July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
1
Integrated Rural
Development Foundation
Newsletter of IRDF’s Participatory Governance Project
Volume II Issue 1
July 2015
People’s Council now active in Bulan;
Sanggunian Panlungsod hearings on
Sorsogon City People’s Council started
Mayor Marnellie B. Robles during the launch for the Kapamahala People’s Council, the first not only in Bulan but also in the
Participatory governance, including planning, budgeting,
Sangguniang Bayan.
implementation, monitoring and evaluation, fiscal management
Sorsogon City, on the other hand, is following suit.
and audit, local legislation.
City Councilor Emmanuel Diolata, Chair of the CommitTransparency in action.
tee on Cooperatives, has also seen the importance of people
In essence, include the people in the processes of local
participation and effective co-governance.
government, so that the outcomes would be more responsive to
Councilor Diolata has already set two meetings to discuss
the needs expressed by the people themselves.
the issues and get the sentiments of the civil society organizaSo who are the people?
tions (CSOs), with the help of City Legal Officer Atty. Jobert
The ones who will represent the general populace are the
Laceda.
representatives of the different sectoral organizations, who
The invited CSOs naturally welcomed the idea that has
elected among themselves who will represent them (see chart
long been their desire.
on pages 8-9).
CSOs however, are pragmatic.
These sectoral representatives will form the Council, and
While there are moves by the LGUs
will represent their sector in Sanggunian hearings.
to increase transparency inasmuch as this
... continue to page 11
Understanding the importance of such an initiative, Bulan,
through Honorable Councilor Teodoro M. Dogillo, sponsored
* with support from the European Union
the draft Ordinance and was able to have it passed in the
2
Bantay-Bayan
Editorial
July 2015
Taking Good Governance
to the Level of Communities
Transparency. Accountability. Co-governance.
Big words... especially for people who have been used to patronage politics; to
being grateful for small “graces” to the point of “utang na loob” that is so difficult - if
not impossible - to repay, even when these should have been provided as regular
public service that is freely given as a matter of course; to being dependent on powers-that-be for womb-to-tomb needs; to being subservient to leaders who exact their
political soul to the full.
That kind of mindset is quite evident in the countryside, and Sorsogon is no exemption.
Our people in the countryside are marginalized in so many ways. That has to change.
This is why we are so interested in the developments on co-governance that Bulan has initiated,
and to which Sorsogon City is following suit. In the next issue, we hope to report that Sorsogon Province
has also established the Provincial People’s Council, considering that the draft ordinance is in the process
of public consultation prior to the submission of this governance measure for third and final reading.
What does all these mean for our provincemates?
For one, we realize that it takes a special kind of leader who is willing to release even part of his
/ her powers so that people in marginalized sectors of society can have more gains and have a bigger
voice in how their affairs are to be managed. It would not be easy for our political leaders especially, to
be more transparent about how the budget should be prepared; which, where, and how projects are to
be implemented; and to be held even more accountable than usual because more of the constituency are
aware of where public funds are going.
But it is not the local governments alone that should be more open to public scrutiny. The
ongoing monitoring of the Bottom-Up Budgeting projects reveal that national government agencies
have likewise not been quite that clear about their releases and project funds.
Allowing our civil society organizations to be more active in public and community affairs will
surely be a difficult process. But like in human births, it is primarily the birthing process that hurts the
most; the growing up and maturing period will show that a more informed, more involved community will ultimately redound to the public good and to everyone’s better
welfare.
* with support from the European Union
July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
PROJECT FUNDED BY THE
EUROPEAN UNION
Bantay-Bayan is a publication of the Integrated Rural
Development
Foundation
(IRDF) for the Participatory
Governance Project that has been produced with
the financial assistance of the European Union.
The Project, launched on February 19, 2013,
seeks to empower the citizenry through participatory governance and thereby achieve transparency, and is implemented in the six project areas
of Sorsogon City, Casiguran, Pilar, Matnog, Irosin
and Bulan.
The contents of this publication and the views
expressed herein are solely the responsibility of the
Integrated Rural Development Foundation.
Table of Contents
People’s Council now active in Bulan; Sanggunian
Panlungsod hearings on Sorsogon City People’s
Council started ..................................................... 1
Editorial ................................................................ 2
Determination and Diligence = Dam ..................... 3
Major Impact Projects........................................... 5
What Is the Seal of Good Local Governance and why
is it Important? ..................................................... 6
The Kapamahala People’s Council of Bulan.......... 7
EU Projects in the Philippines ............................ 10
The Fisheries Summit Speakers and Their Topics
............................................................................... 12
Leashed Mud Crabs: Interesting Livelihood Concept ....................................................................... 15
Fisheries stakeholders raise concerns about Sorsogon
waters .................................................................. 16
Editorial Board
Arze G. Glipo
Editor-in-Chief
Glenn I. Ymata
Project Manager
Lillian Alice D. Lopez
Writer
Philippine Information Agency
Photos
3
Determination
and Diligence = Dam
Because of persistence, a small scale irrigation project (SSIP) or
diversion dam was finally awarded on May 26, 2015, to serve the irrigation needs of at least 37 (29 male, 8 female) farmers in Sitio Mapili,
Rangas, Juban.
Josefina Deri and Nilo Celino, staff of the Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF) in Juban ang the BIGKIS (partner farmers’
people’s organization of IRDF) Rangas Chapter through its President
Corazon Gonzaga, worked together for more than two years, just making sure that the documents were in order and following-up with the
concerned agencies (PAMANA and the Department of Agriculture).
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Gonzaga was grateful that the dream
that they had has now been realized. She said that although the dam
will not be able to serve more farmers, they are still thankful for the
project, and hoped that it will be extended later.
The SSIP cost P2.4 million, with 400 meters length, and will be
serving a 27.39 hectare area that was previously rain-fed only.
The diversion dam was one of two PAMANA projects awarded to
Juban.
The other project was the improved Sorsogon Provincial Nursery in
Brgy. Cogon, where funds were allocated for site development / landscaping, fencing of the nursery, fencing and landscaping of the botanical garden, lighting, net house for cutflowers, repair of the administration and laboratory buildings and the water system, and for the increase
in the planting materials for distribution.
It is expected that with the repair of the Provincial Nursery, better
quality of planting materials, with a higher recovery rate, will be
achieved.
The Farm Superintendent is Tirso N. Doloiras.
In their speeches, PAMANA Luzon-Visayas Area Manager Paul
Escober, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ma. Teresa Destura, DA RO5 PAMANA Focal Person
Florentino Ubalde, Jr., Col. Cesar Idio of 903 Brigade, and Municipal
Administrator Leonilo Militante, asked that the recipients value, maintain and take good of the projects so that the farmers will be helped,
and poverty - the root cause of insurgency - can be addressed. The
PAMANA website http://pamana.net/pamana states that PAMANA is
the government’s program that extends development interventions to
isolated, hard-to-reach, and conflict-affected communities, ensuring
that they are not left behind.
One of its objectives is to increase livelihood and job opportunities
in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities.
PAMANA stands for PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or peaceful and bountiful communities. It is under the Office of the Presidential
Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
The OPAPP spearheads the implementation of PAMANA in cooperation with concerned government agencies, local government units, and civil society groups. #
Photos by Mark Jayson Mirana, PIA Sorsogon
... continue to page 4
* with support from the European Union
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Bantay-Bayan
July 2015
(Left to Right) 903rd Brigade Commander Col. Cesar Idio, Juban Councilor Russel Valeza, OPAg Asst. Provincial Agriculturist Dr.
Ma. Teresa Destura, BIGKIS representatives Corazon Gonzaga and Alex Grajo, Municipal Administrator Leonilo Militante, PAMANA
Luzon-Visayas Area Manager Paul Escober, DA RO5 PAMANA Focal Person Florentino Ubalde, Jr.
This project would not have been realized
without the persistent efforts of the Bigkis
Juban Chapter and the willingness of
government to partner with them.
* with support from the European Union
July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
* with support from the European Union
5
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Bantay-Bayan
July 2015
What Is The Seal of Good Local Governance
and Why Is It Important?
In 2010, then Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo
introduced the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH)
which tracked the performance of Local Government
Units (LGUs) in internal housekeeping specifically in
the areas of local legislation, development planning,
resource generation, and resource allocation.
Information was obtained, among others,
through anecdotal and official reports from the Commission on Audit (COA).
Awards were given to those who passed the
SGH, that was implemented up to 2013.
In 2014 onwards, the SGH was upgraded to
the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Pagkilala sa katapatan at kahusayan ng pamahalaang
lokal - and has 6 basic elements - 3 Core Elements 1)
Good Financial Housekeeping; 2) Disaster Preparedness; 3) Social Protection;
and 3 Essential Elements: 4) Peace and Order; 5) Environmental Management; and 6) Businessfriendliness and Competitiveness.
In their website http://www.gov.ph/governance, SGLG is described as conferment of a Seal to
LGUs that adheres to performance criteria on any of
the following areas: good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for the basic
sector, business-friendliness and competitiveness, environmental management, and law and order and public safety.
To qualify for the award that is given annually
in October, the LGU must meet the requirements for
the core elements, and at least one of the essential elements or the 3+1 Principle.
The award includes Performance Challenge
Fund (PCF) incentives which are cash awards for the
implementation of projects of choice of the LGU, access to the program windows of the national government agencies (such as the implementation of BUB projects), continuing capacity development especially in areas
where the LGU is weak, and access to
* with support from the European Union
loans, since LGUs cannot apply for loans from other
funding entities if the DILG does not give the Certification.
In other words, if the LGU does not qualify for
the SGLG, it cannot accces those mentioned.
Part of what is tracked by the DILG as compliance to the SGLG, is Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB),
where the civil society organizations (CSOs) are given
an opportunity to participate in governance, since it has
long been a cry of the marginalized and other sectors
of society, that they be involved in planning and implementation.
In BUB, the CSOs are invited to join the planning sessions for the identification and shortlisting of
projects deemed important for their sector (known as
the local poverty reduction plan or LPRAP).
From the BUB menu of each agency, the CSOs
identify the government agency that will be the source
of fund, the LGU comes up with the counterpart, the
documents submitted to the agency, and later on, if all
documents are in order, the funds are released.
Monitoring and evaluation are done by the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) whose
members were voted upon and come from important
and marginalized sectors of society.
In Sorsogon, only four LGUs were awarded
the 2014 SGLG: the provincial government, and the
municipalities of Barcelona, Pilar, and Bulan. #
July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
7
The Kapamahala People’s Council of Bulan
What is the KAPAMAHALA People’s Council?
The KAPAMAHALA People’s Council (KPC) aims to
have civil society participate in local governance by involving
representatives not only in dialogues with key local officials,
but also in the local development process, ensure transparency
in government administration and decision-making and
encourage people’s feedback, comments, and suggestions/
recommendations for improved accountability of the local
government.
The KPC was initiated in Bulan through the
Transparency, Accountability, and Participation in Local
Governance (TAP Gov) Ordinance authored by Hon. Teodoro
M. Dogillo, but is patterned after the successful and continuing
Naga City People’s Council that then Mayor Jesse Robredo
started for transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Its principles were migrated to the Department of the Interior
and Local Government (DILG) when Secretary Robredo became
the DILG head, as the basis for the Seal of Good Housekeeping
/ Governance that is now the standard by which LGUs work.
What are the principles by which it stands?
* Meaningful participation in local governance can be achieved
by providing institutional support to civil society and enabling them to build capacities;
* Transparency in government decision-making and administration requires openness of information on matters involving government affairs that in turn effectively enforces accountability of public officers;
* Accountability in administration and creative use of information by the citizenry hold local governments accountable
and will generate broad-based support that will ensure the
success and sustainability of government programs and
projects;
* Broad-based support to and stakeholdership of government
programs and projects are generated if the people are included not only in the identification and selection but also in
the conceptualization, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of these programs and projects;
* The will of the people can best be determined if they organize themselves to address their sectoral and common concerns.
In what aspects of local governance will KPC be involved?
a. planning
b. budgeting
c. implementation
d. local legislation
e. monitoring and evaluation
f. fiscal management and audit
g. pre-qualification, bid, award, and procurement processes
h. hiring and firing of personnel
Who are the members of the KPC?
Official and alternate representatives of all civil society
organizations (people’s organizations, non-government organizations, cooperatives, associations, aggrupations) legally constituted, operating within and duly accredited by the LGU.
The representatives will be from, but not limited to,
the following sectors:
1. farmers
2. fishers
3. urban / rural poor and informal settlers
4. rural / informal workers
5. women
6. youth and children
7. elderly or senior citizens
8. cooperatives
9. local chamber of commerce
10. small entrepreneurs (social / community-based /
household-based enterprises
11. persons with disability (PWDs)
12. others as may be defined and agreed upon by the
KPC
What is the agenda that the KPC will adopt?
There shall be a comprehensive civil society development agenda called Integrated Sectoral Development
Agenda (ISDA) to be formulated each year which shall serve
as the basis for engagement and participation of the civil
society with the LGU. The preparation of the ISDA shall
commence during the last quarter of each year on the month
of October.
An ad hoc committee called Sectoral Development
Agenda Coordinating Committee (SDACC) shall spearhead
the preparation of the ISDA. The SDACC shall be composed of the sectors / groups comprising the KPC. Its members shall be selected by election during the KPC General
Assembly held annually every first Saturday of February.
The Heads of the Working Committees of the KPC shall
serve as the Technical Working Group tasked to consolidate
the development agenda of each sector / group and cause the
preparation of ISDA for approval during the General Assembly.
What are the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the
KPC?
a. The KPC shall serve as the highest policy-making body of
all CSOs operating within the LGU
b. Formulate its own citizen’s charter, constitution and bylaws that will govern the KPC including the manner of
decision-making and implementing and monitoring of its
decisions;
c. Organize and modify KPC’s organizational structure by
creating / abolishing appropriate management structure,
standing and working committees, ad hoc committees or
task forces and / or special teams as well as in the identification of its respective functions to effectively carry out
its duties and responsibilities;
d. Facilitate and ensure the development
of the Integrated Sector Development
... continue to page 8
* with support from the European Union
8
Bantay-Bayan
Kapamahala ... from page 7
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Agenda (ISDA) divided into long-term, mid-term and annual local development plans at the barangay and municipal
/ city levels;
Ensure the integration and adoption of the ISDA into the
Comprehensive LGU Development Plan and Annual Investment Plan;
Facilitate the nomination and selection process of CSO representatives-members to LGU Local Special Bodies, task
forces, ad hoc or special committees as well as to committees
of the Sanggunian;
Oversee participation of CSO members in the local development process and exercise measures to correct or improve
civil society participation in local governance;
Develop and recommend policies and mechanisms for improved transparency and accountability of the LGU and
implement whenever deemed necessary and appropriate;
Initiate the consultation process within the civil society on
the local policies and administrative issuances prior to its
approval by the concerned authority, body,
or office;
j.
Serve as medium or channel for the
exchange of communication, expression of
concerns, raising of issues, and feedbacking
* with support from the European Union
July 2015
between the people and the LGU;
k. Constitute an independent assessment committee tasked to
conduct performance audit on programs and projects of the
LGU. The committee report shall be forwarded to the following: Mayor’s Office, Sanggunian through the Sanggunian
Secretary, the LGU office / department concerned or subject
of assessment; the DILG Office in that LGU, and the local
and / or regional office of the Civil Service Commission for
matters relating to civil service / LGU employee / personnel,
AND / OR the local and / or regional office of the Commission on Audit and Department of Budget and Management
(on matters relating to budget / funding) AND / OR the regional office of the National Economic and Development Authority and the concerned national agency / department (on
matters relating to programs and projects funded by the said
entity)
l. Take measures in response to issues, concerns, or any matters raised by the LGU in relation to civil society participation for the effective and efficient delivery of public services
by the LGU;
m.Identify capacity building needs of its member CSOs and
facilitate the implementation of the same in prompt and most
appropriate manner;
n. Mediate in any disputes between concerned CSO members
and act as final arbiter to resolve the same in favor of and
without prejudice to the interests of the concerned CSO mem-
July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
bers;
o. Provide assisstance to the CSOs in the process of accrediation
by the LGU.
Who are the officers of the KPC?
The organizational chart lists all the officers of the KPC
and KMB.
All officers and members or representatives to the LGU
Special Bodies and Committees shall have a term of ONE (1)
YEAR coinciding with the fiscal year of the LGU.
How will the KPC be operationalized?
The LGU shall see to it that all CSO representatives or
members to local special bodies, task forces, special commit-
9
tees, are issued with all necessary appointment letters or documents that make their representation or membership official by
way of a Sanggunian Resolution, Sanggunian Ordinance, Executive Order, Office Memorandum, Office Order, or any appropriate type of local issuances, stipulating therein the roles,
functions, duties, responsibilities, privileges, and applicable remuneration of the
CSO representatives or members.
... continue to page 11
* with support from the European Union
10
Bantay-Bayan
July 2015
EU Projects in the Philippines
Governance, democracy, human rights and support for economic and institutional reforms
Citizen Action Network for LGU Accountability & Performance
Citizens’ Participation in Monitoring of LGU Performance
and Development Planning for Poverty Reduction
Collective Action to Promote Non-violent Protective Society
for Children
Community-based Approach in Combatting Child Labor in
Hazardous Industries in Plantations and Mining
Community Education, Advocacy and Social Mobilization to
Eliminate Child Labour (CEASE-CL) in Negros Occidental
Empowered Participatory Governance towards Progress in
North Cotabato Communities (EPG-Progress)
Global Action on Cybercrime (GLACY)
Institutionalizing Social Contracts for Transparent and Accountable Governance and Effective Population Health
and Environment Service Delivery
Interrelations between public policies, migration and development of partner countries: case studies and policy recommendations
Joint migration and development initiative - strengthening
the contribution of migration to development by reinforcing its local dimension
Partnerships for Integrity and Job Creation - Local Governments and Civil Society Cooperate for Integrity and
Transparent, Effective Small Business Registration and
Promotion Procedures
Promoting Transparency and Accountability of Local Governments through Active CSO Participation in Development Processes
Revenue Enhancement by Strengthening and Optimising the
Utilisation of Resources and CSO Engagement in Local
Governance (ResourceGov)
Strengthening labour migration management capacities in
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines for
replication in other Colombo Process Member States
Strengthening Social Accountability Mechanisms in Local
Governance in Antique
Use of Evidence-based Approach to Human Rights Documentation and Monitoring for the Protection of Human Rights
Defenders and their families, and in the fight against
Impunity
Trade and regional integration
Dialogue on international best practice in
support of Philippine reform policies (such
* with support from the European Union
as procurement and Intellectual Property Rights)
EU-Philippines Trade Related Technical Assistance
Programme 3
Increasing the Uptake of High Efficiency Motors (HEMs)
and Drive Systems in Philippine Industries
Organisation of Events: Supporting Philippines reform: a
private sector view on international best practice, Dialogue on benefits of liberalisation of Investment and
Services and enhancing competition
Support to Europen Business in the South East Asian markets - Philippines Component (SEBSEAM-P)
Human development
Health Sector Policy Support Programme - Phase II
Increasing Use of Effective Contraception Methods by Urban Poor in Metro Manila
Maternal and Young Child Nutrition Security in Asia (FSTP
AAP 2010)
The environment and the sustainable management of natural resources
Building the Governance Structure and Strengthening InterLGU Collaborative Conservation and Resource Management Initiatives in Mt, Mantalingahan Protected
Landscape
Emerging Champions for Biodiversity Conservation and
Improved Ecosystem Services
Improving Forest Governance and Sustainable Upland Development through Climate Change Mitigation Financing Strategies in Southern Palawan
Lead Paint Elimination Project
SWITCH Policy Support Component- National Programme
for the Philippines
Conflict prevention
Building Peace in Mindanao through Public Participation
in Governance
Empowering Communities and Local Government Units in
Implementing Inclusive Development Programs in the
Philippines
EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centres of Excellence Initiative
Joint EU-UNODC Initiative for Supporting Southeast Asian
Countries to Counter Terrorism
Justice for All: Enhancing Accessibility, Fighting Impunity
Mindanao Trust Fund - Reconstruction & Development
Programme - Contribution Agreement with the World
Bank
Mindanao Trust Fund - Reconstruction and Development
Programme
Mine Action Support to the Peace Process in Mindanao
July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
11
EU ... from page 10
Supporting Mindanao peace process through enhancing capacity of peace structures, Early Warning Early Response (EWER) mechanisms and local conflict prevention actors
Supporting the Transition to Bangsamoro: Strengthening Institutions for Peace and Human Rights
Multi-sectors
Addressing Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health and Nutri-
Kapamahala ... from page 9
They shall be provided a copy of all reports, documentation, communication letters, or any type of pertinent document
of the special bodies or committees, even without making a request.
They shall be allowed to witness at any stage of the process or cycle, the meetings, functions, and the conduct or implementation of all the LGU programs, projects, and activities.
They shall also be allowed to express their opinions, raise
their concerns, and be given the right to vote during decisionmaking process of any body or committee where the CSO has
representation or membership.
The LGU shall provide space and designate a temporary
office where the KPC can hold its official business until such
Fisheries ... from page 14
the municipalities of Casiguran, Juban, Magallanes, and Castilla
and the East and West Districts of Sorsogon City.
For purposes of the Summit, these fishing grounds were
reduced to three, with Table 1 showing the data on aquaculture.
From the data, it would appear that the Pacific Coast area
is more productive and Sorsogon Bay more overfished
considering the much bigger number of fisherfolk.
However, matching the total data with the aquaculture area
of the fishing grounds, the MASBUTIPA area actually has higher
production of 4.651 metric tons per hectare (the Pacific Coast
has 282 kg/ha and Sorsogon Bay has 427 kg/ha) and 43.42 MT
of capture fisheries catch (Pacific – 3.48 MT/ha; Sorsogon Bay
– 4.73 MT/ha.).
In terms of number of fisherfolk/ha. MASBUTIPA has 45,
Pacific has 2, Sorsogon Bay has 7.
In the workshop conducted on the 2nd day of the Summit,
overall, the fisherfolk of Sorsogon are asking for a
comprehensive fishery development plan because of the
perceived concern on overfishing and insufficiency / depletion
of marine resources.
Specifically, Table 2 on page 13 shows the following issues
and concerns raised.
One of the main issues centered on the boundaries: there
are no clear boundaries or markers, coordinates are erroneous
or not registered with the National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority (NAMRIA), which result to the intrusion
of commercial fishing vessels or those from other municipalities.
tion Needs of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous People (ICC/IP) and other Disadvantaged Communities in Mindanao
Mindanao Trust Fund-Reconstruction and Development
Programme V
Support to Local Government Units for more effective and
accountable PFM
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/philippines/projects/
list_of_projects/projects_en.htm
time when a permanent office is provided, with appropriate
equipment and adequate office supplies for the proper maintenance of the office, and in order for the KPC to perform its
duties and functions.
The LGU shall authorize an annual appropriation of no
less than ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P100,000.00)
to be used by the KPC for its programs and projects as well as
for the maintenance, operation, and other expenses, provided
that the said appropriation has a clear and detailed information
on the allocation of the said fund.
The disposition of the annual budget of the KPC shall be
subject to existing rules of the LGU consistent with other rules
governing finance as issued by the COA and DBM and other
applicable laws. #
While acknowledging the need for closer coordination with
contiguous municipalities, the fisherfolk also state that the
Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management
Councils (IFARMCs) are inactive; these are supposed to oversee
the concerns of municipalities sharing bodies of water. This
was primarily attributed to the absence of a common
administrative setup such as budget allocation for the IFARMC
(which, according to them, should be shared among the local
government units), and a secretariat.
Under Law Enforcement, there appears to be a lack of
understanding and information on the policies, no unified
ordinance, and non-enforcement of local ordinances. They also
ask that the Amended Fisheries Code (RA 10654) be explained
more.
Sorsogon Bay further cited the inactive Sorsogon Bay
Management Council / IFARMC.
The SBMC was created in 2008 by then President Gloria
M. Arroyo by virtue of Executive Order No. 750 and was
supposed to have a P1 million budget but it never came into
being. One reason was the conflict with Republic Act 8550 or
the Fisheries Code of 1998 which mandates the creation of the
IFARMCs for adjoining waters.
LGU enforcement teams have also
been said to be inactive due to lack of
... continue to page 14
* with support from the European Union
12
Bantay-Bayan
July 2015
The Fisheries Summit Speakers
and their Topics
Status of Fisheries in the Province of Sorsogon by Roberto
D. Fortes Supervising Aquaculturist, Fisheries Division, Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist
Rehabilitation and Management of Marine Resources
in Sorsogon, and BFAR5 Practices and Accomplishment
2015 on Fishery Law Enforcement For the Province of
Sorsogon by Nonie P. Enolva BFAR 5 Chief, Marine Fisheries
Resource Management Section
PRO5 Identified Best Practices in Fisheries Law
Enforcement by PSupt. Jonathan O. Panganiban, Acting Chief,
Regional Operations and Plans Division
Community-based Coastal Resource Management by
Arsenio N. Tanchuling, National Sectoral Committee Chair on Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Council for Agriculture and
Fisheries
Environmental Laws on Fisheries by David A. Abogado, Jr.
Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN)
Sustainable Livelihoods for Poor Fisherfolks in Sorsogon
by Leonardo B. Rosario, Consultant, Integrated Rural Development
Foundation
Women in Fisheries by PSSupt. Angela Q. Rejano, PNP Deputy
Provincial Director, Sorsogon PPO
Experiences in Fisheries Livelihood in the Municipality of
Juban by Municipal Agriculture Officer Marietta G. Bayoca
* with support from the European Union
Below: Some of the participants to the Fisheries Summit
July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
Table 2
* with support from the European Union
13
14
Bantay-Bayan
July 2015
Fisheries ... from page 11
resources and training including
connivance with violators.
There
is
low
fisherfolk community
participation due to lack
of empowerment.
The
Bantay
Dagat teams are
inactive and regular
patrolling is seldom
done because of lack of
financial
support,
supplies, and insurance
to the fish wardens; the
term of office is coterminus
with
the
local
chief
executive hence there is no continuity, and in the case of Pilar, the
confiscated fishing gear were actually used by the Bantay Dagat
team themselves.
As regards the rehabilitation and management of marine
resources, there are many critical factors. One of these are the
sanctuaries: while there are 11 Fish Sanctuaries covering 1,646
hectares, but fisherfolk report that these are mismanaged and
degraded. In Bulan, there is intrusion in the sanctuary and
there is an illegal establishment of “bunuan” in the sanctuary
itself, since there is a lack of deputized Bantay Dagat there.
Spawning grounds are not protected; while there has been
expressed need for open and closed seasons for specific marine
resources because these are getting smaller
or disappearing, this is not yet in practice.
Coastal and marine resources and
mangroves are in poor condition, and in
* with support from the European Union
Top left: One of the slides of the presentation on Rehabilitation
and Management of Marine Resources. Lower Left: Hon. Board
Member Arze Glipo as she discusses the overview of the Summit.
Top: BFAR PFO Gil Ramos while explaining fishery issues.
Sorsogon Bay, there is coastal pollution and siltation as well as
conversion of mangrove areas to fishponds.
Cited causes of depletion of marine resources are the illegal
fishing practices – cyanide, dynamite fishing; use of fine mesh
nets and active gears; and destructive gathering methods.
Environmental clearances are not perceived to be existent;
there needs to be a clarification of the roles of the DENR and
BFAR in relation to abandoned and illegally operating fishponds;
and in Sorsogon Bay, the Peter Paul Philippines Corporation’s
liquid waste and other sources of pollutants are seen as
environmental issues.
In terms of livelihood options, while the Pacific coast group
states that there are plenty of funding sources, the MASBUTIPA
group cites lack of capital and the Sorsogon Bay group indicates
lack of access to postharvest, processing, and lending facilities.
For technology, the Pacific group says it is available but
the MASBUTIPA group states that there is a lack of fish
processing technology.
As far as infrastructure is concerned, the Pacific group
says that there is medium level of infrastructure development;
the MASBUTIPA groups asks for the establishment of fish
landing in Donsol; while Sorsogon Bay wants a common buying
station for fishery products.
In reference to market, the Pacific group says it is sufficient
and available but the MASBUTIPA group says that it is
controlled by local traders who dictate the price yet cannot absorb
the production during the peak season.
For fisherfolk registration, full coverage has not yet been
done; LGUs do not have a uniform interpretation of who are
the women fisherfolk are; and there is a lack of social protection
benefit for the fisherfolk.
Due to these varied issues, there is a need to continue the
discussions on the level of adjoining municipalities, which is
part of the next steps that the fisheries stakeholders will pursue.
Some 200 fishermen, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Management Councils (FARMCs), Agriculture and Fisheries
July 2015
Bantay-Bayan
Leashed Mud Crabs:
Interesting Livelihood
Concept
15
Fisheries ... from page 14
Councils (AFCs), civil society organizations working with
fisherfolks (Lingap para sa Kalusugan ng Sambayanan or
LIKAS, Sorsogon Social Action Foundation Inc., Coastal Core,
Integrated Rural Development Foundation. Alyansa kan Parasira
sa Sorsogon or ALPAS), and government agencies – the Bureau
of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Committees
on Agriculture and Fisheries and Environment and Natural
Resources of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Office of the
Provincial Agriculturist, its Fisheries Section, the local
government units through its Municipal / City Agriculture
Offices, Provincial / Municipal / City Environment and Natural
Resources Offices, the Department of Environment and Natural
Resouces, the Philippine National Police, the Provincial Health
Office, the Department of Trade and Industry, attended the 2day Summit.
The Fisheries Summit – that the fisherfolk would like to
institutionalize as a continuing venue for the monitoring and
evaluation of the provincial fisheries concerns – was realized due
to the following persons / entities: the Provincial Government
through Governor Raul R. Lee and Provincial Administrator
Robert ‘Bobet’ A. Lee Rodrigueza, the Office of the Provincial
Agriculturist through Officer-in-Charge Provincial Agriculturist
Dr. Ma. Teresa V. Destura and Fisheries Section Head Robert D.
Fortes, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Regional Director Dennis V. del Socorro and Provincial Fisheries
Officer Gil B. Ramos.
The mayors of the local government units likewise
supported the Summit by sending their Municipal / City
Agriculture Officers and staff, Municipal / City Environment
and Natural Resources Officers, Municipal / City FARMCs,
Municipal / City AFCs and people’s organizations on fisheries.
The Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries of the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan headed by Board Member Arze G.
Glipo promised that the Committee will strongly push through
the legislative concerns identified during the Fisheries Summit
and will initiate the meeting of the OPAg-Fisheries and BFAR
to identify roles and responsibilities to pursue the solutions to
address these
issues. #
The future of our seas
lie in our hands.
A project in Northern Samar: mudcrabs are either tied to
stakes or to a pole inside the fishpond
* with support from the European Union
16
Bantay-Bayan
July 2015
Fisheries stakeholders raise
concerns about Sorsogon waters
Overfished.
That is the one-word description for the state of Sorsogon
waters as seen by the stakeholders themselves during the 1st
Provincial Fisheries Summit held on July 29-30, 2015 at the
Audio Visual Hall of the Sorsogon State College Sorsogon City
Campus.
The province of Sorsogon has a coastline of 553.3
kilometers around 13 municipalities and 1 city, with only the
town of Irosin as landlocked. It is bounded by 5 fishing grounds:
the Pacific Ocean and Albay Gulf (Pacific Coast) covering the
towns of Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Bulusan, Sta.
Magdalena, Matnog and part of Bacon District of Sorsogon City;
the Burias Pass and Ticao Pass covering the municipalities of
Pilar, Donsol, and Bulan; and Sorsogon Bay which includes
... continue to
page 11
* with support from the European Union