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(Note: This Management Plan was approved prior to the passage of RA 9154, declaring Mt. Kanlaon a Natural Park and authorizing PNOC-EDC to enter into 169 hectares of a so called "buffer zone" for the purpose for geothermal exploration and development. In this 2001 Management Plan, there is no room for PNOC-EDC's geothermal development. The plan is included in full in this website because it is closer to an ideal of how the plan should be. )

Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park

Management Plan: June 2001(Con't)

3.8       Current PA Management Structure and Capabilities

 At the site level, the major actors in the management of the park are the PAMB, the PASu and the Host NGO.

1.         The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB)

As provided in the NIPAS Act, the PAMB is the policy and decision making body of protected areas. The term of office for the first batch of PAMB members in MKNP had already expired in 1999 and the new set of members are already in place. Almost all of the newly appointed PAMB members are already familiar with the Board operations and are well noted for their active involvement in environmental programs and projects in their respective organizational affiliation. However, further capability building activities will need to be undertaken to strengthen the operations of the PAMB particularly in resource conservation management strategies and in formulating conservation-driven policy decisions.

During the past five years of operations, the PAMB has gained recognition as the site-based decision making body of MKNP. This is being manifested in several LGUs trying to execute memoranda of agreements with the PAMB while other private groups are requesting approval for projects that they intend to implement in the area. In some instances that the PAMB decisions have been challenged including one that has been filed in court. Fortunately, in these situations, the PAMB has been sustained further bolstering its role in PA management.

As a policy-making body, the PAMB had already enacted several policy guidelines in the management of the park. It has created the Executive Committee to which some of its authorities were delegated. Working committees, such as the Resource Management, Socio-Economic Management, Resource Generation and Finance Mobilization and Ecotourism were formed as the technical working groups of the Board. In addition, the Fund Review Committee was created to review and recommend livelihood proposals that shall be implemented in the park.

So far, all REDs that assumed the chairmanship of the PAMB in MKNP have been very active in providing management direction in the board operations. Likewise, the support of DENR offices in the region to the PAMB can also be counted. While it is true that MKNP-PAMB is noted as one of the active PAMBs in the country today, its operations right now are heavily dependent on the CPPAP that provides management, technical and financial assistance to its operations.

2. Office of the Protected Area Superintendent (PASu)

 The CPPAP became instrumental in the issuance of DENR Regional Special Order that created the Office of the Protected Area Superintendent with the PASu as the chief DENR operating officer in MKNP. Composed of five staff co-terminus with the project and 19 detailed regular DENR personnel, the Office of the PASu is actively working with MUAD-Negros, an NGO, in carrying out the implementation of the CPPAP. Technical expertise among the staff are quite varied from economics, forestry, biology, agronomy, education, accounting, computer to engineering among others, with several staff having pursued advance studies in rural development, public administration, education and PA management. There is still a need however, to further strengthen the capability of the staff toward the concept of integrated conservation and development strategies, and sustainable development in general.

The PASu and his staff perform critical functions that include support to PAMB operations, IEC, Ecotourism, biodiversity monitoring and community-based protection system. However, in spite of the important roles of the PASu office in the management of MKNP, some issues facing it have not been addressed. The PASu himself holds a position that is co-terminus with the CPPAP. Moreover, the operations of the PASu office are solely dependent on the resources provided by the project. How to sustain its financing is one of the major challenges facing the MKNP management.

3.         The Host NGO

The role played by the host NGO in the over all conservation efforts in MKNP is equally important particularly on areas involving PA communities, secretariat to PAMB operations and other CPPAP components. Serving as the conduit of PASu office in implementing various activities, MUAD-Negros is particularly helpful in mobilizing communities in the mainstream of conservation. Trained in community development affairs, the host NGO plays a critical function in strengthening community empowerment in resources management.

While there are still other concerns that need to be attended in advancing the PA management, the CPPAP has installed management regime that if only sustained and supported would likely ensure the effective administration of MKNP.