ISO Anniversary on July 19-20, 2007

The ISO held its anniversary last July 19-20, 2007 at the Walter Hogan Conference Center. The celebration was highlighted by a Tribute to Fr. Carroll, a Public Presentation on The Mangrove Forests in Northern Lamon Bay Mangrove studies, the Ugnayan: Bahaginan ng Bantay Dagat and the Oath Taking Ceremony of the Newly Elected Officers of the Lamon Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council.

A Tribute to Fr. John J. Carroll, SJ

Fr. John J. Carroll, SJ is one of the prominent figures in the landscape of Jesuit Social Action in the Philippines. He is a friend and student of ISO founder Fr. Walter Hogan, SJ with whom he worked with as a Researcher at the ISO. He eventually founded the Institute on Church and Social Issues (ICSI) which was renamed the Fr. John J. Carroll Institute of Church and Social Issues (JJCICSI) last January 16, 2007. To honor the reverend father, the ISO management staff gave him a tribute on July 19, 2007. The event started with a celebratory Mass, which was presided by Fr. Primitivo Viray, S.J. A video presentation on the contributions of Fr. Carroll to Catholic Social Action followed. The video was entitled: The Man We Came To Know as …Fr. Jack. Testimonials were also shared by Fr. Carroll’s friends who attended the event.

Public Presentation: The Mangrove Forests in Northern Lamon Bay

Two studies concerning the conditions of the mangrove forests in the municipalities of Burdeos, Infanta, Jomalig, Mauban, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Polillo and Real in Northern Lamon Bay were presented. These are as follows:

a) The Mangrove Forests in Northern Lamon Bay.

The paper discusses the conditions of the mangrove forests in the eight municipalities of Northern Lamon Bay. The study was conducted by the IFARMC Technical Working Group with ISO’s assistance. Mr. Justino Dacillo and Mr. Domingo Torres, local members of the IFARMC TWG presented the study. Among the major findings of the study was that the mangrove areas in the Northern Lamon Bay area are indeed overexploited. As such adequate policies for protection and sustainable management of these resources need to be instituted. Massive and widespread education on these issues and constant mangrove resource monitoring and enforcement of protection policies are few of the measures that have been recommended.

The paper was reviewed by Atty. Jose Andres Canivel, Executive Director of Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF), Mr. Benedict Balderrama, PhilSSA National Coordinator and Fr. Mars Tan SJ from Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC). Each reviewer commented on the usefulness of the study as a starting point for the formulation of proper policies and for the monitoring of the mangroves.

b) Economic Valuation of Mangroves: The Case of Quezon Province.

The paper discussed the economic valuation of mangroves. It basically examines the economic costs and benefits of direct and indirect use of mangroves as well as how much the community will pay to protect it. Dr. Marissa Garcia, Deputy Executive Director of De La Salle University-Angelo King Institute for Economic and Business Studies and Mr. Andres Pua, Instructor for the Financial Management Department and Adjunct Faculty of Economics of De La Salle University reported on the study. The study concluded that while there is willingness to pay among the people, this decreases for those who actually use the mangroves. Willingness to pay is also affected by the apprehensions about the effectiveness of their contributions. Recommendations include the adoption of users’ fees and provisions of livelihood support, for which portion of revenues would be used for mangrove rehabilitation.

The reviewers of the study include Dr. Noel Padilla the Chief of DENR’s Policy Studies Division, Planning and Policy Studies Services, Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ. of the JJCICSI and Dr. Placido Dapla of DENR-PENRO of Quezon Province. They suggested additional parameters to be included in the study to better measure the value of mangrove protection.

Ugnayan: Bahaginan ng Bantay Dagat

A Fishery Law Enforcement Conference was conducted on July 20, 2007. The event was attended by members of the Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (IFARMCs) in the Northern Lamon Bay and the San Miguel Bay along with various LGU representatives. Fisherfolk representatives from other provinces and bay areas were also present to share their experiences.

The activity began with an introduction to the concept of Law Enforcement and Fishery Laws discussed by Dennis F. Calvan, ISO’s Research and Advocacy Officer. This was followed by inputs from Rodolfo Tabing of the MFARMC in Mariveles, Bataan and Annabelle Echavez, representative from Bolinao, Pangasinan, on their experiences in bantay dagat operations.

The second half of the conference involved parallel discussions on law enforcement experiences of ISO program partners from Quezon and Camarines Provinces. The Quezon experiences were discussed by Wilberto Dacillo of the IFARMC of Northern Lamon Bay, Noli de la Cruz of the Pederasyon ng Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda sa Unisan, Quezon (PSMMUQ) representing Tayabas Bay and Ramon Grimaldo of the IFARMC in Southern Lamon Bay. For the Bicol session, Fernando Nogales of the Inter-Island Mangement Council (IIMC) from Merceds, Camarines Norte in San Miguel Bay and Nestor Plopino from Ragay Gulf shared their experiences.

The discussions highlighted the difficulties in bantay dagat operations such as the lack of financial, logistical and legal support from the LGUs and harassment of Bantay Dagat members, among others. The gains made in law enforcement such as the cases that were filed and the support they managed to acquire was also commended. Dr. Liza L. Lim, Executive Director of ISO, made the closing remarks.

Oath Taking Ceremony of Newly Elected Officers of IFARMC Lamon Bay

After the Ugnayan, around 50 fisherfolks and guest speakers attended the oath taking ceremony of newly elected officers of Lamon Bay Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council. Inspirational talks were delivered by Dir. Rosa Macas of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and former Congressman Oscar ‘Ka Oca” Santos. Gov. Rafael Nantes of the Province of Quezon, extended his support to the fisheries sector by committing to hold a province-wide fisheries summit and to allocate funds to protect and rehabilitate Lamon Bay. Gov. Nantes also presided over the oath taking ceremony. Mr. Wilberto Dacillo took over the leadership of IFARMC from Mr. Ramon Grimaldo. The IFARMC of Lamon Bay is composed of 17 municipalities, which are divided into Northern and Southern Lamon Bay. The municipalities along Northern Lamon Bay include: Infanta, Real, Gen. Nakar, Mauban, Polillo, Burdeos, Patnanungan, Jomalig and Panukulan. On the other hand, municipalities along Southern Lamon Bay include: Quezon, Lopez, Perez, Gumaca, Atimonan, Plaridel, Alabat and Calauag.

ISO Conducts Voters’ Education

To assist voters in choosing for candidates in the May 14 election, the ISO conducted a series of Voters’ Education in Quezon and Camarines Norte. Last April 26-30, 2007, a total of 156 participants from Brgys. Apad, Gango, Bukal, Talisoy and Casuguran in the Municipality of Jomalig Quezon attended the said activity. A Candidates’ Forum was also held in Brgy. Talisoy to seek a promise of continuing support to the activities of the Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (IFARMC) in Northern Lamon Bay from the candidates. The ISO also conducted a Voters’ Education last May 2-4, 2007 in Brgys. Poblacion, Patnanungan Norte and Luod in the Municipality of Patnanungan. This was attended by a total of 88 people.

On the other hand, a Trainers’ Training on Voters’ Education was conducted at T.S. Resort Apuao, Camarines Norte last April 17-18, 2007. A total of 31 participants attended the said training. Voters’ Education session were also conducted in the following barangays: Brgy. Caringo last April 19 (28 participants); Brgy. Apuao last April 20 (40 participants); Brgy. Poblacion 6 and 7 last April 27 (32 participants); Brgy. Masalong-salong last April 29 (25 participants); Brgy. Quinapaguian last April 30 (28 participants); Brgy. Cayucyucan last May 1 (30 participants) and Brgy. Mambungalon last May 2 (29 participants). A covenant among local candidates to support coastal resources management last May 5, 2007 served as a culminating activity.

The ISO’s Voters’ Education was patterned after the modules developed by the Pinoy Voters Academy of the Simbahang Lingkod Bayan. Brothers Rico Adapon and John Oledan of the Society of Jesus facilitated the series of Voters’ Education in Camarines Norte and Quezon.

4 DS Students and 2 Jesuit Scholastics Assist in the Conduct of ISO Activities

Four (4) Development Studies students from the Ateneo de Manila University and 2 Jesuit Scholastics assisted the ISO in its summer activities. Mr. Eric Uy helped in the improvement of the ISO website. He also assisted in the data gathering concerning the issues of fishery law enforcement in Northern Lamon Bay. Ms. Katherine Diño provided support to the Value-Based Education Program by writing up a profile of illegal fishers who reverted back to sustainable use of resources in Northern Lamon and San Miguel Bays. Ms. Iya Halagueña and Ms. Monica Edralin assisted in facilitating Voters’ Education sessions in Quezon and Camarines Norte, respectively. The internship program started from April 15, 2007-May 15, 2007.

IIMC Celebrates 6 th Anniversary

The Inter-Island Management Council (IIMC), ISO’s fisherfolk partner in implementing CRM programs, held its 6 th General Assembly in Brgy. Quinapaguian last March 17, 2007. Hon. Pepito Lo, the Municipal Mayor of the Mercedes, served as the guest speaker. Mayor Lo announced that the LGU will provide Php40,000 grants for a Micro-finance Project that would benefit the municipal fishers. On the other hand, Mr. Eduardo Salamero, Provincial Agriculturist of Camarines Norte, announced that its office approved the Marine Sanctuary Management Plan of Mercedes. This means that the provincial government will allocate funds for the management of the marine protected areas of the municipality. Other guests in the GA include a representative of BFAR-V and MFARMC Chair Roy Ladea. Around 422 IIMC members and guests participated in the activity. During the GA, the creation of the Women and Youth Committees within IIMC was also announced.

IIMC Receives Grant from Budyong-PLKP

The Budyong-Pinag-isang Lakas ng Kababaihan sa Pangisdaan, a national women’s federation that pilots women-area management framework, approved a grant to the Inter-Island Management Council (IIMC) for its marine sanctuary management. The IIMC will receive an amount of Php100,000 to assist women who are members of the Bantay Dagat. They will also be trained in coral reef assessment. The project will run from May 2007-November 2007.

German Doctors, Inc. and IPADE Visit Mercedes, Camarines Norte

Fr. Bernhard Ehlen, S.J., representative of the German Doctors, Inc., conducted a field visit in Mercedes, Camarines Norte last March 29-30, 2007. The objective of the visit was to assess its funded livelihood project for the municipal fishers. The project has a total of 113 direct beneficiaries and 534 indirect beneficiaries.

Mr. Ramon Cervera and Ms. Carlota Fuentes, representatives of IPADE, also made a visit in the municipality last March 22, 2007. They were able to talk the local community members about the possibility of extending support for the strengthening of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council in San Miguel Bay.

IIMC and ISO starts the 3 rd Cycle of the Grouper Culture Project

After appraising the IIMC’s financial system, the 3 rd cycle of the grouper culture project started last March 2007. A total of 14,120 pieces of tiny and an additional 500 pieces of bangus were put in the fishpond in Brgy. Cayucyucan. Bangus helps in sustaining the flow of oxygen in the water. A total of Php310, 156.00 was allocated for the 3 rd cycle of the project. The project is expected to generate a net income of around Php235,844.00 at the end of the cycle in February 2008.

Support to the IFARMC of Northern Lamon Bay

The Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (IFARMC) of Lamon Bay had a meeting on January 18, 2007 in the Municipality of Real, Quezon. One of the major topics discussed in the meeting was the re-organization and election of new officers of the IFARMC. The next meeting will be held in the Municipality of Alabat, Quezon on June 23, 2007.

The Integrated Patrolling Team (IPT) of Northern Lamon Bay conducted Land-based Checkpoint Operation last February 15, 2007 and Seaborne Patrolling and Surveillance operations last March 14-16, 2007. During the two operations, a total of four (4) cases were filed including 3 cases on violations of section 88 of R.A. 8550 (Possession and/or Actual Use of Explosives, Noxious or poisonous substance for illegal fishing) and section 90 (Use of Active Gear).

IFARMC SMB and NFR hold dialogue for Municipal Fishery Ordinance

Mr. Bas Umali, Atty. Macario Maderazo and Ms. Cyrus Pangan, representatives from the NGOs for Fisheries Reform (NFR) held dialogue with members of the Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (IFARMC) of San Miguel Bay last March 15, 2007 to explore the possibility of adapting the former’s model municipal fishery ordinance. Ms. Pangan, NFR Advocacy Officer, pointed out that the IFARMC SMB may find it difficult to lobby for a Unified Municipal Fishery Ordinance given the differences in the status of law enforcement among the seven municipalities comprising San Miguel Bay. Instead, NFR advised for IFARMC SMB to forge an Executive Agreement on integrating fishery law enforcement among local government units, BFAR-V and the ISO. Mr. Fernando Agripa, on the other hand, agreed with NFR’s observation. However, he did not discard the possibility of adapting a UMFO in the future. According to him, the IFARMC SMB should first strengthen fisherfolk organizations, which will serve as grassroots’ bases for lobbying and advocacy. He further said that the Covenant signed by the local chief executives during the Stakeholders’ Forum last November 14, 2006 served as an executive agreement among the LGUs, BFAR-V and the ISO. What the IFARMC-SMB can do is to follow up these commitments with the concerned sectors. The NFR committed to assist the IFARMC SMB in the formulation of the UMFO in the future.