ISO Publication Updates

The Institute of Social Order (ISO), with assistance from the Assisi Development Foundation, Inc (ADFI), and Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID) and La Fundacion Instituto de Promocion Apoyo al Desarollo (IPADE), has released a book last June 2009 entitled Mga Likas-Yaman ng Karagatan: Para sa Pangangalaga ng Baybaying Dagat at Karagatan. The book contains training modules on Community-Based Coastal Resource Management focusing on implementing environmental Information Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns in CB-CRM.

In addition to this, The ISO will also publish a collection of children’s stories about the sea entitled Tagpi-tagping Pangarap: Mga Kuwento ng Ugnayan sa Karagatan. This story book was made through the assistance of Project AWARE, an Australian-based international NGO working in Asia and the Pacific, and the Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE). The book is a collection of stories developed during the Story Telling and Writing Workshop the ISO conducted on August 9-10, 2008. The authors of the book are elementary students in Mercedes, Camarines Norte, and student volunteers from the ISO’s Coral Reef Champions Project and the La Consolacion College in Daet.

PCRA-REA Workshop for ISO staff

Monitoring of social and ecological changes is an integral part of any CB-CRM program. Thus, CB-CRM practitioners need to have skills in Participatory Coastal Resource Assessment and Resource and Ecological Assessment (PCRA-REA). Given this, the ISO conducted a PCRA-REA workshop last March 28 to April 3, 2009 in Barangay Cayucyucan, Mercedes in Camarines Norte. Mr. Robert Solar, a Natural Resources Management (NRM) specialist of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR, www.iirr.org) facilitated the workshop to 10 ISO personnel, who forms ISO’s technical composite team. This enhanced the skills of the composite team in the conduct of coral reef, mangrove, and seagrass assessments. The team was also guided in developing a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system that will better track the impacts of ISO’s efforts in its program areas.

To date, the composite team was able to utilize these skills in various activities in 2009 such as the recent mangrove inventory in Cabusao and Siruma in Camarines Sur and the mangrove nursery and reforestation project in Polillo, Quezon. The learnings from these were also re-echoed to their local partners in Northern Lamon Bay last May.

San Miguel Bay , Bicol Region

Updates to Organizational Activities

The ISO supports a total of 6 FOs from Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur as part of its CB-CRM project in San Miguel Bay.

The ISO’s partner FO in Mercedes, the Inter-Island Management Council (IIMC) continues to conduct its regular meetings and is currently pre-occupied with the implementation of its livelihood projects. The IIMC is also implementing a savings program entitled “Piso-A-Day”, wherein 51 IIMC members from Barangay Poblacion voluntarily save Php1.00 peso each day. Since its inception in January, the savings program has already accumulated a total of Php16,146.70.

In Cabusao, the ISO is assisting the members of Cabusao Fishers Association (CFA) in setting up its financial systems. Besides this, the CFA is also re-organizing its structure, gradually strengthening its membership particularly those coming from Barangays Barcelonita, Castillo, and Pandan.

Meanwhile in Siruma, the ISO focuses on working out the registration of 4 newly formed FOs with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The ISO assisted the FOs in securing tax identification numbers (T.I.N) of FO members to facilitate their registration. The ISO also helped these FOs to finalize their respective organizational Vision-Mission-Goals (VMG). Similarly, the ISO is also helping them to set-up their respective financial systems.

MFARMC Support in San Miguel Bay

The ISO and the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA) in Cabusao was able to re-organize the MFARMC last June 11, 2009. Around 32 participants, (21 men and 11 women), were oriented on the salient points of FAO 196 covering the creation of FARMCs. A new set of officers was also elected.

In Siruma, the ISO has successfully re-organized the MFARMC last April 24 with 35 participants, of whom 8 were women and 27 were men. Similarly, a new set of officers were elected and members were oriented on the salient points of FAO 196 (Guidelines on the Establishment of FARMCs). The activity revitalized the MFARMC, spurred on by the participation of the members from the newly formed FOs in in Siruma. A recent meeting in May and June allowed it to draft its internal rules and procedures, its logo, and plans for the coming months.

Meanwhile, the ISO’s support to the MFARMC in Mercedes continues. The MFARMC recently passed a resolution to suspend the passage lane privileges of commercial fishing boats using trawls, buli-buli (Danish seines), and norways. The IIMC, the ISO’s long-time local partner in Camarines Norte, consistently participates in CB-CRM activities in the area and in conducting fishery law enforcement activities in partnership with the LGU.

Paralegal Training/ Deputation of Volunteer Law Enforcers

A para-legal training was given to the fisherfolks of San Miguel Bay. This was conducted in two batches: one at the municipal level and one at the bay-wide level. A discussion on the fishery laws and law enforcement procedures ensued in the workshop. Veteran deputized fish wardens or Bantay Dagat volunteers also shared their experiences in law enforcement.

The first batch was given to municipal fishers of Siruma last February 16-18. It was attended by 48 participants with 7 women and 41 men from the 4 Fishers Associations (FAs) assisted by the ISO, as well as members of the local governments in San Miguel Bay. This is very timely given the plans of the San Miguel IFARMC to form an integrated composite team that will patrol San Miguel Bay. The deputation of these fisherfolks into Deputized Fish Wardens (DFWs) is now being processed.

Subsequently, the second batch of the para-legal training was conducted last April 20-21 at the Palms Beach Resort in Barangay Cayucyucan of Mercedes in Camarines Norte. The event registered 45 participants of whom 9 were women and 36 were men from the fisherfolks, LGUs, BFAR, and the local police. Members of the MFARMCs of Cabusao, Mercedes, Basud, and Calabanga, as well as fisherfolk-representatives from the ISO assisted FOs in Cabusao and Siruma, were present in the event.

Livelihood-related Training

Financial Management Training/ On-the-job coaching in Cabusao

The activity was conducted last March 22-23. The participants numbered 27 people with 17 women and 8 men. The members of the CFA learned skills on simple bookkeeping and preparation of financial reports. A workshop was also conducted for the drafting of the financial policy of the organization. It was observed that some of the members have skills and potentials in bookkeeping. These will be improved through on-the-job coaching by the ISO.

Loan Revolving Fund (LRF) Management/ Orientation Seminar

In preparation for the operationalization of the Loan Revolving Fund (LRF) project, the ISO conducted a seminar for the FOs in Cabusao and Siruma. In Cabusao, this was held last June 17 in Barangay Barcelonita, June 22 in Barangay Pandan, and June 24 in Barangay Castillo. A total of 57 participants, 42 women and 15 men, were oriented on the LRF. The draft of the LRF’s implementing guidelines and procedures was also presented during the activity.

Similarly, the ISO conducted the seminar for the ISO assisted 4 FOs in Siruma from June 22 to 26, 2009. A total of 93 participants registered to the event with 34 women and 59 men. A Project Screening and Monitoring Team (PSMT) that will screen and monitor the projects applied under the LRF was also formed for the FOs in Siruma.

Polyculture and Livelihood Management in San Miguel Bay

In Mercedes, the IIMC continues to implement their livelihood projects, utilizing the reflows from the Support to Alternative Livelihood Project (SALP) funded by the German Doctors Inc. (GDr). For its grouper cum polyculture project, the IIMC is close to ending its 4 th cropping cycle. It also started the 5 th cropping cycle last May 2009. A total of 1,450 grouper fingerlings were purchased for this. The 5 th cropping cycle will be a polyculture project as well, which will be growing prawns, bangus, and other species.

Meanwhile in Cabusao, the ISO now embarks on the 2 nd cropping period of the mud crab fattening pond in Barangay New Poblacion. As of June 28, a total of 292 crablets were stocked into pond. The ISO has installed compartments within the pond that will house the mud crab stocks while they are fattened to marketable size (400 grams above). To note, the ISO currently manages the 2 nd cropping period to test the viability of the project. In addition to this, the CFA members in Barangay Barcelonita are now pre-occupied in the construction of their mud crab nursery. To date the construction of the guard house and gate and the excavation of the 300 square meter pond is in progress. The grow-out of crab seeds will most likely happen from December 2009 to May 2010 when the supply of crab seeds (locally termed langaw-langaw) is abundant. Meanwhile, the nursery will be used as a fattening pond since big sized crablets are abundant during this time.

Municipal Mayors throws support for integrated law enforcement in San Miguel Bay

The ISO sponsored a fishery law enforcement-cum-multi-stakeholder conference for the Integrated Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council of San Miguel Bay (IFARMC SMB) at the Walter Hogan Conference Center, Ateneo de Manila University on December 10-11, 2008. The activity was attended by 25 – 27 fisher-representatives of the IFARMC-SMB and LGU representatives from Basud and Mercedes, Camarines Norte, and Cabusao, Calabanga, and Siruma, Camarines Sur.

The said conference aimed to revisit issues confronted by the local bantay dagat and their LGUs in fishery law enforcement in San Miguel Bay. It also aimed to promote the formulation of a unified municipal fishery ordinance by generating support and commitment for integrated patrolling and surveillance among the local chief executives from the municipalities along San Miguel Bay.

Among those present were the Municipal Mayors of Basud and Mercedes, municipal counselors and staff of the municipal governments of Cabusao, Calabanga and Siruma and the fisherfolks from the municipalities along San Miguel Bay.

The conference was help with funding support from the Agencia Espanola Cooperacion Internacional y Desarollo (AECID) through the Instituto para Promocion y Apoyo al Desarrollo (IPADE) and the NGOs for Fisheries Reform, Inc. (NFR).

Community-Based Trainings for ISO-IPADE Program Partners Held

The ISO’s project partners in Cabusao and Siruma, Camarines Sur were given basic orientation on environmental protection and community organizing from October to November 2008. Environmental value-based training was conducted in Cabusao in October 26, 2008 to 25 fisher leaders from Sta. Lutgarda, Pandan, Barcelonita and Castillo. The same activity was conducted for 30fisher leaders from barangays Vito, Matandang Siruma, Pinitan and Butawanan in Siruma on November 22, 2008. The purpose of the training activity was to educate the fisher leaders on the importance of environmental protection for sustainable development. This is part of a program entitled, Strengthening Local Partnerships for Integrated Coastal Resource Management and Sustainable Livelihood Development.

Following this, leadership training was conducted for 25 leaders and members of the Fishers’ Associations from Cabusao on November 24-25, 2008 and to 44 leaders and members of Fishers’ Association from Siruma on October 23-24, 2008. The training aimed to equip the fisherfolk leaders with skills and values that would make them effective leaders of their respective organizations.

Livelihood Update: San Miguel Bay

The mudcrab fattening/grow out project in Cabusao, Camarines Sur is ongoing. The project is being funded by Agencia Espanola Cooperacion Internacional y Desarollo (AECID) through the Instituto para Promocion y Apoyo al Desarrollo (IPADE). The project aims to improve the living conditions of fishing communities along San Miguel Bay through integrated coastal resource management and sustainable livelihood development.

In Mercedes, Camarines Norte, the funding assistance from the German Doctors, Inc. for the Support to Alternative Livelihood Project (SALP) ended last June, 2007. At present, the Inter-Island Management Council (IIMC), ISO’s partner FO in the area continues to implement the following subprojects from the earnings and revolved capital from SALP: 1) cattle dispersal; 2) swine breeding/hog fattening; 3) grouper culture; and 6) microfinance.

Lamon Bay, Quezon Province

Value Based Education Program Conducted Values Formation Workshop

On May 26 to 27, 2009, the ISO facilitated a Value Based Education (VBEd) workshop with the goal of imparting Ignatian Discernment on “faith that does justice” to its partners in the Northern Lamon Bay IFARMC. This was attended by 13 participants from the IFARMC NLB composed of 3 women and 10 men. Mr. Efren “Jong” Oledan of the ISO VBEd Program/ Training Unit facilitated the event held at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in Novaliches, Quezon City.

One of the tools used for this was a film showing which underlined Ignatian Discernment. This reminded the participants that reality is not always black and white, and hence the need for discernment. Aside from this, an activity called “Amazing gRace” was conducted to help define the steps to discernment. Patterned after the Amazing Race reality show, the Amazing gRace explained discernment in an “interactive” manner so that participants could better understand the topic.

The participants then applied their learning and reflections on Ignatian Discernment by relating them to experiences in the IFARMC. The culmination of the activity is the group’s presentation on the concretization of Ignatian Discernment in their lives as members of the IFARMC.

MFARMCs in Northern Lamon Bay Undergo Organizational Diagnosis

The ISO conducted Organizational Diagnosis (OD) Workshops for the Municipal FARMCs of Northern Lamon Bay namely Mauban, Real, Infanta, Gen. Nakar, Polillo, Burdeos, Patnanungan, and Jomalig. The OD enabled the assessment of the performance and effectiveness of the MFARMCs as policy recommending bodies to the Local Government Units on matters pertaining to fisheries.

The common issues raised during the workshops include the non-functionality of the MFARMC’s committees, inactive membership, and insufficient funding and support from the LGUs for their activities. The OD also identified the needs for organizational management and the problem of MFARMC members having minimal skills and knowledge on Community Based-Coastal Resources Management (CB-CRM). Knowing these problems, the ISO adjusted its capacity building interventions based on the needs of the FARMC members.

The OD identified the bottlenecks that keep these MFARMCs from maximizing its strengths. Several follow-up activities have been planned to build on the outcomes of this activity. These include learning sessions on the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998, para-legal training, and the reorganization of selected MFARMCs such as in Mauban. The ISO will also continue its assistance to the MFARMCs in organizational development particularly in ISO grassroots areas in Polillo and Real. This includes assistance to regular meetings and troubleshooting of organizational concerns.

ISO Provides Assistance to FOs in Northern Lamon Bay

The ISO works with 5 fisherfolk organizations (FOs) in Real and 4 FOs in Polillo with the intention of building them into effective grassroots partners in the implementation of Coastal Resource Management (CRM). The ISO meets with the FOs on a monthly basis, wherein organizational problems were discussed and resolved. To date, the FOs’ CRM-related activities in Polillo include the establishment of mangrove nurseries, mangrove reforestation and livelihood development in Barangays Libjo and Tamulaya. For FOs in Real, law enforcement and advocacy against commercial fishing and the use of active gears are of particular concern.

The ISO also assisted the FOs of Real and Polillo in registering their organizations with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). On January 2009, the FOs received their certificates of registration from DOLE, to give them a legal identity and allow them to be recognized by other institutions. This boosted their morale, particularly during events when they represented their organizations.

FO profiling is currently being conducted for FOs in both municipalities. This will allow the ISO to better assist the FOs and to track the impacts of its projects to these fisherfolks.

Capability Building Activities for FOs in Northern Lamon Bay

Several capability building activities were given to the FOs of Northern Lamon Bay that assisted them in the management of their own projects and activities, as well as in the development of possible livelihood projects. These include:

• Project Development and Management Seminars

This was conducted in Polillo and Real last January 25 and 29, 2009, respectively. For Polillo-based FOs, a total of 27 participants attended the activity, of whom 5 were women while 24 were men. In Real, the activity had 21 participants, of whom 2 were women and 19 were men. In general, the seminar oriented the participants on the basic concepts of project development and improved their skills in proposal writing. As a follow-up activity on these PDM Seminars, a seminar on Secretariat Duties was conducted in a joint meeting of the FOs in Real last February. Around 21 participants, of whom 6 were women and 9 were men, attended the said training. Included in the discussion is the sharing of practical tips on secretariat work such as formats for correspondence and reports.

• Basic Business Management Seminar/ Practical Skills Training

The ISO conducted a Basic Business Management Seminar/ Practical Skills Training last February 24-26. The activity was attended by 28 participants, of whom 5 were women and 23 were men. The activity upgraded the fisherfolks’ technical knowledge on aqua-silviculture projects like mud crab and bangus (milkfish) culture. The seminar also served as a venue to inculcate among the FOs the basic principles of business management and to stress the importance of having financial systems and policies. This training prepared the FOs in their upcoming livelihood projects, particularly in Polillo.

• Mangrove Management in Polillo

A training activity on mangrove reforestation and management was given to FOs in Polillo on March 24 to 25, 2009. Around 24 participants, of whom 9 were women and 15 were men attended the seminar. Technical knowledge on the management of reforestation sites was imparted to the participants.

Subsequently, a training activity was also given on March 25 to 26, 2009 on Nursery Establishment and Maintenance to 16 FO members in Polillo. FOs. The training underscored the relationship of mangrove nurseries in the FOs’ future reforestation activities: The nurseries ensure the supplies of the seedlings to be planted during mangrove reforestation projects.

Related to these, representatives from the MFARMC, Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, and Municipal Council (Sangguniang Bayan) was able to draft a mangrove management plan for Polillo during the Advanced Participatory Coastal Resources Assessment and Resource Ecological Assessment (PCRA-REA) workshop, which the ISO conducted last May 25, 2009. A total of 16 participants (3 women and 13 men) from the IFARMC and the LGUs of Northern Lamon Bay attended the event. As a background, the ISO conducted an introductory PCRA-REA Training for its local partners from the LGUs and FARMCs of Northern Lamon Bay in 2006. However, project assessments indicate that there is a need for them to update the skills they acquired earlier to be able to conduct a more sophisticated resource ecological assessment. The second-level PCRA-REA workshop was designed with this in mind. As such, it focused on developing the next critical step in managing these resources: the formation of a mangrove management plan.

A mangrove nursery has been established in Barangays Libjo and Tamulaya last June 2009. In addition, preparations are underway to mobilize members of the community particularly the youth in the reforestation of mangrove areas in these areas.

ISO Radio Discussion

The ISO conducted a series of radio discussions and radio commercials, as part of the project, ‘Understanding the Impact of Population to Mangrove Productivity’, funded by the Philippine Center for Population Development (PCPD). The ISO conducted 4 radio discussions and 2 radio commercials related to population control and mangrove protection. These were aired live at Spirit FM (92.7) in Infanta, Quezon as follows: Link of Population Increase to Mangrove Productivity on Feb. 16, 2009, Population Management and CB-CRM on Feb. 17, 2009, Fisherfolk Settlement on Feb. 20, 2009 and finally Gender and Fisheries on Feb. 21, 2009. All discussions were aired from 11:00 to 11:30 am except for the last one which was aired from 6:30 to 7:00pm.

MOA Affirming Tri-Partite Partnership among ISO-IFARMC-NLB and the LGUs Signed

The IFARMC NLB conducted a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing activity affirming the Tripartite Partnership among the ISO, the IFARMC and Local Government Units (LGUs) comprising Northern Lamon Bay last February 20, 2009 at the Walter Hogan Conference Center. The MOA clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the three major stakeholders in the fishery development of Northern Lamon Bay.

The contract signing activity was attended by 42 representatives from the 9 municipalities of Northern Lamon Bay, namely, Burdeos, General Nakar, Infanta, Jomalig, Mauban, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Polillo, Real. The Local Chief Executives from General Nakar, Infanta, Panukulan and Polillo signed the MOA with the Chairman of the IFARMC-NLB, Mr. Wilberto Dacillo and the ISO Director, Dr. Liza Lim. Ms. Esmeralda Paz Manalang, Assistant Regional Director of BFAR IV and the respective MFARC Chairmen, SB Committee Chairs, and Municipal Agriculturists of the concerned municipalities witnessed the MOA signing. Ka Oscar “Oca” Santos of Philippine Coastal Resource Management Sustainable Development Council (PCRMSDC) gave a message of support to IFARMC-NLB and their LGUs.

The symbolic turn-over of a computer and a typewriter by CRM-Learn Center, Inc. to the IFARMC-NLB was also held during the occasion. CRM-Learn Center, Inc. was represented by its Acting Center Coordinator, Jo Villanueva and Mr. Allan Vera. The IFARMC-NLB was represented by Mr. Dacillo.

The said event was funded by the grant from Italian Bishops Conference (BCI).

IFARMC NLB Conducts Evaluation and Planning

The IFARMC of Northern Lamon Bay conducted a year end evaluation and planning activity last December 10, 2008 in Brgy. Gumian, Infanta, Quezon. The seminar was attended by the Chairpersons and other representatives of the MFARMCs of Real, Polillo, Burdeos, Infanta and Patnanungan. A total of 16 participants attended the activity.

During the said event, the accomplishments of IFARMC NLB for the 2 nd semester of 2008 were reviewed and its 2009 work plan finalized. The IFARMC-NLB also discussed the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on February 2009 that will reaffirm the continuation of the tripartite partnership between the IFARMC NLB, the ISO and the LGUs of the nine municipalities of NLB.

Baywide Resource Management Workshop

The IFARMC members from the nine municipalities in Northern Lamon Bay gathered for this year’s Baywide Resource Management Workshop last November 18-20, 2008 at the Walter Hogan Conference Center. There were 23 IFARMC representatives from Real, Infanta, Panukulan, Burdeos, Polillo, Jomalig and Patnanungan attended the event.

During the workshop, the IFARMC vision, mission and goals were formulated. This was expected to strengthen the IFARMC-NLB’s organizational structure and to guide its planning process. The activity also facilitated the formation of the following IFARMC committees: 1) Law Enforcement, 2) Rehabilitation and Conservation, 3) Livelihood Opportunities, 4) Research Education and Training, 5) Legislation and Prosecution, 6) Pollution Control 7) Land and Water Use, And 8) Settlement. A 5-year resource management plan which includes strengthening of fishery law enforcement activities, improving marine resource protection through marine/fish sanctuaries and mangrove management zones, facilitating the delineation of municipal waters identification of livelihood development projects was also developed.

MFARMC Organizational Diagnosis

An organizational diagnosis was conducted to assess the institutional capacity of the MFARMC of Mauban last October 22, 2008. This activity was in line with the ISOs goal of strengthening of the IFARMC in Northern Lamon Bay. This was attended by fisherfolks and representatives from the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist (OMA).

During the said activity, issues that need to be addressed such as the need for the coordination and collective action to solve issues affecting the local fisherfolks, the enhancement of law enforcement in Mauban and the concerns of the commercial fishers in Mauban were discussed.

Partnerships in Project Implementation in Quezon

The Institute also happily announces the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) last November 4, 2008 for the implementation of a joint project entitled, Managing: Common Resources: Sustaining the Livelihood of Coastal Communities Thru Mangrove Management. This project, which concentrates on strengthening the mechanisms for the sustainable management of mangrove resources, is a continuation of an earlier project entitled, Capacity Enhancement cum Mangrove Forest Research Project, which conducted a study to examine the social and cultural factors that led to the current state of mangrove resources in Northern Lamon Bay while training their project partners, the local fisher representatives to the IFARMC, to conduct the research.

Under this project, partnership with Polillo Island Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PIBCFI) was also forged for the combined advocacy for tropical forest management and protection in the municipalities of Polillo and Burdeos. ISO and PIBCFI agreed to jointly produce information materials, conduct trainings on the management of upland and mangrove forests in the area and provide assistance to the LGUs on resource management.

The ISO also forged a Memorandum of Agreement with the Assisi Development Foundation Inc. last October 1, 2008 for the implementation of Support to Alternative Livelihood Project for Northern Lamon Bay (SALP-NLB), which aims to pilot sustainable livelihood projects to ISO’s partner Fisher Organizations in Polillo.

IFARMC-NLB Integrated Patrolling Team Efforts Recognized

The Philippine Navy recognized the efforts of the IFARMC NLBs fishery law enforcement team last October 17, 2008. Mr. Wilberto Dacillo was presented with a plaque of recognition to this effect. The integrated patrolling team is an initiative by the IFARMC and fishers of Northern Lamon Bay to curtail illegal fishing activities in the entire bay area. The IPT involves bantay dagat volunteers from the nine municipalities of Northern Lamon Bay. The Philippine Navy and Philippine Maritime Command continue to provide assistance to the IPT’s patrolling operations to date.

Livelihood Updates: Northern Lamon Bay

Feasibility assessments for aquasiviculture were conducted on the following sites in Polillo, Quezon: 1) Mudcrab cum bangus pen culture in Sitio Bigyan, Barangay Sibulan for Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Sibulan, Inc. (SMMS) with prospective funding from Assisi Development Foundation Incorporated (ADFI); 2) Bangus Pen Culture in Libjo for Association of Small Fisherfolks in Brgy. Libjo (ASFIL) with prospective funding from the Italian Bishops Conference (BCI); and 3) Mudcrab Culture in Tamulaya for Pakatan Pag-asa ng Samahan Tamulaya-Anibong (PPSTA) with prospective funding from the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF). Project implementation of all of these would commence in 2009. The ISO is currently engaging in organizational strengthening of the above-mentioned FOs in preparation for the implementation of these livelihood projects.

New Board for the ISO

The Father Provincial of the Society of Jesus Philippine Province appointed new members of the ISO corporate board last February 4, 2009. These are Fr. Peter Walpole, SJ, Director of the Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC) and Fr. Roberto Rivera, SJ, Associate Director of the John J. Carroll Institute on Church and Social Issues (JJCICSI). Also appointed are Ms. Marie Alum de la Rosa and Mr. Ferdinand Cruz as ISO employee representatives. The new corporate board also re-elected Fr. John J. Carroll, SJ as Chairperson; and elected Fr. Rivera as Corporate Treasurer and Ms. de la Rosa as Corporate Secretary.

Related to this, the ISO sincerely thanks Fr. Daniel Patrick Huang, SJ former Father Provincial and outgoing member of the ISO Board of Trustees; Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, outgoing Corporate Treasurer; and Dr. Anna Marie Karaos, outgoing Corporate Secretary for their valuable service to the Institute during their term as members of the ISO Board of Trustees.

ISO Produces Video-Documentary Films

The ISO produced three video-documentary films for 2008. These are:

The video entitled Populasyon at Pangsidaan: Buhay at Kabuhayan, a video production exploring the link between population increase and environmental degradation. The video captures the opinions of the local people on population increase, family planning and mangrove depletion. It also discusses the importance of linking population management and mangrove resource management for purposes of promoting sustainable development. The video was produced through the efforts of Mediaworks Productions and the ISO, with assistance from Fr. Nono Alfonso, SJ of the Jesuit Communications Foundation.

A video-documentary entitled Paglalayag which follows the lives of bantay dagat volunteers from Mauban, Quezon was produced by former Coral Reef Champions volunteer and now ISO staff, Ms. Katrina Dino. The video documentary features a soundtrack by Plug pull entitled, Anak ng Dagat. Plug pull was the winner of the One Mic Stand, an open mic and band contest sponsored by the ISO Coral Reef Champions Project last March 7, 2008.

Finally, an instructional video on grouper culture was also produced entitled Pagkukultura ng Lapu-lapu: Karanasan ng ISO at IIMC. This was produced in support of ISO’s Support to Alternative Livelihood Project Funded by the German Doctors Inc. The video shows a bit of the experiences of the Inter Island Management Council, ISO’s project partners, in handling a grouper culture project while providing instructions on how to grow and culture groupers.