CY 2007 ANNUAL REPORT

PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS

MANAGEMENT OF COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES

a.  Assessment of Coastal and Marine Areas Through PCRA 

The local government has an important facilitating role in coastal management process because of their legal mandate to manage resources within municipal jurisdiction. The capacity of these Local Government Units (LGUs) to deliver coastal management services depends to a large extent on LGU cooperation and support mechanism, hence, for the current year, coordination and linkage with these LGUs is one of the major activities undertaken to create a more harmonious collaborative relationship between the DENR and the LGUs. This year, these LGUs were consulted and were given technical assistance on matters pertaining to the implementation of the different CRM activities in their respective municipalities and cities. Assessment of coastal and marine areas is one important activity for the year. This aims to assess the coastal areas to determine the existing resources with potential market for investment. For this year, there were 15 areas assessed through Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment (PCRA) attaining a 100% accomplishment. Of this total,  two (2) were conducted in the province of Aklan;  three (3) in Antique;  two (2) in Capiz;  four (4) in Iloilo;  two (2) in Guimaras and two (2) in Negros Occidental. The conduct of this activity was aimed at gathering the baseline information on the coastal resources of a particular area through participatory approach.   

b.  Preparation of Municipal Coastal Environmental Profiles (MCEPs)

As an output of PCRA trainings, Municipal Coastal Environment Profiles (MCEPs) were drafted in eight (8) municipalities/cities, Tobias Fornier and Caluya in Antique; Barotac Nuevo, Guimbal, Btac Viejo, and Banate in Iloilo; and Bacolod City and Cadiz City in Negros Occidental. The number of technical assistance extended to LGUs in the conduct of preparation of MCEP attained a 133 % accomplishment.

Fifteen (15) MCEPs were finalized and approved at the LGU level regionwide, a 125 % accomplishment. Meanwhile, the draft Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Plan had totaled to six (6).  These are the CRM Plans of Tobias Fornier and Libertad in Antique; Concepcion, Dumangas and Tigbauan in Iloilo; and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental. Of these drafts, three (3) were already approved and adopted at the LGU level.

c .   Updating of Regional Municipal Coastal Database

The Regional Municipal Coastal Database (MCD) is continually updated based on the Municipal Coastal Database submitted by the LGUs through the Field Offices.  Fifty-four (54) MCDs were updated and maintained for the year distributed as follows : Antique, 9; Iloilo, 20; and Negros Occidental, 25. This activity attained a 120% accomplishment.

d.    Protection of Mangrove Areas 

Mangroves, given their natural ecological roles and their various human beneficial products, are powerhouse resources that need to be rehabilitated, protected and managed. This year, a total of 3,196 hectares was maintained and protected in partnership with LGUs, people’s organization and other stakeholders with technical assistance from the DENR. Protection of mangrove areas in the region attained a 100% accomplishment for the year.  Of this total, 347 hectares were protected in the province of Aklan; 365 hectares in the province of Antique; 500 hectares in Capiz; 650 hectares in Iloilo;  200 hectares in Guimaras and 1,134 hectares in the province of Negros Occidental.

e.    Establishment of Marine Sanctuary

Community-Based Marine Sanctuary is the best precautionary options under fisheries and habitat management programs of the CRM.   The concept of DENR-LGU partnership is founded on an understanding that sector participation in

environmental management is not just an advantage, but an essential element in achieving sustainability. The Regional Office extended technical assistance and support to Field Offices and LGUs in the conduct of Marine Sanctuary Establishment and Management Trainings. This year, two (2) marine sanctuary trainings were conducted, one in Ajuy and another in Carles, both in the province of Iloilo. These trainings were attended by 76 participants equivalent to 1,312 part-hrs, a 100% accomplishment.

One (1) Marine Sanctuary was also established in Patnongon, Antique, a 100% accomplishment for the year.  In addition,  a Memorandum of Agreement was also entered by the DENR between the LGU—Antique and Pointe de Libertad Resort for the co-management of the Marine Sanctuary at Sitio Balo, Taboc, Libertad, Antique.   

f.   Strengthening of CLEAR-6 Team

Considering the need to effectively respond to the protection and management of coastal and fishery resources, an integration of coastal law enforcement strategy was adopted in the Region through the organization of Coastal Law Enforcement Alliance in Region 6 (CLEAR-6) Team. This was made possible through a collaboration among the national government agencies and local government units in Western Visayas. 

To strengthen the activities of the CLEAR Team,  five (5) meetings were conducted for the year, a 125% accomplishment. In addition to these meetings, an Orientation on the Standard Protocol on Effective Shipping and Environmental Laws and Policies was conducted on May 31, 2007 held at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City where the member agencies of the alliance signed the Covenant of Commitment for Responsible Stewards of the Ocean. Each concerned agency presented its respective mandates, standards and protocols for effective shipping and presentation of environmental laws and policies related to coastal conservation.

This collaborative effort and linkage resulted to forging of supplemental MOA with the following agencies : National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA), to coordinate and integrate government activities involving national intelligence; Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), to provide reliable and responsible services in the ports and sustained development within port communities and environment;  John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (JBLFMU), to produce disciplined values-oriented marine officers

in the region; and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), to undertake and encourage the improvement and upgrading of existing and domestic merchant marine sleet and Filipino crew to meet the international standards in the continued viability of the domestic shipping operation and enforce laws including imposition of penalties for its violators.      

with corresponding penalties on coastal law enforcement.

     g.  Validation and Mapping of Mangrove Areas

Validation and mapping of mangrove areas attained only a 90% accomplishment. This is equivalent to 5,172.00 hectares validated and mapped out of its target of 5,734 hectares regionwide. All the provinces attained a 100% accomplishment except in the province of Negros Occidental with an accomplishment of only 1,650.00 out of its target of 2,315 hectares. The reported accomplishment of the said province is already the actual mangrove hectarage as confirmed during the actual validation and mapping activities.  

  h.   Establishment of Networks and Linkages with LGU and other Organizations           

The purpose of establishing and managing a five-hectare mangrove plantation within the five coastal barangays in the municipality of San Lorenzo, province of Guimaras resulted to a strong collaboration with the Department of Education and the Local Government Unit of San Lorenzo. On December 13, 2007, a MOA was forged among DENR, LGU San Lorenzo and the Department of Education at the Office of the Regional Executive Director, DENR, Region 6, Iloilo City.

Strong collaboration with PRESS Para Sa KALIKASAN (PRESS KA!), a group of dynamic and environmentally-conscious members of the tri-media organization interested in the conservation and protection of the environment and natural resources, also resulted in the forging of the MOA last December 19, 2007 at the DENR Regional Office Conference Room, Iloilo City. As contained in the MOA, the PRESS KA! shall be assisting DENR in the rehabilitation/development and protection of the Bulabog Puti-an National Park (BPNP) in Dingle, Iloilo and other Protected Areas of their choice in the Region. They shall also promote the conservation of these PAs and the coastal and marine resources thru IEC for ten years.

    i.   OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    1.  Re-echo of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (Netherlands) And International Conference on Protected Areas in South East Asia (Malaysia)

Regional Technical Director (RTD) for PAWCZMS Arlene T. Dalawis who joined in the International Conference on Protected Areas in South East Asia  in Malaysia on April 23-27, 2007 and CMMD Chief, Vilma Limates who attended the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Training in Netherlands on April 7-22, 2007 conducted a Re-echo of their attendance to these trainings on May 11, 2007 at the DENR Regional Conference Room, Iloilo City. They shared their experiences, observations, learnings and insights and their corresponding recommendations which we can apply in our protected areas and coastal habitats in the region. A film showing entitled “Inconvenient Truth” followed. The film shown featured the effects of global warming and climate change. Sixty-five (65) DENR employees from the different sectors and offices attended this activity.     

    2.  Conduct of Lecture on Biodiversity and  Marine Conservation

The Region thru the PAWCZMS conducted a lecture on Biodiversity and Marine Conservation on May 22, 2007 at the Public Market of Igang, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. The DENR resource persons  discussed the topic Philippine Biodiversity,  Philippine Coastal Zone and Its Major Life Support Systems. After the lecture, the participants were given time to ask questions related to the topics presented. Other queries on DENR functions were also tackled during the open forum. This was followed by a film showing entitled “A Day After Tomorrow” which featured environmental destruction which resulted to calamities. This activity was participated in by 120 community residents.

     3.  Conduct of Island Hopping for Advocacy in Promoting Marine Protected Area

The region also conducted the island hopping activity at Taklong Island National Marine Reserve in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras on May 23, 2007. The staff was able to see corals, sea grasses, and other marine resources.

The personnel also able to observe the status of mangroves inside the reserve after almost a year of the oil spill incident.

4.   Presentation of the Paper Entitled  “Impact   of the Oil  on Marine Life in Guimaras”

Regional Technical Director Arlene T. Dalawis presented a paper entitled “Impact of the Oil Spill in Marine Life in Guimaras with Insights and Perspectives of Region 6” at Manila Hotel on November 5-9, 2007. She has become an automatic member of the Women in Maritime Philippines (WIMAPhil).  She is now in charge of coordinating with all sectors in Region 6 to create WIMAPhil Sub-Chapter with MARINA,  maritime schools, seafarers and professionals whose job is related to marine affairs.

5.    Conduct of CMMS Mini-Conference

The Office of the PAWCZMS conducted a CMMS Mini—Conference on November 6, 2007 at the ERDS Office to clarify gray areas on mangrove survey and validation and to formulate plans for CY 2008.             

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Updated : May 7, 2008