ecosystems for its livelihood. He proposes specific policy recommendations that are aimed to achieve these objectives:

• Strengthen Climate Adaptation and Disaster Preparedness • Improve Marine Conservation • Enforce Forest Line Delineation • Enhance Solid Waste Management, Clean Air, Clean Water • Implement Urban Agriculture, Green Spaces, Rainwater Conservation

Prof. Acosta sums up the overall strategies to achieve the above recommendations, as the “Three E’s”, namely, education, engineering, and enforcement. In his reaction, Mr. Vic Ramos agrees with the recommendations of Prof. Acosta and he adds his own suggestions, including the decongesting of the National Capital Region; prioritizing marine conservation and developing new aquaculture technologies to increase fish production; adopting best practices of other countries, such as Chile’s strategies to achieve self‐sufficiency in wood supply, Costa Rica’s water user fees, and Germany’s urban rainwater collection; formulating and enforcing policy on watersheds, and watershed protection system; allowing environment agencies to retain locally‐generated funds; and ensuring that the poor dwellers are not arbitrarily displaced and are taken care of as we delineate forest lines.


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Forum Concept Despite the continuing controversies in the government, the economic intricacies that pose as barriers to economic growth, and the development challenges brought about by the environmental trend forecasted to last for generations, there are LGUs who keep making good, finding and creating opportunities with the available resources at their disposal. These are the LGUs that the Galing Pook Foundation searches for and recognizes annually. They provide wealth of practical insights, strategies and innovative solutions to address common concerns on the local economy, health of the people, environmental degradation and declining agricultural conditions largely wrought over time by unsustainable human practices. Galing Pook intends to make the examples from outstanding local governments get through to more LGUs and to every level of government in the country. The Kalikasan, Ngayon at Kinabukasan! Policy Forum on the Environment, one of the Foundation’s Forums on Strategic Policy Formulations from Best Local Governance Practices, is an initiative that brings together credible LGU executives and managers who succeeded in promoting an integrative, participatory and action oriented approaches to harness while protecting the natural environment with due consideration for the needs of the present and the future generations. These champions of good governance bring with them important lessons, as well as, policy proposals for the national leadership on important development themes most specifically on the protection and promotion of the environment.

Forum Objectives The Forum aims to: • Bring together credible LGU executives and managers who are champions of good

governance with their important lessons as well as policy proposals for the national leadership on environmental protection and promotion;

• Present and discuss LGU best practices in harnessing the environment through sustainable means, in ensuring its protection for the future generations, how these practices can be more broadly adopted by LGUs whenever appropriate, and promoted at the national level; and

• Explore and narrow down urgent policy recommendations from experts and local chief executives and managers in view of advancing environmental protection and promotion.


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Welcome Address

Rafael Coscolluela, Chairman of the Galing Pook Foundation, welcomed all Forum participants especially the local chief executives who will be presenting their experiences in implementing their Galing Pook awaded programs on the environment. He thanked the Galing Pook partners and sponsors, especially the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Land Bank of the Philippine, and Foundation for the Philippine Environment for their unwavering support to promote excellence in local governance.

Presentation of Best Practices Albay’s Disaster Risk Reduction Program

Governor Joey Salceda presented Albay’s Disaster Risk Reduction Program, which has been designed around its main objective of “zero casualty” during disasters and calamities, and has survived more than three governors, 300 typhoons and numerous Mount Mayon eruptions since the 1990’s. The DRRP is one of the provincial government’s major programs because of the risk and vulnerability profile of Albay. Of the 19 to 21 typhoons that occur in the Philippines, three to five major typhoons hit Albay. Annually, about 198,000 houses and 350,000 people are threatened by wind destructions. The intermittent threats from the eruption of Mayon Volcano affect three cities and five municipalities. Some 127 villages or 11,000 to 12,000 families are threatened by landslides. About 300,000 of the 1.2 million population are threatened by tsunamis. And eight municipalities and two cities are constantly threatened by floods. In addition, the poverty level of Albay, while it has been decreasing and is now the lowest in the Bicol region, remains high at 37.8% compared to the national average of 26.9%. When Gov. Salceda assumed office in 2007, Albay’s provincial goal was revised to“safe and shared development.” Shared development is operationally defined as compliance with the millennium development goals or MDGs, and improvement in the human development index or HDI. Safe development is defined as climate proofing and

GP Chair Coscolluela welcomes participants.


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disaster proofing of development. Accordingly, climate change and disaster risks are key obstacles to achieving the MDGs and increasing HDI. The strategic framework for the current DRRP is the “disaster proofing” of development, where disaster risk reduction must be a basic input to the development plan to increase capacity and reduce vulnerability or exposure. In Albay, the comprehensive land use plan (CLUP) or zoning policy is vital to the DRR framework, and reconstruction is pursued in the context of, and as feedback to, the development strategy where rebuilding means building better elsewhere. Thus in Albay, disaster risk reduction and climate action are built‐in elements of the central economic strategy, not a contingency plan. Their DRR program is guided by the Hyogo Framework for Action, and climate action is guided by the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The goal is “zero casualty” during disasters. Gov. Salceda believes in the following formula – “safe development + good governance = shared economic growth.” To implement the program, the Province allocates about 9% of its regular budget, and spends a substantial portion of its capital expenditures (5% of the total budget) for various climate adaptation projects. Its DRRP has five major components, namely, Risk Reduction, Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Response, Relief Operations, and Recovery. For the Risk Reduction component, one key resource is geostrategic intervention through the Guicadali Business Platform (GBP), which is both the flagship economic project and main DRR strategy of Albay. Funding for the GBP is sourced from the national government, long‐term loans from JICA and the Land Bank of the Philippines, and NGOs and INGOs. The GBP redirects the centers of business and residential activities away from the current centers and towards safer areas. It involves relocating more than 10,000 households, and building a new international airport, new road networks, and a new government center. Risk Reduction is also pursued through engineering interventions and risk mapping activities. The Bicol River Basin and Watershed Project is being implemented to control floods and protect watersheds at a cost of P3.4 billion with World Bank and national government assistance. Risk mapping and comprehensive land use planning involves the use of GIS technologies to map people, resources and risks in coordination with the different agencies of government including PHIVOLCS, PAGASA, Mines and Geo‐Sciences Bureau, Department of Agriculture, the Manila Observatory, and the UNDF‐MDGCF. Other important strategies to reduce risks also include mangrove plantation with the

Gov. Salceda shares Albay’s DRR program.


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DENR, and population management by providing access to family planning options and commodities with the DOH. The Disaster Preparedness component involves integrating soil analysis in the CLUP, implementing a community‐based warning system in close coordination with warning agencies like PAGASA and PHIVOLCS, continuous training and education of communities and LGU personnel. All village officials are furnished with mobile phone SIM packs from SMART, which allows them to send and receive messages to and from the Province at the expense of SMART. These SIM cards are used to implement the institutional flood, mudflow, and landslide warning systems that have predefined warning levels, criteria, and required actions. In terms of Disaster Response, with its municipalities, Albay exercises pre‐emptive evacuation to achieve its zero casualty goal. Based on the gravity and proximity of risk, they evacuate on Signal 1 or 2 instead of Signal 3, and evacuees are immediately given five kilos of rice per family per day. The evacuation protocols are now well established as proven during Typhoon Mina and Typhoon Frank. To ensure smooth implementation, Gov. Salceda emphasized that the Calamity Fund balance need to be sufficient for at least three major pre‐emptive evacuations. The LGUs provide funds for mobilization / transportation from households/villages to evacuation centers, while the Province provide funds for maintenance of evacuation centers and needs of evacuees, and some support from the DWSD. The provision of pre‐emptive health care through universal PhilHealth membership, and the conduct of regular medical missions in high risk areas prior to the onset of the rainy season are also part of Albay’s Disaster Response. The Province also spearheaded the construction of safe evacuation centers, which also serves as municipal activity centers or schools in ordinary times. These are in addition to the regular schools, which have been structurally retro‐fitted and provided with more water‐sanitation facilities. To ensure adequate medical response during calamities, the Albay Health Emergency Management System (AHEMS) has been set up. AHEMS involved the training of 457 emergency paramedics nominated by LGUs, parishes, universities and even commercial centers, and creation of the Emergency Paramedic Training Unit or EPTU at Bicol University with the support of the DOH, Bicol University, CHR and Oxfam. The upgrading of health facilities, including enhancing medical capabilities is also a priority, with funds made available from the provincial government’s health allocation equivalent to 24% of its budget. Gov. Salceda admitted that because of his closeness to Pres. Gloria Macapagal‐Arroyo, he is able to access funds that are otherwise not available to other LGUs. However, he submits that without good governance and enlightened leadership, this special access will not amount to anything in the long term.


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Community‐Based Eco‐Tourism Program in Guimaras Guimaras is a fourth class island province located southeast of Panay Island and northwest of Negros Island in Western Visayas (Region 6). It has a land area of 604 square kilometers, and consists of five municipalities and 98 barangays. As of 2007, it had a population of more than 151,000, with almost 27,500 households. Guimaras is predominantly dependent on farming, fishing, tourism, and foreign and local employment. In 2007, the province reported a total revenue of P245 million. The province is strategically located between the regional and sub‐regional centers of Western Visayas, and under the Regional Physical Framework Plan, Jordan the capital town of Guimaras is identified as a major urban center. Guimaras’ natural assets include unique agricultural areas and world‐ class products (Guimaras mangoes), rich fishing grounds, pristine beaches and coves, and idyllic rural environment. The island ecosystem consists of scenic coves, islets, bays and beach areas suitable for tourism development.

Guimaras is currently facing serious challenges to its physical environment. There is increasing pressure on the three coastal and marine ecosystems (mangrove, seagrass beds and coral reefs). There are land tenure issues since 94% of its total land area is privately‐owned, and only 6% is public lands. Unregulated agricultural activities in the upland are adversely affecting surface and groundwater, and cause soil erosion. And there are currently applications for large scale mining operations in areas covering almost 65% of the province’s total land area.

Thus, its main development challenge is to “identify and pursue the optimum development direction that can maximize the province’s potentials to achieve economic development without sacrificing environmental sustainability.” The Province aims to achieve this while considering the carrying capacity of the fragile island ecosystem, and at the same time ensuring the preservation of island culture and traditions. To come up with the appropriate development plan, with the assistance of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the UP‐SURP, Guimaras adopted a decentralized, integrated planning process that included vertical and horizontal planning and consultations. The three‐year planning process heavily involved multi‐stakeholder participation, and resulted in the formulation of the 30‐year Provincial Physical Framework Plan (PPFP) simultaneous with the Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs)

Gov. Nava of Guimaras cites the importance of participatory processes in community based tourism.


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of the five municipalities. The Guimaras Tourism Master Plan was also developed and integrated into the PPFP. The consensus‐built provincial vision ties all of the plans, which is for Guimaras to become the “agri‐tourism capital of the region with empowered, self‐reliant and healthy families in a progressive economy anchored on the principles of sustainable development.”

Guimaras’ agri‐tourism strategy was adopted as the preferred spatial strategy and economic driver under the PPFP. It is aimed at maximizing the potentials of the province in agriculture and fisheries and creating tourism attractions out of these assets to achieve economic development while at the same time ensuring ecological balance. To implement the agri‐tourism strategy, the Community‐Based Rural Tourism (CBRT) approach was adopted. The CBRT process started in 1997 with the assistance of the CIDA and Canadian Urban Institute, and with the capacity building of the provincial and municipal governments for local economic development initiatives. To promote interest over the CBRT process, the Province implemented the Community‐Based Tourism Awareness and Appreciation Campaign (CBTAAC). In the planning stage, the CBRT involves the assessment of the community needs and readiness for tourism, formation of Barangay Tourism Councils, inventory/mapping of tourism assets, strategic action planning, formulation of vision‐mission‐goals, organizational development, and capability building. During the implementation stage, CBRT process activities include implementation of program/projects/activities identified in the action plan, destination development and marketing, sustaining CBRT gains, and sharing lessons learned. The Guisi Heritage Tourism Enterprise in Dolores, Nueva Valencia was the first project developed using the CBRT approach. It started in 2001, with the community undergoing a tedious process of advocacy and capability building to change people’s perceptions and mindsets, and proceeded according to the pace of the community. Although there were a lot of challenges, the project eventually became a viable CBRT enterprise. The impact of the project include: appreciation of culture and history through the documentation of community history from oral accounts and secondary sources; solid waste management, coastal clean‐up, tree planting and re‐greening and conservation of mangrove areas by the community members; additional income for 42 families from boating and tour guiding services to tourists. The tourism council that manages the enterprise is now registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, enabling it to legally operate as an economic enterprise. Through the Guisi model, it was proved that the CBRT approach can facilitate social transformation, provide additional income, and enhance the local culture. The Guisi project became the model for eight other replication sites in Guimaras. It is now a multi‐awarded project, and has been featured in several travel magazines and TV programs, and was showcased in a recent conference in Sabah, Malaysia. Other replication projects include the Sapal Weaving Village, Lawi Marine Turtle Rescue


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Station, Rizal Miniature Boat Making, and San Roque River and Island Hopping Eco‐Tour projects. Solid Waste Management in Los Baños, Laguna Los Baños is a town located 63 kilometers south of Manila and lies between the shores of Laguna de Bay and Mt. Makiling. It has a total land area of 5,650 hectares, 64% of which are public lands, with 42% being owned by the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), and 22% reserved for the military and other government organizations. Thus, only 36% of its lands are privately‐owned and taxable. When Mayor Caesar P. Perez took over in 2001, the town experienced perennial smog from burning waste, and 35 tons of mixed waste was generated daily. The major waste generators of Los Baños include a total of more than 21,000 households or a population of almost 100,000 from 14 barangays, two public markets, and more than 2,000 commercial establishments. At that time, there was no appropriate solid waste management program; the relevant ordinances, rules and regulations were not being enforced; limited resources; lack of community‐wide participation and discipline among the constituents; and lack of political will and competent leadership.

Mayor Perez made the development of a solid waste management program one of his priorities. There was an organized campaign to prepare and empower the citizens, which included meetings with stakeholders at the dumpsite, organization of the Los Baños Recyclers and Traders Association, and massive information, education, communication program. He spearheaded the implementation of waste segregation, and recycling of non‐biodegradable waste into usable form using appropriate locally developed equipment such as pressers and tin and plastic shredders. Later on the open dumpsite was transformed into an Eco‐Waste

Processing Center, where waste segregation, recycling, composting and other activities are conducted. Through strong political will, new policies were formulated and enforced with the appropriate penalties and incentive schemes. For example, one ordinance prohibits the use of plastic packaging products for retail establishments. Barangay leaders were

Mayor Perez of Los Baños discusses the role of citizens in solid waste management.


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enjoined to lead by example, and the community participated in the process to ensure transparency and accountability in all phases of implementation. The town imposed systematic solid waste segregation rules and collection schedules, regularly collects electronic wastes, forged memorandum of understanding with public schools to educate the youth, and conducted regular dialogues with stakeholders to ensure compliance. As a result, solid waste collection was reduced from 18‐20 to only 9‐11 truck loads daily. At present, Los Baños is experimenting in partnership with the academic community, the development of plastic‐degrading bacteria, and corrugated roofing material from plastic waste. Based on their experience, Mayor Perez recommends to the national government and other LGUs the adoption of the following measures:

• Formulate policy to define the responsibility of manufacturers towards environment protection

• Restrict the use of non‐biodegradable packaging materials and promote biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials to prevent waste accumulation

• Develop recovery scheme of plastic wastes from the different products • Require producers of non‐biodegradable packaging materials to assume some

environmental responsibility for their products • Strictly enforce Section 29 of the RA 9003, which provides that a list of non‐

environmentally acceptable products shall be made and prohibited according to a schedule, and find alternative environmentally acceptable products.

Mayor Perez said that citizens must be made to realize that the garbage problem is not the sole responsibility of government. They must do their share in proper waste management. He enjoins everyone to practice waste segregation, composting, re‐use and recycling. He said that no amount of high technology and financial resources can solve the garbage problem unless people become more disciplined and active participants in the process.

Puerto Princesa’s Sustainable Environmental Development Program

According to Mayor Edward Hagedorn, Puerto Princesa used to represent the “microcosm of the Philippines’ environmental drift.” Its forest cover went down from 75% in 1976 to less than 52% in 1992 due to rampant illegal logging, slash and burn farming, and kaingin or swidden farming. Its corals were ravaged by illegal fishing techniques like muro ami and dynamite fishing. After Mayor Hagedorn was elected in 1992, Puerto Princesa adopted its new vision “to be a Model in Sustainable Development.” Their guiding principles to achieve this vision are:


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• Protect what is left of our resources • Rehabilitate what has been destroyed • Plan for intelligent utilization

He decided to focus on the environment because he believed that the unprecedented calamities being experienced throughout the world threatens the existence of the city and its people. In fact, Puerto Princesa which was seldom visited by typhoons in the past, now often experiences destructive typhoons due to climate change. To ensure the success of his environment program, he resolved to lead by example and stopped his own illegal mining and logging operations.

The overall environment program was called Bantay Puerto or Puerto Princesa Watch. It involves the Bantay Gubat or Forest Watch, which aims to protect, conserve and rehabilitate the city’s forest resources, and the Bantay Dagat or Baywatch for the water‐based resources. A “Pista y ang Kagueban ” or feast of the forest has been institutionalized where massive reforestation and tree planting is undertaken. Since 1992, about two million trees have been planted. Similarly, the Love Affair with Nature held every February 14 is devoted to mangrove reforestation. All of these programs are implemented with heavy emphasis on community participation. The other environment‐related programs in Puerto Princesa include the Tricycle sa Kabuhayan at Ekolohiya (TRIKE) project, which is funded by the USAID and ADB and involves the retrofitting and LPG conversion of 2‐stroke engine motorcycles, and the provision of alternative livelihood for tricycle drivers and operators. They also embarked on a massive information and education campaign among the barangays. The town likewise adopted environment‐protection ordinances that are strictly enforced, resulting in the apprehension of more than 1,800 violators, 400 of whom received jail sentences. As a result of the environment program, the City’s forest cover increased from 52% in 1992 to the current 63%. At present, Puerto Princesa has already fielded several electric public utility vehicles to reduce air pollution, and their lampposts are powered by hybrid solar and wind turbines. They are also experimenting on developing solar‐powered boats for fishing and tourism.

Mayor Hagedorn shows how Puerto Princesa increased its forest cover from 52% to 63% in 17years.


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Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Development and Protection Program

Misamis Occidental is located in Region X in Northern Mindanao. It consists of three cities, 14 municipalities, and 490 barangays. It has a land area of about 2,000 square kilometers, 169 kilometers of coastline, and a population of almost half a million, which makes it relatively small and dense compared to other provinces. Of its total area, about 30% is rainforest, 20% consist of buffer zones, and 50% is developed into various uses. Before 2005, Misamis Occidental was the seventh poorest province in the Philippines. In addition to peace and order problems, it faced serious environment and poverty issues. At that time, dynamite and other forms of destructive fishing was prevalent, and most of the mangroves have been destroyed. Under the leadership of Governor Loreto Leo S. Ocampos, the province is now out of the list of the country’s 10 poorest provinces. Gov. Ocampos attributes Misamis Occidental’s rapid development partly to Galing Pook, because he replicated many of the Galing Pook award winning programs after he attended a GP conference in 2005. One of the strategies adopted by Gov. Ocampos is the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Development and Protection Program (MOADPP). It was developed to take advantage of the rich marine resources, and at the same time address the environment and poverty issues, of the province. The MOADPP is anchored on the principle that environment protection and income generation are not conflicting, but rather leads to program sustainability. It primarily involves the development and operation of the

Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park (MOAP), which consists of a restaurant; function hall; scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking services at Dolphin Island; MOAP wildlife sanctuary; MOAP hatchery to ensure self‐sufficiency in the supply of fingerling; bangus, hito, and tilapia fish ponds; and tourist transport services. The program is a product of a multi‐sector consultation process and active participation of the communities, especially with the organization of the Coastal Environment Program Association of Sinonoc

(CEPAS) patrol, and dispersal of fish fingerlings.

The MOAP was developed by a private investor in partnership with the Province, under a 70‐30 income sharing agreement. The 30% income share of the province, together with an initial grant from AusAID is sustaining the implementation of the MOADPP, with

Gov. Ocampos shares the success of the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park.


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5% going into a Common Fund, and the rest being invested on alternative livelihood projects for the beneficiaries, and for conservation and enforcement activities. The positive impacts of the MOADPP on the environment include the community‐based enforcement of fishery‐related laws; development of marine sanctuaries; preservation of mangroves; rehabilitation of marine resources; and regulated fishing. In addition to increasing family incomes, there are also improvements in the cultural, social, and political aspects. For example, the participatory process has galvanized communities to become more responsible, law‐abiding, and active in the affairs of government. People are not only more empowered, they also have better skills in entrepreneurship, decision making, and sustainable and environment‐friendly activities. Gov. Ocampos believes that the MOADPP is sustainable and replicable because it allows the use of indigenous materials, consistent with the Local Government Code and other national laws, and the systems and processes involved are simple and easy to adopt in other areas. Dauin’s Coastal Resource Management Program The municipality of Dauin, Negros Oriental is located 15 kilometers south of Dumaguete City. It has a total land area of more than 14,000 hectares, about 5,000 of which are timberland. Its population of almost 24,000 is spread over 23 barangays, including 9 coastal and one island barangays. Dauin is a fourth‐class municipality that is heavily dependent on IRA, which amounts to almost P41 million in 2009.

When Mayor Rodrigo Alanano assumed office in 2001, the municipal waters of Dauin were being used as the fishing ground of various large scale commercial fishermen using destructive methods (e.g. kub‐kob, likom, muro‐ami, and foreigners using superlights), and other types of illegal fishing activities (using compressor, day and night spear, scuba diving gears, cyanide, and tubli poisoning). As well, the coastal shoreline used to be the anchoring, docking and disposal site of solid wastes and garbage causing serious pollution and large scale damage to the coastal and marine environment. In fact, Dauin was considered one of the dirtiest towns in Negros Oriental by the Gawad ng Pangulo sa Kapaligiran Provincial Committee, and the poorest town in terms of local income and LGU classification status. At the start of his term in 2001, Mayor Alanano initiated the Coastal Resource Management Program (CRMP) in Dauin. The goal is “to improve the quality of life of communities that depend on coastal resources, while maintaining biological diversity and productivity of environmental ecosystems.” The municipality sought to improve the management of the coastal environment, enact and enforce related laws and ordinances consistent with the Local Government Code and Fisheries Code of the


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Philippines, and improve the incomes and food supply of coastal communities through the sustainable Marine Protected Area (MPA) concept.

From 2001 to 2005, a 5‐year CRM Plan was adopted by the Sanguniang Bayan as an organic Municipal CRM Ordinance, which is consistent with the local autonomy framework of managing municipal waters. With the CRM ordinance, all commercial and other illegal fishing activities are totally banned within the municipal waters of Dauin, some areas were declared as protected zones, and rehabilitation of marine resources followed. From an initial budget of only P50,000, combined with a thorough community participation process, the municipality now has nine

institutionalized, locally‐managed marine sanctuaries in Dauin. These nine MPA’s are now considered as the secondary diving spots of local and foreign divers next to Apo Island reef. Under the CRM ordinance, diver and user fees are imposed within the municipal waters, as well as stiff penalties for non‐compliance of both individuals and resort/dive operators. The user fees are shared by the municipal government (40%), fishermen association (40%), and the barangays (20%). As a result, the local income of the municipal government has increased from only P1.6 million in 2001 to almost P8 million from January to August 2009, and the income from CRM operations has now reached about P7.2 for the first eight months of 2009. The CRMP also brought about the significant increase in the fish catch of local fisherfolks, the influx of local and foreign tourists, and the number of beach resorts, dive shops, and other business establishments – which further increased local revenues, family incomes, and local employment opportunities. Dauin believes that the CRMP is now sustainable because of strong political will and good governance, appropriate legal framework in place, strong community ownership and participation, and integration of the program in the environmental programs of the public and private elementary and high schools in Dauin. In addition, Dauin emphasizes that the integrity of the CRMP is not compromised to increase revenues, or to give in to public pressures that may go against the spirit of its goal and objectives. Now the marine biodiversity of Dauin is well preserved and protected, while at the same time providing food security and livelihood opportunities to the coastal communities.

Mayor Alanano recounts the benefits of Dauin’s coastal resource management program.


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Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance

The Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA) is an alliance of two provinces, one city, 10 municipalities, five national government agencies, and an NGO network in Region 12. The primary function and goal of the Alliance is to protect and manage “the Allah Valley Landscape through interventions anchored on environmental, economic, social, cultural and organizational development and institution building through an integrated approach.” Its operation is funded by annual contributions from the member LGUs, and contributions from other stakeholders. The Allah Valley covers a total area of more than 252,000 hectares, about 102,000 of which has been declared as a protected area. Within the area are the Daguma and Roxas mountain ranges, 28,000 hectares of primary forests, 24,000 secondary forests, 77,000 degraded areas or grasslands, and 91,000 hectares of lowland and upland agricultural areas. It is traversed by five major rivers (Allah, Banga, Gao, Sapali and Sepaka), and contains four lakes (Sebu, Lahit, Holon, Seloton), as well as seven falls within Lake Sebu.

The Alliance was organized in 2003 in recognition of the adverse effects of upland degradation on the lowland areas. There were urgent concerns about flooding, siltation, and riverbank migration; unstable agriculture production; devastation of infrastructure facilities; unstable peace and order conditions; and the potential destruction of the Ligawasan Marsh and Pulangi River. The AVLDA focused on the management of the watershed area in the Valley as this integrates

upland and lowland processes, and provides a means of connecting both ecosystems. The

watershed was deemed the ideal place for strategic, problem‐based development planning and action. Various programs and strategies were adopted to manage the watersheds, such as capability and institution building; information and education campaign; use of remote sensing geographic information system (RS‐GIS) for mapping and land resource planning; community mapping at the barangay levels; riparian zone re‐vegetation; reforestation and upland development; and sub‐watershed adoption and co‐management. The LGU members with the cooperation of NGAs, NGOs, the communities, and the private sector complemented these at the local level with law enforcement support, river improvement civil works, ENR institution building, forest and water resource management, disaster risk reduction activities, eco‐tourism development, and solid waste management.

Mr. Abdula Bansuan says the AVLDA focuses on the protection of watersheds.


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The success of AVLDA after less than five years of implementation is attributed to the combination of political will, and the willingness to share and collaborate along common interests across political territories and diverse cultures. Some of the important lessons AVLDA can share with other LGUs are:

• Trans‐political territory environmental problems necessitate strategic and coordinated action

• Under the right framework, most LGUs are willing to take multiple responsibilities and roles, and can muster the necessary resources to build technical capacity

• Alliances in natural resource management are strategic mechanisms to resolve fragmentation in local governance, increase people’s participation and empowerment, enhance accountability and transparency, improve efficiency amidst limited resources, and strengthen corporate social responsibility.

Policy Recommendations Prof. Neric Acosta of the Asian Institute of Management cited the international findings that the Philippines is currently ranked the fourth most vulnerable in the world in terms of the environment, after Maldives, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Indonesia. Based on the simulated assumption of a 12‐meter rise in the sea level, most of the country’s urban centers – which are mostly located in coastal areas – will become submerged. Thus, if climate change is not mitigated, this scenario will have serious implications on the country’s economic and human development.

In addition, based on the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index, the Philippines ranks 125th in the world, placing it in the lowest quintile. Although the country rates relatively high in terms of biodiversity criteria, it got failing scores in governance‐related criteria. This is because despite the excellent initiatives of some LGUs, an overall environment sustainability agenda is still not driving the national economy. There is a need to significantly reduce our vulnerabilities, and improve social and institutional capability to manage the environment. Prof. Acosta emphasized that

good governance, community participation, gender mainstreaming, among others – are critical to sustaining the environment. Once neglected, there is no livelihood for majority of Filipinos who rely on fishing and farming, water and food supply are

Prof. Acosta presents environment policy recommendations for the next administration.


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endangered, and the people’s very existence will be at stake. The environment must, therefore, be at the forefront of the national development agenda. Based on scientific data, international experience and standards, and the current condition of the Philippines environment, Prof. Acosta submitted the following recommendations:

• Strengthen Climate Adaptation and Disaster Preparedness

Adaptation strategies should focus on strengthening natural and human systems, reducing harm, maximizing opportunity, and geo‐hazards mapping. Activities should move beyond rescue, relief and recovery to risk‐research/management, relocation, and rehabilitation/restoration of communities. The country should do this by providing basic infrastructural requirements, preparing contingency plans, ensuring food/water security, implementing permanent evacuation/relocation, and building adaptive and climate‐resilient, preemptive health‐sensitive shelters.

• Improve Marine Conservation

Despite having the world’s richest marine biodiversity, we now only have 5% of pristine coral reefs left. Inasmuch as 80% of Filipinos depend on fisheries for protein and over 60% of our communities are in coastal areas, we need to enforce a complete ban on dynamite fishing, cyanide use, overfishing. We need to implement aggressive ‘Bantay Dagat’ programs.

• Enforce Forest Line Delineation The Philippine Constitution mandates the delineation of forest lines, which should be the basis for defining protected areas, and land conversions from timberland to agricultural, and to commercial/residential areas. There is need to implement effective land use programs both at the national and local levels. Since half of the country’s population directly relies on agriculture for livelihood, watersheds that are vital to the agriculture industry must be protected. It is important that a viable forest‐arable land ratio be maintained by increasing primary‐growth cover and imposing a logging moratorium.

• Enhance Solid Waste Management, Clean Air, Clean Water

There is need to enforce the existing ‘troika’ of environmental policy, which are the laws on Clean Air, Clean Water and Ecological Solid Waste. As provided in these laws, compliance with airshed, watershed, and sanitary landfill requirements should be monitored and enforced. Citizens must be educated to


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save energy, to reduce‐reuse‐recycle‐rethink as far as resources are concerned. Government has to be compelled to clean‐up of water bodies, through legal action/citizens suits if necessary.

• Implement Urban Agriculture, Green Spaces, Rainwater Conservation

Some strategies include: water impounding through mini‐hydro dams especially in rural areas; use of peri‐urban spaces for organic agriculture, augmenting food supplies, reducing ‘food miles’; require green spaces or carbon sinks, for example by planting ‘ten trees per vehicle’ for carbon sequestration; implement aggressive tree‐planting of indigenous species.

Prof. Acosta reiterated that both ecology and economy originate from the Greek word “oikos,” which means “home.” He said this means that “protecting our environment is synonymous to protecting our economy, our home”. The environment spells the social security or “SSS” of the people, especially the poor since more than half of those in the informal sectors of the economy are dependent on the ecosystems. He cited as an example, “if there are no forests, there is no water; no water, we have no rice; no rice, no food; no food, no society to speak of.” To achieve the above recommendations, according to Prof. Acosta, it is important to have the “Three E’s”: Education through continued advocacy, and science‐based, data‐driven policy formulation; Engineering through the use of appropriate technology, innovative responses, renewable alternative sources of energy, and climate‐resilient design/architecture; and Enforcement of institutional mechanisms, policy/regulatory frameworks, effective implementation, and market‐based instruments. He concluded with the saying “we cannot love that which we do not understand, and we cannot protect that which we do not love.”

Reaction Mr. Victor O. Ramos, a Trustee of the Ramos Peace and Development Foundation and former DENR Secretary said he agrees with the recommendations of Prof. Acosta and hopes that the next national administration will adopt them, and enunciate and implement them in greater detail. He commended the LGUs with their exemplary practices, which share the common denominators of good governance and community participation. Further to the recommendations of Prof. Acosta, Mr. Ramos submitted the following:


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• As shown by Typhoon Ondoy, the National Capital Region need to be decongested, perhaps by constructing a bullet train system across Luzon to enable people to work in NCR but live outside. He suggests that to reduce carbon footprint and reduce motor vehicles along the main thoroughfares, there is a need to expand the metro/light rail transport systems.

• Marine conservation should be priority because the corals are being lost due to acidification and climate change, and it is necessary to develop new aquaculture technologies to increase fish production, to reduce the stress on the marine resources. Land use plan legislation must be pushed because Mr. Ramos believes that 50% of disasters can be avoided if correct land use plans are in place.

• Similar to what Chile is doing, the country need to become self‐sufficient in wood supply, by allocating enough lands for tree farms, and by giving incentives for tree farming.

• Require the payment of water user fees like in Costa Rica. • Formulate and enforce policy on watersheds, and watershed protection system

to protect the country’s watersheds. • Require rain collection/ harvest in urban area, especially for buildings, which can

be used for flushing toilets, like what is being done in Germany. • Correct conflicts in existing policy; for example between the NIPAS and Mining. • Allow agencies to retain locally‐generated funds instead of reverting these to the

general fund. This is to augment the paltry budgets of implementing agencies, which are expected to deliver big mandates.

• Retool the CENRO, and provide the right positions, facilities, and resources. • Provide LGUs with training and technical expertise, and give incentives to schools

to encourage them to improve capacity for environment education. • Ensure that the poor are taken care of as forest lines are delineated by providing

sustainable livelihood. • Require agencies (military, NAPOCOR, etc) who have been granted control over

large tracts of lands to regularly report how these lands are being used.

Mr. Ramos adds his detailed policy recommendations for the environment.


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Open Forum Highlights The easy re‐elections of the local environment champions led Mr. Ebinezer Florano of UP‐NCPAG to wonder if the environment is now a viable campaign agenda. Gov. Salceda believes it is not because there is “political asymmetry” due to the “inter‐generational transfer of burden” since the true beneficiaries of an environment program are too young to vote. In contrast, Mayors Hagedorn and Alanano made the environment their centerpiece agenda, and they believe this directly led to their re‐elections by wide margins. Gov. Ocampos shares that the “green vote” in his province is comprised of mostly young voters. In response to several inquiries, Gov. Salceda shares that the institutionalization of the DRR program through the passage of appropriate local ordinances will greatly help its sustainability beyond the incumbent’s term. He also affirmed that the participation of all the local leaders and the community is critical to the success of the program. He said it is difficult for the province to implement a DRR program unless there is broad consensus and participation since the province only acts as enabler, while all the direct responses and implementation need to be localized. He agrees with Ms. Oyen Dorotan, National Chair of Women’s Action for Development that it is important to motivate shifts in behavior or mindsets at the individual level, which they were able to achieve in Albay through a process of “banalization” or by making things so commonplace, so ordinary that they become easy to adopt. Gov. Salceda shares that to make project implementation easier, he develops constructive relations with all his constituents – including the military and insurgents, and makes them participate in the development process. Ms. Milan of the FPE cites their experience that most of the successful environment projects are community‐based, and asked how the LGU champions convinced their communities to change. Gov. Ocampos believes people will buy in if the objectives and benefits to them are clear. In the case of Mayor Hagedorn, he shares that it is important to lead by example, to engage the community throughout the process by including them and informing them every step of the way. In Guimaras, Gov. Nava says the focus is on the process to allow a cultural mind‐shift of the people, which can take a long time. In fact, while they started their community‐based program in 1996, they only began to see the positive results only after 5 years. And now all replication projects are demand‐driven, which means communities need to initiate the request for assistance. To sustain the diversity of the environment with eco‐tourism, the LGUs have different strategies. In Misamis Occidental, Gov. Ocampos says that they generally allow the environment to grow on its own by ensuring as little intervention as possible. Mayor Alanano said they have developed strict rules, like no touching, no feeding, and no catching in all their dive sites. In Guimaras, they have adopted a holistic approach to managing the island province. In the reforestation projects undertaken by the LGUs,


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they learned that the use of indigenous trees is important to sustain the natural biodiversity. In Guimaras, they also encourage the planting of cashew trees (instead of mangoes) in privately owned areas because these do not need pesticides and have more benefits to the soil. But in all the projects, the LGUs have defined income sharing schemes with the communities, providing incentives to ensure their continuous participation. In Dauin, in addition to a 40% income share, project beneficiaries also get priority in basic and other services such as free burial, free electricity/water connections, and livelihood projects. All the LGU champions assured Ms. Dorotan that gender development is incorporated into their projects. For one, gender mainstreaming is a required component in the foreign‐assisted projects. In Guimaras and Dauin, many of the community‐based projects are run by women. To improve sustainability of devolved environment functions, Mr. Reyes of the House of Representatives suggests a revision to the one‐fund policy to allow agencies to use locally‐generated funds for local operations instead of returning these to the national funds. On the other hand, Atty. Frank Lobrigo of Albay suggests that the calamity fund be tapped for reforestation. Ms. Gozun agrees that there is a need to have the special laws on the environment amended, to change the special set‐aside funds which are still subject to the budget process into “revolving funds” instead. She also confirms that calamity funds can now be used for reforestation after the Supreme Court affirmed Mayor Hagedorn’s challenge against the initial prohibition. Mr. Ramos adds that in the Philippines, the President has too much discretion over the budget, and suggests that prescribed set‐asides for priority programs be legislated.

Closing Address In his closing address, Mr. Edicio dela Torre, Chair of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment and President of the Education for Life Foundation said that humans may no longer be considered the superior species if they keep destroying the planet. He

Ms. Dorotan inquires how gender development is mainstreamed in the community‐based tourism and environment projects.


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enjoined the LGUs to “go and multiply,” to go back to the communities and keep replicating the best practices honored by Galing Pook. The FPE was established 17 years ago funded through a debt‐equity swap. Starting with a P750 million fund, it has already assisted projects valued at over P600 million. The FPE funds biodiversity conservation and sustainable development projects of civil society groups, and is not authorized to fund programs, projects and activities by government organizations. Given the breadth and length of their experience, FPE has realized that projects perform best in locations where the local governments are strong and supportive. Thus, Mr. dela Torre encourages LGUs to partner with NGO/POs to tap FPE funds for better synergy, and to develop other strategies to promote environment and climate change initiatives. He said the country cannot perpetually have islands of good governance, but needed instead the interplay of local and national bodies, as well as engage the global actors, in key issues. The LGU’s best practices show that it is possible to do exceptional things with limited resources. He agrees with Gov. Salceda’s belief that “if we make good sense the common sense, if we move from coercion to consent, and if we infect others with our courage, we will succeed.”

Forum Evaluation The participants were requested to fill out the evaluation forms included in the registration kits at the end of the forum. In the first part of the evaluation, participants were asked to rate specific criteria relating to pre‐forum materials, how the forum was delivered, and forum usefulness. The scores range from 1 to 5, with 1 as the lowest and 5 as the highest. The overall rating of the Forum is 4.41, based on a simple average of the sum of responses to all the criteria and the total number of responses. Average ratings for each of the different criteria range from 4.07 to 4.60. The lowest ratings of 4.07 were given for the information/materials received before and during the Forum, while the highest rating of 4.60 was given for the objective of the Forum, followed by the quality of presenters (4.59) and content (4.55). In the second part of the evaluation where respondents were asked to give their comments, at least 16 said they found the presentations of the LGU best practices most useful, and at least 7 enjoyed the open forum and suggested that more time should

Mr. dela Torre encourages LGUs and NGOs to work together.


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have been allotted for it. Suggested improvements in future events include better time management, i.e., allowing more time for presentations and open forum, limiting the number of speakers, and providing ready copies of the presentations. Some of the difficulties identified by some respondents that will prevent them from applying lessons learned in the forum include financial constraints, political will of local chief executives, competence of staff, the upcoming elections in 2010, and convincing people to participate in the programs.


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ANNEX 1. GP Solutions for the Environment 1. Protect the Environment while Promoting Livelihood through Sustainable

Agriculture

2. Integrate the Promotion of the Environment and Culture in Tourism Program

3. Bring in the Stakeholders and Pool Resources to Scale Up Positive Results through

Partnerships

4. Protect the Forest and Watershed while Rehabilitating the Degraded Upland

Ecosystem

5. Protect, Rehabilitate, Promote and Manage Sustainably the Marine Environment

6. Promote and Apply Ecological Solid Waste Management Everywhere and at All

Levels

7. Make Environmental Protection and Promotion Integral for Sustainable Area

Development

1. Protect the Environment while Promoting Livelihood through Sustainable Agriculture

Program Title/LGU/Year Awarded Description

Gulayan at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan Negros Oriental Galing Pook 2005 Contact: (035) 225‐9983 / 226‐1395

Oriental Negros’ Gulayan at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan Program diminished malnutrition among children and promoted environmental protection and self‐reliance through backyard farming.

Diversified Organic Farming System Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur Galing Pook 2005

Magsaysay, Davao del Sur instituted the Diversified Organic Farming System addressing the problems of high production costs, poor soil productivity, prevalence of pests and diseases, inadequate post‐harvest facilities, unstable market prices of farm products, and the lack or absence of alternative sources of income when the yield fails.

Barangay Self‐Sufficiency Program Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental Galing Pook 1998 Contact: (088) 586‐0326

Oroquieta's implementation of local development program, improving agriculture and promoting livelihood, brought about economic gains for both the barangay and the residents while addressing environmental concerns.

Upland Agricultural Development Program Masaysay, Davao Del Sur Galing Pook 1996

By using new agricultural technology, and giving out livelihood assistance, Magsaysay Upland Agricultural Development program eliminated unsustainable practices and helped an indigenous community increase agricultural productivity.


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Mass Production of Tricogramma Sustainable Food Security Program Davao Del Norte Province Galing Pook 1995 Contact: (084) 217‐3199/ 217‐3340

The use of new technology in combating corn borers in Davao Del Norte increased the farmers' income and saved both human and the environment from the effects of inorganic pesticides.

2. Integrate the Promotion of the Environment and Culture in Tourism Program


Coastal Resource Management Dauin, Negros Oriental Galing Pook 2005 Contact: (035) 425‐2073

The Coastal Resource Management program in Dauin encouraged sustainable fishing, developed revenue‐generating marine sanctuaries that attracted tourists and increased users' fees collection.

Coastal Resource Management Looc, Romblon Galing Pook 2000

The Coastal Resource Management of Looc, Romblon effectively eradicated illegal fishing, improved fish catch, increased environmental awareness, and provided alternative livelihood opportunities for the people in the locality.

Bohol Ecotourism Development Program Bohol Province Galing Pook 2004 Contact: (038) 411‐3300

Making ecotourism as a major development thrust by integrating tourism and environmental management through the Bohol Ecotourism Development Program proved to be effective in preserving and sustaining the environment and it brought about more livelihood opportunities for Bol‐anons.

Eco‐Walk Baguio City, CAR Galing Pook 1996 Contact: (074) 442‐3939 / 442‐7228

Baguio's Eco‐Walk Program rekindled the spirit of volunteerism and instilled environmental awareness across the different sectors resulting in ensured protection of the watershed and the creation of a man‐made forest.

Eco Park Dumaguete City, Negros Occidental Galing Pook 2000 Contact: (034) 729‐3050 / 312‐5113

An environmental management program that led to the creation of an ecological park provided an alternative means of livelihood and a source of pride to Dumaguete City’s poor residents.

3. Bring in the Stakeholders and Pool Resources to Scale Up Positive Results through

Partnerships


Inter‐LGU Partnerships for the Management of Banate Bay Province of Iloilo Galing Pook 1998 Contact: (033) 337‐4230 / 336‐3669

Collaboration between three neighboring municipalities in Iloilo paved the way to the implementation of uniform fishery ordinances to rehabilitate Banate Bay resulting in a more effective coastal resource management program.

Public‐Private Partnership in Guimaras Tourism Development Guimaras Province Galing Pook 2004 Contact: (033) 581‐3349

The provincial government’s private‐public partnership initiative focused on developing the tourism industry through cultural heritage preservation, environmental protection, and economic empowerment, generated more economic opportunities and income in Guimaras.


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Balik Ilahas Province of Negros Occidental Galing Pook 1998 Contact: (034) 434‐6422 / 433‐3252

Through strong political will, Negros Occidental mobilized the government agencies, volunteers, and indigenous tribe members to work together towards enforcing the environment laws thereby saving its forest and marine resources from illegal and destructive activities.

Illana Bay Regional Alliance IX Program Province of Zamboanga del Sur Galing Pook 2002 Contact: (062) 214‐2359 / 214‐1868

The creation of IBRA IX Council, an alliance of local government units in Zamboanga del Norte that provided clear mechanics and details of cooperation under the coastal resource management program, led to a dramatic increase in fish catch, decrease in operational cost thereby resulting to greater productivity and income.

Multi‐sectoral Alliance for the Allah Valley Landscape Planning and Management South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat Provinces Galing Pook 2008 Contact: (083) 228‐3754 / 228‐2620

Urgent concerns involving various LGUs where not only livelihood but lives are at stake need inter‐government and multi‐sector comprehensive and concerted actions. The duty holders and stakeholders in Allah Valley spanning two provinces get their acts together on a major environmental task.

4. Protect the Forest and Watershed while Rehabilitating the Degraded Upland Ecosystem


Waterworks System Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro Galing Pook 1999 Contact: (043) 442‐0182

Puerto Galera’s integrated municipality‐led water system and environmental management plan to maintain and rehabilitate the watershed area secured the availability of potable water thereby upkeeping livelihood, agriculture and commerce in the locality.

Punongkahoy sa Bawat Pumanaw San Carlos City, Negros Occidental Galing Pook 2000 Contact: (034) 729‐3050 / 312‐5113

Tree planting program solved San Carlos City’s problems on lack of affordable burial sites and the need to involve the community in the fight against environmental degradation.

Saving the Maasin Watershed Province of Iloilo Galing Pook 1995 Contact: (033) 337‐4230 / 336‐3669

Iloilo's environmental program developed awareness and participation among the residents as they collectively save Maasin Watershed.

Water Levy for Watershed Management San Carlos City, Negros Occidental Galing Pook 2000 Contact: (034) 729‐3050 / 312‐5113

A Watershed Development and Rehabilitation Project using an innovative financing scheme to rehabilitate the denuded watersheds in San Carlos City ensured a sustainable water supply for the community.

Hillyland Commission Cebu City Galing Pook 1994 Contact: (032) 253‐7558 / 243‐7729

By embarking on cooperative development, capacity building, technical assistance, and building of necessary infrastructure, Cebu City Hillyand Resource Management and Development Foundation was able to halt the threat of watershed loss and helped residents increase their income.

Provincial Environment Protection and Management Province of Zamboanga Galing Pook 1994

Environmental policies, diligence in policy implementation and close monitoring saved Zamboanga's forests from denudation due to illegal and unsustainable practices.


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Massive Tree Planting and Greenbelt Buy‐Back Program Quezon, Bukidnon Galing Pook 2000 Contact: (088)‐2545116 / 3551323

Massive reforestation and rehabilitation program resolved Quezon, Bukidnon’s rapid degradation of the uplands and provided alternative source of income for the tree planters.

TREE for Legacy Nueva Vizcaya Galing Pook 2002 Contact: (078) 321‐2758 / 805‐7955

Nueva Vizcaya’s “TREE for Legacy” program, a three‐pronged strategy focused on clear objectives and incentives, resulted to reforestation of 600 hectares of land and the active involvement of various sectors of the community.

Watershed Co‐management Program Nueva Vizcaya Galing Pook 1999 Contact: (078) 321‐2758 / 805‐7955

A community‐based program to address issues in security of tenure and food security encouraged strong participation in the government’s efforts to create a more focused and sustainable approach to watershed management in the province of Nueva Vizcaya.

PARAESUS Berde Lidlidda, Ilocos Sur Galing Pook 1999

The Green Paradise program geared towards the protection, conservation and development of forest resources in Lidlidda eliminated the practice of Kaingin, ensured potable spring water, established a communal irrigation system, and revived the Bayanihan spirit among the constituents.

5. Protect, Rehabilitate, Promote and Manage Sustainably the Marine Environment


Kontra Kalat sa Dagat Province of Bataan Galing Pook 2002 Contact: (047) 237‐3488 / 237‐2413

The efforts of community based organizations, in partnership with government and private institutions, to clean the coastal areas of Bataan led to an integrated and long term coastal resource management that brought back the source of livelihood of the fisherfolks and the community.

Marine Conservation of San Salvador Island Masinloc, Zambales Galing Pook 1996

By declaring part of the municipal waters as fish sanctuary, and by organizing its coastal communities to protect and conserve the sanctuary, Masinloc significantly decreased illegal fishing activities and increased fish supply benefiting the fisherfolks of Masinloc and other nearby provinces.

Coastal Resource Management Looc, Romblon Galing Pook 2000

The Coastal Resource Management of Looc, Romblon effectively eradicated illegal fishing, improved fish catch, increased environmental awareness, and provided alternative livelihood opportunities for the people in the locality.

Pansipit River Rehabilitation Program Province of Batangas Galing Pook 2003 Contact: (043) 980‐3178

The success of Pansipit River Rehabilitation Program provided an alternative source of livelihood for fisherfolks, improved tourism and the appreciation of the value of the river and the lake.

Inter‐LGU Partnership for the Management of Banate Bay Province of Iloilo Galing Pook 1998 Contact: (033) 337‐4230 / 336‐3669

Collaboration between three neighboring municipalities in Iloilo paved the way to the implementation of uniform fishery ordinances to rehabilitate Banate Bay resulting in a more effective coastal resource management program.


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Kalibo Saves the Mangroves Kalibo, Aklan Galing Pook 1995 Contact: (036‐2623241)

Organized by a local NGO, Aklan's coastal communities succeeded in saving the mangroves and in restoring the abundance of marine life in the area resulting in increased income for the fisherfolks.

Sagay Marine ReserveSagay City, Negros Oriental Galing Pook 1997 Contact: (034) 488‐0187 / 722‐5890

Sagay's implementation of community based marine resource management program minimized the illegal and destructive fishing practices leading to the restoration of its marine resources.

Bantay Dagat Kawayan, Biliran Galing Pook 1999

A systematic approach and a sustained drive on aquatic preservation and management eliminated illegal fishing and led to a remarkable decrease in the number of poor families and the preservation of coral reefs and sanctuaries in Kawayan, Biliran.

Coastal Zoning Calbayog City, Samar Galing Pook 2004

The Coastal Resource Management program in Calbayog City, Samar encouraged sustainable fishing, developed revenue‐generating marine sanctuaries that attracted tourists and increased users' fees collection.

Ecological Amelioration for Sustainable Development Palompon, Leyte Galing Pook 1997

Through strict enforcement of its fisheries ordinances and legislation, Palompon's fishermen shifted to sustainable fishing methods resulting in the restoration of their marine resources.

Bohol Coastal Law Enforcement Councils Province of Bohol Galing Pook 2003 Contact: (038) 411‐5669 / 501‐9800

The establishment of Coastal Law Enforcement Council, a multi‐sectoral and multi‐agency organization which served managers and implementers of Bohol’s coastal management program, made the fisher folks gain a sense of ownership of the province’s resources as well as trust and confidence in the political system.

Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Development and Protection Program Province of Misamis Occidental Galing Pook 2005 Contact: (088) 531‐1632 / 531‐1333

Misamis Occidental's Aquamarine Development and Protection Program converted the Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park into an eco‐tourism destination resulting in increased income and employment opportunities.

Calag‐itan Marine Sanctuary and Seaweeds Production Livelihood Project Calag‐itan, Hinunangan, Southern Leyte Galing Pook 2005 (Finalist)

The Calag‐itan Marine Sanctuary and Seaweeds Production Livelihood Project resulted to the creation of livelihood opportunities for the residents of Barangay Calag‐itan, Hinunangan, Southern Leyte as well as the protection of its marine resources.

Tuguegarao City Agricultural and Fishery Modernization Program Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Galing Pook 2005 Contact: (078) 844‐2894

Tuguegarao City's Agricultural and Fishery Modernization Program improved agricultural and marine productivity resulting to a dramatic increase in the farm family income. Better land management brought down land preparation costs and wastages while lake protection improved the fishing condition in the area.

Masbate Fishery Development Program Masbate Province Galing Pook 1997 Contact: (056) 333‐6937 / 333‐3012

Masbate's efforts to restore and protect its marine resources through strict enforcement of fisheries law, fishery resource conservation and protection, community organizing and capacity building led to increased use of sustainable fishing practices that improved the fishing condition.


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Bani Coastal Resource Management Program Bani, Pangasinan Galing Pook 2005 Contact: (075) 553‐2010 / 553‐2120

Bani’s Coastal Resource Management Program ensured the protection of its the coastline and provided residents with an alternative and sustainable source of livelihood that would not harm the environment.

6. Promote and Apply Ecological Solid Waste Management Everywhere and at All Levels


Eco Savers Program Marikina City, Metro Manila Galing Pook 2007 Contact: (02) 645‐5294 / 646‐2360

Marikina’s Eco‐Saver program that introduced a waste reduction program in school children instilled waste segregation and recycling practices at the household level and decreased the cost incurred in the disposal of local solid waste.

Rehabilitation of the Payatas Disposal Facility Quezon City, Metro Manila Galing Pook 2008 Contact: (02)924‐3592 / 921‐6750

The rehabilitation of the Payatas dumpsite, which has been a multidisciplinary and sectoral effort, remarkably improved the dumpsite’s operational efficiency, cut down operating costs and made the facility safer and more environment‐friendly.

Balik Inang Kalikasan, Balik Amang Pabrika Carmona, Cavite Galing Pook 2002 Contact: (046) 430‐0817 / 430‐1001

Carmona’s BIKBAP campaign, a massive drive to clean up the municipality of garbage and other solid wastes, increased the people’s awareness, concern for the environment, provided alternative livelihood and the establishment of the Carmona Ecology Center has become one of the center of “good practice” in solid waste management in the Philippines.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Program Los Baños, Laguna Galing Pook 2005 Contact: (049) 536‐0050 / 536‐7861

Turning a dumpsite into an Ecological Waste Processing Center to process recyclable materials led to a more efficient garbage collection and disposal system and brought back healthier environment in Los Baños, Laguna.

Pansipit River Rehabilitation Program Province of Batangas Galing Pook 2003 Contact: (043) 980‐3178 / 723‐1905

The success of Pansipit River Rehabilitation Program provided an alternative source of livelihood for fisherfolks, improved tourism and the appreciation of the value of the river and the lake.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Program Santa Barbara, Iloilo Galing Pook 2003 Contact: (033) 523‐8000 / 523‐6908

The implementation of a long term Ecological Solid Waste Management Program in Sta. Barbara resulted to garbage collection efficiency, increased community awareness and participation and provided alternative source of income for the constituents.

Basura Atras, Linamon Abante sa Kalamboan Linamon, Lanao del Norte Galing Pook 2002 Contact: (063) 227‐0221

The “Basura Atras, Linamon Abante sa Kalamboan” program on solid waste management of Linamon, Lanao del Norte, which was integrated into the other services of the municipal government and implemented with strong willpower, resulted to an improved garbage collection, enhanced dump site facilities, and extra income for the constituents.


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7. Make Environmental Protection and Promotion Integral for Sustainable Area Development


Sustainable Integrated Area Development: The New Corella Experience New Corella, Davao Del Norte Galing Pook 2004 (Finalist)

The innovative features of New Corella’s Sustainable Integrated Area Development addressed the problems of poverty, lack of livelihood and social services, environmental degradation and a host of community issues and problems in the municipality.

Pista ng Kalikasan Province of Palawan Galing Pook1999 Contact: (048) 433‐2777

Palawan’s year long movement intended to solidify the people’s commitment to the protection of the province’s terrestrial and marine resources translated to more green areas, abundance in fish catch, well‐irrigated farms, and heightened people’s consciousness on the sustainable development of the environment.

Bantay Puerto Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Galing Pook1994 Contact: (048) 433‐2028 / 433‐4094

Palawan leader's strong political will in implementing laws and regulations and effective coordination led to the decline in illegal fishing and logging activities and in the conservation of Palawan's marine and upland resources.

Inter‐Barangay Environment Development Irosin, Sorsogon Galing Pook 1998

Through the strong participation of the LGU in the municipal and barangay levels, the residents and non government organizations, Irosin successfully instilled ownership of ecological preservation to its residents

Harnessing Synergy in Integrated Population, Health and Environment Programming Concepcion, Iloilo Galing Pook 2005 Contact: (033) 392‐0309

Harnessing Synergy in Integrated Population, Health and Environment Programming, a three‐pronged program addressing population management problems through family planning, benefited the women, children, indigents, fisher folk and marginal farmers of Concepcion, Iloilo.

Malungtarong Lungsod: The Sustainable City San Carlos City, Negros Occidental Galing Pook 2008 Contact: (034) 729‐3050 / 312‐5113

Economic growth and ecological balance is integral to the city’s development initiatives ensuring the involvement of all sectors in the process. San Carlos City endeavors to transform rural communities into agro‐industrial areas that are economically viable, with people who are socially responsible and mindful of the environment.

Bais City Environment Management Program: A Showcase in Ecological Preservation Bais City, Negros Oriental Galing Pook 1997 Contact: (035) 402‐8047 / 402‐3797

Bais' comprehensive development plan, focusing on conservation of its resources and environment led to the rehabilitation of its coastal and upland resources, resulting to a strong eco‐tourism industry and increased investments and businesses.

Taking Care of People and the Environment Province of Negros Oriental Galing Pook 1995 Contact: ( 035) 225‐4835 / 225‐2848

A health program alongside community‐based resource management, the latter seeking to alleviate poverty by empowering farmers and fisherfolk organizations to take a proactive role in environmental protection and rehabilitation.


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ANNEX 2. Forum Program

Time Activities Resource Persons

8:00‐8:30 Registration Secretariat

8:30‐8:45 Opening Program • Prayer and National Anthem • Welcome Remarks • Opening Address

Mr. Rafael L. Coscolluela, Galing Pook ChairpersonMr. Mirko Herberg, FES Resident Representative

8:45‐10:30 Presentation of Best Practices• Albay’s Disaster Risk Reduction Program

• Community‐based Eco‐tourism Program in Guimaras

• Ecological Solid Waste Management Program of Los Baños

• Palawan’s Sustainable Environmental Development Program

• Aquamarine Development and Protection Program of Misamis Occidental

• Dauin’s Program on Coastal Resource Management

• Multi‐Sectoral Alliance Building for Landscape Development in Allah Valley

Governor Jose Sarte Salceda Province of Albay Governor Felipe Hilan Nava Province of Guimaras Mayor Caesar P. Perez Municipality of Los Baños, Laguna Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Governor Loreto Leo S. Ocampos Province of Misamis Occidental Mayor Rodrigo A. Alanano Municipality of Dauin, Negros Oriental Mr. Abdula Bansuan, Project Manager, Allah Valley Alliance

10:30‐10:45

Open Forum Synthesis

Ms. Elisea G. Gozun Galing Pook Trustee; Former DENR Secretary

10:45‐11:00

Presentation Policy Recommendations from Expert

Professor Neric Acosta Former Congressman – Principal Author of Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Solid Waste Management Act and Biodiversity Protection Act

11:00‐11:45

Response Mr. Victor O. Ramos Trustee, Ramos Peace and Development Foundation; Former DENR Secretary

11:45‐12:00

Open Forum Synthesis

Ms. Elisea G. Gozun

12:00‐12:10

Closing Address Mr. Edicio H. Dela Torre Chair, Foundation for the Philippine Environment; President, Education for Life Foundation


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ANNEX 3. Forum Participants

Name Organization Position SPEAKERS/ REACTORS/ MODERATORS/ PRESENTERS1. Nereus Acosta Former Congressman AIM, AdMU, UP Professor

2. Elisea G. Gozun Galing Pook Foundation‐BOT Trustee; Former DENR Secretary

3. Mirko Herberg Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Country Representative

4. Rafael Coscolluela SRA; Galing Pook Foundation‐BOT Administrator; Chairperson

5. Edicio H. dela Torre Foundation for the Philippine Environment Chairperson

6. Victor O. Ramos Ramos Peace and Dev Foundation; GPF‐BOT Trustee; Trustee

7. Edward S. Hagedorn Puerto Princesa, Palawan Mayor

8. Felipe Hilan Nava Province of Guimaras Governor

9. Ceasar P. Perez Los Baños, Laguna Mayor

10. Loreto Leo S. Ocampos Province of Misamis Occidental Governor

11. Rodrigo A. Alanano Dauin, Negros Oriental Mayor

LGU Provinces 12. Manuel P. Mejorada Governor’s Office Prov’l Administrative Coordinator

13. Abdula Bansuan Allah Valley Landscape Dev’t. Alliance Program Manager

14. Angeles E. Gabinete Province of Guimaras Tourism Officer

15. Joey Salceda Province of Albay Governor

16. Evan Anthony Arias Province of Guimaras Planning Officer IV

17. Arze Glipo Sanguniang Panlalawigan of Sorsogon Board Member

18. Lorelie Yee Province of Misamis Occidental Staff, Governor’s Office

19. Janeth Limput Province of Misamis Occidental Staff, Governor’s Office

20. Leah Charito Tambolero IBRA 9 Assistant Program Manager

21. Juneline dela Cruz PPDO, Province of Guimaras PDO III

22. Angeles Gabinete PPDO, Province of Guimaras PDO

LGU Cities 23. Reinaldo Bautista Baguio City Mayor

24. Ceasar A. Axalan Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro Assessor

25. Gerry Rigos Baguio City Staff, Office of the Mayor

26. Rod Saucero Puerto Princesa Staff, Office of the Mayor

27. Josie Vila Puerto Princesa Staff, Office of the Mayor

28. Ronnel Ruiz Puerto Princesa Staff, Office of the Mayor

LGU – Municipalities / Barangays 29. Jessie Jomadiao Looc, Romblon Municipal Agriculturist

30. Rommel Peneyra Carmona, Cavite MENRO V

31. Romeo L. Gorreon Misdsayap, North Cotabato MENRO

32. Loreto V. Cabaya Jr. Aleosan, North Cotabato Mayor

33. Orly Maraingan Kabalikat PALMA Program Manager

34. Emiliano Camba San Mateo, Isabela Municipal Agriculturist

35. Abdulkarim Langkuno Paglat, Maguindanao Mayor

36. Mongada T. Hadji Usop Paglat, Maguindanao Chair, Technical Working Group

37. Norie Ortile Irosin, Sorsogon Sangguniang Bayan Chair on Env’t.

38. Felix Serrano Libon, Albay Municipal Agriculturist

39. Ela P. Pavilando Libon, Albay Head, Technical Working Group

40. Ma. Catherine Dycoco Libon, Albay Member, Technical Working Group

41. Rene Manabat Councilor


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42. Rodelio Lee MENRO

43. Rufo Zarate Biñan, Laguna Secretary, Committee on Env’t.

44. Noel D. Mercado II Irosin, Sorsogon Environmental Mgnt Coordinator

Development Partners 45. Ma. Helen F. Dayo UPLB, Gender Center Director

46. Florencia C. Dorotan Women’s Action Network for Development National Chairperson

47. Frank Lobrigo Legaspi, Albay Practicing Lawyer

48. James Jao Eco House Advocate Architect

49. Edwin Elegado Plan International Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist

50. Robert Limbago League of Provinces of the Philippines Director for Program Development

51. Cheryl Dugan BEST Ventures Managing Director

52. Javier Rico BEST Ventures Finance Director

53. Juanito Berja Institute for Popular Democracy Program Coordinator

54. Paciencia Milan Foundation for the Philippine Environment Member, Board of Trustee

55. Gherrie Rodriguez Proprint Staff

56. Jon Mannion Pepperdine University, LA California Visiting Doctoral Candidate

57. Col. Edgardo RC Samonte Philippine Air Force Commandant, PAF Flying School

58. Dorothy Boy‐Navarro Paz y Desarollo National Technical Director

59. Elmo Dimaano LGA LGOO IV

60. Angelina Layugan LGA LGOO V

61. Ed Queblatin Philippine Watershed Management Coalition Co‐Adviser

62. Marilou Samonte Assumption, Makati

63. Rowena Paraan Phil. Center for Investigative Journalism Research Director

64. Maria Congee Gomez Philippine Daily Inquirer Freelance Writer

65. Alfonso Lagaya Integrative Medicine Practicing Physician

66. Rommel Reyes HOR‐Ecology

67. Jesus Llanto Newsbreak News Writer

68. Ebinezer Florano University of the Philippines ‐ NCPAG Assistant Professor

69. Roland Cabigas La Liga Director

70. Rachael Monel La Liga Deputy Director

Secretariat 71. Eddie G. Dorotan Galing Pook Foundation Executive Director

72. Lorenzo Ubalde Galing Pook Foundation Program Officer

73. Marie Guzman Galing Pook Foundation Finance and Admin Officer

74. Adrian Adove Galing Pook Foundation Program Assistant

75. Monette C. Montemayor Galing Pook Foundation Program Assistant

76. Edith Ramos Galing Pook Foundation Finance and Admin Assistant

77. Christine Beltran Galing Pook Foundation Administrative Assistant

78. Arlene Gella Documenter

79. Bea Ferreras Secretariat

80. Fila Sofia Ubalde Secretariat

81. Ana Isabel Navarro Secretariat

82. Ryan Jaim Secretariat


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ANNEX 4. Photo Gallery


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policy forum on the environment

Documents