SITE SUMMARY
Table 1: Project Scope & Biodiversity Features
County
Philippines
Province
Bohol
Municipality
Ubay
Barangays
Coastal:
Achila
Biabas
Cagting
Cuya
Fatima
Humayhumay
Katarungan
San Isidro
Sentinela
Sinandigan
Tapal
Tipolo
Tapon
Union
Juagdan
Guintaboan
Juagdan
Camambugan
Tintinan
Ubay is a Coastal town in northeastern part of the province and the most populous
municipality of Bohol. Its main economic driver is mainland agriculture and coastal fisheries,
where half of its’ population are in barangays in coastal areas. Its topography is composed of
flat plains and undulating terrain suitable for agricultural cultivation. Its seawaters are
abundant fishing grounds which are home to several commercially viable fish species. An
expanding economic of the province with a large agricultural production area devoted to rice,
poultry and livestock, The town is also a gateway to and from the neighboring Provinces of
Leyte, Samar and Bicol of South Luzon. Ubay is faced with a myriad of coastal conservation
concerns related to a rapidly rising population and present development trends. Sinandigan
derived from the local term “to lean on” describes how in the past people wading ashore from
boats would need to lean on something for support as the pain from spines of the Rabbit Fish
“Danggit” had deeply embedded in the fisherman’s foot. The fish once was very abundant that
people wading ashore would be stepping on the fish.
The Sinandigan MPA Site is a critical habitat to one of the two of Municipality’s major capture
fisheries production area, a multi-species fishing ground.
Climate
Climate for the town has been general categorized into Rainy and Dry Season. Rain months are
from the months of June to December, during the occurrence of the southwest monsoon. The
months from January to May are dry season months. However, present climactic patterns have
shifted the rainy or wet season closer to the last quarter of the year and dry weather for more
than half of the year. Erratic weather patterns with predominant dry weather have been
presently experienced by rice farmers causing delays in the planting schedules, and lower
production yields on commodity crops which are seasonal in nature.
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Biodiversity
Area
Biodiversity
Background
Sinandigan MPA (Coral) -51.68 has. core zone.
1,520 m x 340 m. with 150 meter buffer zone from each side.
Ubay Profile
Municipal land:
Municipal Waters:
Coral Reef Area:
Sea grass Area:
Fisheries Area:
Mangrove Area:
Wetlands Area:
29,950.88 has.
20,296,00 has.
1,520 m x 340 m. (Sinandigan MPA only)
No data available
20,296 has.
1,800 aggregate area (DENR)
No data available
Sinandigan is a coral MPA , with high live hard corals at shallow depth of 3 to 4 meters. Also
has high mean results of dead coral inside the MPA.
Has sand and silt substrate with algae, invertebrates and sea grass.
2005 baseline data Project Seahorse. Shows;
50 low tropic fishes,
15-20 mid tropic species- labridae, Scarridae, Mullidae,
5-10 top tropic species- Hemullidae, Lutjanidae, Nemipteridae, Serranidae, within a 250 sqm.
Transect area.
Butterfly and Angel fish, indicator for coral health have shown low abundance inside the MPA.
1. Coral reef: High live corals at shallow depths, species common to MPAs in Danajon Bank.
2. Seagrass: observed also to be dominant in MPA substrate, but no recorded data on species
count.
3. Mangrove ecosystem:
Mangrove Trees found common to coastal areas in Danajon Bank. (*7 identified mangrove
species)
Sinandigan has high density of remaining “Bantiguian “ trees adjacent to MPA and the
mainland.
*Pagatpat, Bantigue, Lipata, Dokdok, Matabaw, Bongahoy, Bakhaw.
(MPA site baseline data Project Seahorse, MPA Management Plan, PATH foundation)
Economic
Impact
Fish species cited above are typical commercially targeted species within Danajon Bank MPAs.
Since, these are the species gathered for food. The abundance or scarcity of these species
would heavily affect the livelihood of fishing communities around it. Declining trends in fish
catch over the years has significantly moved the prices of fish in the upward trend. However, it
should be also considered that prices moved by demand could also be caused by demand
coming from outlying provinces and cities where Ubay’s fishery products are also exported.
Fish Traders in the Municipality transport products to Tagbilaran by land, to Cebu City by roll
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on-roll off boat ferries, to Manila by commercial airlines or land vehicles passing the Leyte,
Samar, South Luzon eastern nautical highway.
No. of fishing gear types.
Table 2: Protected Area Information
MPA Overview
Sinandigan MPA 51.68 has. Coral, Mangrove, Shoreline
Humayhumay MPA 91 has. Seagrass Beds
Guintaboan MPA 10 has.
Technical Description
of MPAs
Coral
Core Zone Terminal Points, Technical Description;
(Sinandigan MPA only)
1
2
3
4
LAT N 10°
01.891’
01.937’
01.286’
01.251’
LONG E 124°
33.192’
32.226’
33.728’
33.544’
150 Meters Buffer Zone on each side.
Site Map Reference
Sinandigan MPA
*Sinandigan MPA Management Plan
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Protected Area
Categories
Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) area of the Municipality under the
Supervision and authority of DENR
Municipal Ordinance No 06-A, Series 2005
( Sinandigan MPA has a specific Mun. Ordinance declaring it as a marine protected
area.)
Ordinance No. 07 series 2006
Municipal Fisheries Ordinance
( Identifies MPA areas of the Municipality, but did not include boundaries and
terminal points.)
Red-List Species
No study yet conducted to identify presently existing species under IUCN Red
list in the site.
The municipal CRM office has occasionally documented the capture and
subsequent release of fishermen of sea turtles. The most significant one was
the entangling in a drift gillnet of a 200 kilo Leatherback and a juvenile Whale
Shark in 2010 in fishing grounds adjacent to the Sinandigan MPA. The fishing
grounds near this MPA used to be habitat for several types of crustaceans,
invertebrates, coral reef fishes and various types of sea shells, the giant clams
being one. Box lobster continues to be occasionally caught by fishermen’s nets
together with swimming *blue crabs till the present, but the Spiny lobster once
abundant in the area, no longer has any documented report of catch. Giant
Clams (Tridachna) also once abundant in the area can no longer be found. What
is reportedly landed by compressor fishermen are giant clams hauled in from
the neighboring seawaters of the Municipality of Anda.
*(Presently of high commercial value, harvested in large quantities daily
offshore/adjacent to Sinangdigna MPA , but the actual volume has yet to be ascertained
if there are data available with the local BFAR-UBFF)
Primary Threats
Intrusion of fishermen with destructive fishing methods;
a. Use of fine mesh nets
b. Compressor Fishing with use of noxious chemicals/cyanide
c. Mangrove Cutting
d. Blast Fishing
Secondary
Threats
Secondarh threats to MPAs based upon the IUCN Threat identification
scheme(e.g.5.1 Biological resource use/hunting and collecting terrestrial animals).
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1. Sudden Climactic Changes;
a. Occurrence of typhoons
b. Upland flooding causing siltation
c. Pollutants/contaminants from upland creeks, passing sea crafts, adjacent coastal
communities
2. Sand and Coral extraction
3. Hunting, gathering of wild fowl ( Migratory sea birds,* Mallard ) and sea shells.
(Some of these may be classified under IUCN category, but may need further
study)
* Mallard-need to be studied if the species of wild ducks observed inhabiting the
mangrove area is classified as such.
4. Developmental Impacts.
Ex. Road Development and other needed infrastructures, establishment of beach
resorts and recreational areas.
History of the
MPA
In 2004 resident fishermen of Sinandigan, Ubay have been experiencing declining
fish catch. The intervention of Project Seahorse Foundation ( University of British
Columbia) and the creation of KAGAMASI, a fishermen association of the barangay
made possible the establishment of the MPA through Municipal Ordinance No. 06A. The legislation of a portion of the coastal area as protected, in support of the
MPA proposal from Barangay Sinandigan Local Government, catered also the
support of the Municipality who provided initial funds to maintain the MPA. The
entry of PATH foundation Phil., in partnership with FISH Project USAID In 2004,
further developed the MPA with funds released in 2010 for the expansion of the
MPA guardhouse which was initially built from barangay and municipal funds in
2006.
Previous and
Existing
Management
Strategies
Mangrove Rehabilitation adjacent to MPA-30 hectares – IKAW-AKO Japan-Negros
Foundation.
2009-Present, ongoing
Project Seahorse- MPA establishment and community mobilization, Biophysical
Monitoring. 2004-2009.
USAID FISH Project, Coastal Enforcement Framework, 2004-2010.
PATH Foundation – Population Management concerns with focus on fisheries and
habitat conservation advocacy campaign, 2007-2010.
BFAR assisted fisheries livelihood component-2010
DENR assisted mangrove rehabilitation package-2009.
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(Project funds of NGOs known only to the implementing Organization and funder)
Previous and
Existing
Environmental
education Work
IKAW-AKO Foundation mangrove rehabilitation and conservation advocacy
(ongoing). Have done regular engagement with fisher folk and school children in
mangrove planting. With sponsored community activities and small livelihood
projects. Putting up of billboards and signages. The activities mainly include
community immersion of Japanese volunteers who interact with locales for a week
promoting mangrove reforestation with cultural exchanges. The volunteers also
bring in used clothing and food packets for children underprivileged children.
Project Seahorse – community organizing component, sponsored lectures and
community gatherings for forums about significance of MPA and presentation of
fish and benthic monitoring surveys to the community.
PATH Foundation – Population Management concerns with focus on fisheries and
habitat conservation advocacy campaign, 2007-2010.
Bureau of Fisheries Aquatic Resources, Field Office 7 (BFAR 7), Bohol Environment
Management Office (BEMO) Provincial Govt. provided incentives for MPA
establishment of the barangay with small group livelihood component. The project
includes fisher folk community trainings and seminars.
BEMO has originally initiated marine conservation strategies for Ubay through its D
CRM Section Head Remedios Regacho, and District 2 Coordinator Jose Garcia in
2001. A CRM Technical Working Group was then established by then Municipal
Administration, together with municipal and locally based national offices, DILG
and PNP, BFAR, PCC-DA which undertook initial information and education
campaigns prelude to undertaking Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment
(PCRA), in 19 coastal barangays. The initial data and results of the PCRA survey
were incorporated in the CRM Plan of the Municipality in 2006 which was refined
under the FISH Project USAID initiative in 2008.
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Table 3: Human Stakeholders
Human Stakeholder
Population
Total number of people who live within the municipality and
communities within adjacent to the MPAs.
Ubay Population NCSO 2010 – 68,578
Barangays adjacent to Sinandigan MPA(LPRAP 07)
1. Union
475 households, Pop. 2,223
2. Tapal
271 households, Pop. 1,274
3. Cagting
293 households, Pop. 1,324
4. Guintaboan
134 households, Pop. 660
Total
1,169 households, Pop. 5,481
Historical
Description
Campaign’s
Social Context
Ubay was established as a civil town from its religious aspect with
the Diocese of Talibon, in Sept 1, 1847. The town’s name is derived
from its geographic location where the town center, as established
during the Spanish regime used to be located along a mangrove
estuarine ( Ubay in the dialect means along a body of water, river,
stream or creeks) that exited unto the town’s shoreline. The
seawaters used to be abundant with fishery resources, but decades
of rising population and unplanned development have resulted
degradation of its resource rich marine habitats.
Additional information on population, including demographic,
geographic etc.
Ubay has a population of 68,577 (NCSO 2010) and with an annual
growth rate of 3.3 percent. 51% of its population resides in coastal
areas. It has a 1,492 fishermen where 68% have limited education
and technical skills and without economic opportunities, depend on
livelihood for fishing and only (PCRA 2003).
These rising population growth trends would need a deeper
understanding of social dynamics and strategies. Relevant social
marketing tools useful in addressing population in coastal
communities, especially around MPAs to adopt sustainable fishing
methods, in line with marine conservation efforts adopted by the
Municipality since 2004. Personnel tasked with coastal resource
management, though well trained in coastal enforcement and other
support livelihood programs, have not been trained in strategic
social approaches to conservation programs. The RARE Pride
campaign using the social marketing framework would be an
appropriate opportunity at this time.
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Legislative
Context
The Municipality of Ubay, in line with marine conservation efforts
has exerted efforts to address issues in fisheries production with
local laws intended to curb destructive fishing methods.
Municipal Ordinances relating to fisheries:
1. Ordinance No. 1 series 2000
Banning the Catching of Spawning Crabs, lobsters and other
crustaceans.
2. Ordinance No. 3 series 2001
Banning the use of trawl and liba-liba in municipal waters
3. Ordinance No. 06-A series 2005
Establishment of Sinandigan MPA
4. Ordinance No. 07 series 2006
Municipal Fisheries Ordinance
Table 4 Campaign Project Team
Name
Role in
Campaign
Organizati
on
Title/Position
In
Organization
Responsibility
Or function
the person
% of time
allocated
to Pride
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1. Dr. Eutiquio M.
Bernales
Supervisor
LGU Ubay
2. Hon. Constantino H.
Reyes
Ralph Lagura
Conservation
fellow
Alternate CF
campaign
5%
Municipal Vice
Mayor
Approving
authorityLegislative
5%
Sanggunian
Bayan,
Member
Legislative
support
5%
LGU Ubay
SB Secretary
90%
LGU Ubay
CRM Officer
Program
implementation
Program
implementation
support staff
3. Hon. Sabiniano
Atupan, SB Comm.
Environment
Alpios B. Delima
Municipal
Mayor
might have in
the Pride
campaign
Approving
authority
30%
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