Community-based Coastal Resource Management in Banate, Iloilo

Averting the Banate Bay Version of the Tragedy of the Commons: The Story of the BBRMCIA Topic Report

OutlineIntroductionProfile of Banate BayThe BBRMCI experienceChallengesConclusions RecommendationsReferences

IntroductionCoastal resource management is a strategy by which all the stakeholders should cooperate to accomplish the proper management and sustainable development of the resources.

A system that allows fishermen and other coastal stakeholders to continue to use, develop and benefit from coastal resources while ensuring these resources sustainability.

Who are the stakeholders: Government, civil society groups, private sector3

Profile of Banate Bay

Banate Bay is shared by the municipalities of Anilao, Banate, Barotac Nuevo and Barotac Viejo.

Along the Bay are the 22 coastal communities of the 4 municipalities

Found in these waters are mollusks, corals, fish, sea turtles, kasag (crab).4

The Tragedy of CommonsOverexploitation of marine resourcesCompeting with commercial fishing vesselsPovertyFishing techniquesCyanide and dynamite fishing

What is the tragedy of the commons? Postulated by Garrett Hardin, the concept describes how individuals acting independently on their own interests can collectively deplete a common limited resource. In the case of Banate Bay, the overexploitation of marine resources had caused its very own version of the tragedy.

In cyanide fishing, fishers dive down to the reef and squirt cyanide in coral crevices and on the fast-moving fish. This is to stun the fish so that it is easy to catch them. Although some large tropical fish can metabolize cyanide, smaller fish and other marine animals like coral polyps are poisoned by the chemical cloud produced during this process.

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The Story of BBRMCIThe BBRMCI was initiated by Mayor Ramon Antiojo of the municipality of Anilao. His awareness and the passage of the Local Government Code encouraged him to form an integrated municipal council with the nearby municipalities of Barotac Nuevo and Banate. Barotac Viejo later joined the BBRMCI.6

Features of the Initiative

-Taken from Endo (2008)Features: collaborative management (top-down and bottom-up approach), pooling of resources, engaging other sectors, transferred the registration and issuance of permits to the council instead of the LGUs taking responsibility of the same.

Innate limitations/weaknesses: municipal mayors (do not occupy permanent position leading to change of policies), lack of the academe to document the progress, appropriation is anchored on political patronage as each municipality allocates a minimum amount of Php 100,0007

Activities and mechanisms

Law enforcementMangrove reforestationZoning practicesBottom-up planning

Law enforcement: Locus of control of the BBRMCI Bantay-Dagat is the entire Bay, a contrast to other municipalities which limit the scope of their Bantay Dagat to their respective municipal waters. Led to the decrease of illegal fisheries.

Mangrove reforestation:

Zoning practices: environmental conservation. Weakness: difficulty in determining as to where a particular zone begins or ends

Bottom-up planning: consultations with the coastal communities Challenge: engaging the key stakeholders in the bottom-up planning processes; are the inputs being appreciated by top level management? That remains to be seen.

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ResultsIn a study conducted by Arcenas, et.al (2011), barangays under the BBRMCI have better yield than those from non-BBRMCI barangays (in the towns of Zarraga and Dumangas).Decrease in illegal fisheries (Endo, 2008).

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Challenges to BRRMCIPoliticalSource of fundingSections 318-319, LGC of 1991 provide that the Local Chief Executive prepares the budget to be submitted for legislative authorization.Change of leadershipGood relations with local leaders

Change of leadership as a challenge: Municipal mayors are ex-officio of the council. A possible change in leadership would most likely change policy direction.

Good relations with local leaders and funding as challenges: Related with the funding challenge; To have higher appropriation, the council should maintain good relations with the local leaders.10

Challenges (contd)EmpowermentNot everyone in the community are members of the initiativeLimited to community-based problems onlyIssue of transboundary pollutionTransboundary pollution is a pollution that originates in one place but is able to cause damage or destruction in another place, by crossing borders through pathways like water or air. This pollution can be transported across hundreds and even thousands of kilometers11

ConclusionsEmphasized the relevance of proximity in planning for effective program implementationIntegrated resource unit can avert common-pool resource problem

RecommendationsOutside linkagesFundingDepoliticizeMechanisms of encouragementEngage academe for documentation and further research

ReferencesBaylon, Carlos. Evaluation of the Integrated Municipal Council as an Institution for Co-Management in the Coastal Zone, November 2002. Accessed at http://www.worldfishcenter.org/resource_centre/WF_2460.pdf last June 17, 2014.Endo, Aiko. Integrated Coastal Management & Small-Scale Coastal Fisheries: Case Study of Banate Bay in Panay Island in the Philippines, 2008. Accessed at http://pemsea.org/eascongress/special-events/seminar-on-ecosystem-approach-to-conservation-and-fisheries-management/presentation_ea_endo.pdf last June 20, 2014.Arcenas, Agustin, et.al. Coastal and Marine Resources Management in the Philippines: An Analysis of the Political Economy of Banate Bay, 2011. Accessed at http://www.searca.org/index.php/discussion-paper/544-coastal-and-marine-resource-management-in-the-philippines-an-analysis-of-the-political-economy-of-banate-bay/download last June 21, 2014.Thank you.