The situation tells us that the growing number of community-based marine protected areas (MPA’s) in the Philippines is very inspiring. Aside from the more than 500 (Haribon Data, 1997) already established MPA’s nationwide, still an undetermined number are being proposed, implying an increasing consciousness of the fishing communities in conserving marine habitats especially along the coastal areas. Although only a margin of 18% (Haribon Data, 1997) are strictly implemented, there is still good reason to say that establishment and management of community-based marine protected areas are understood by these communities as one of the best tools to express themselves as excellent managers of their very own coastal resources. Non-enforcement of MPA’s maybe caused by external and internal factors, thereby, interventions from within and outside are essentially vital in order to sustain enforcement until such time that these communities become stable in terms of decision making and economic viability.
Community-based MPA’s in the Philippines may differ from each other in terms of sizes, objectives, and the levels of enforcement depending on the specificity of each site. Differences of this sort are basics if we look at every community as culturally, politically, economically and geographically unique. The rich experience on community-based coastal resource management programs and projects in the Philippines have gone far enough in terms of understanding the dynamics of these communities in managing their resources. Government, NGO’s, PO’s, and Academic institutions are also one in understanding that empowering the communities is an inherent factor for wise utilization and management of coastal resources.
Following this trend, in the late 1980’s, the Haribon Foundation began implementing several projects in the coastal areas utilizing the concept of community-based coastal resource management. Some of these included: 1) facilitating the establishment and management of marine protected areas in two areas in Luzon (Zambales and Batangas) which has been successfully turned-over and is currently still functional; 2) training of ornamental fish collectors using destructive methods to shift to more sustainable practices (i.e. use of nets and other non-destructive gears for collection, proper handling and, transport and safety diving techniques). The converted ornamental fish collectors federated themselves into an organization called, the Pambansang Mag-aakwaryum sa Pilipinas (PMP or National Alliance of Aquarium Fish Collectors in the Philippines), and went into an export venture in the hope of getting more reasonable prices for their products. This initiative was with support from the International Development Research Centre-Canada (for the initial training and research phase), Ocean Voice International, WWF-Debt for Nature Swap Program, Canadian International Development Agency and Levis Strauss Foundation;
In 1996 - 1998, Haribon Foundation initiated a project called the Inventory of Marine Protected Areas of the Philippines. A three-year research initiative that eventually became the guiding instrument in the formative period of a national alliance of community-based managed marine protected areas and fish sanctuaries.
In March 16-19, 1999, the “First National Convention and General Assembly of Managers of Community-based Marine Protected Areas in the Philippines”, was held in Cebu City. Around 60 leaders of small fishers representing 33 marine sanctuaries attended the assembly which, eventually provided substantial foundation in the formation of the national alliance of community-based marine sanctuaries in the Philippines. The alliance was now called Pamana ka sa Pilipinas.
During the first national assembly of the Pamana ka sa Pilipinas, its constitution and by-laws was ratified and sets of officers were elected both in the national and regional levels. Organizational mandates were also firmed-up along with its defined vision, mission and goals. These mandates translate into two aspects: the institutional or internal and the directional or external.
The institutional or internal mandate addresses two levels. Firstly, the needs of each member especially in the aspects that concerns MPA implementation like community approach management; local monitoring and organizational capacity building at the site/community level. Secondly, the need to strengthen the Alliance’s organizational structure to support the first level. Presently, the Alliance’s membership is expressed by a “no-take-zone” village-based marine sanctuaries. This is where its membership precisely emanates. The marine sanctuary is the member, represented by two representatives preferably one coming from a fisher’s organization and one coming from the village’s local government unit. When they gather together to build the Alliance, the National Congress was set-up and the fifteen-member National Council was elected to represent the national leadership. Three Regional Congresses were also set-up in the regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Each region is represented by a thirteen-member Regional Council.
On the other hand, the directional or external mandate of the Alliance is the heart of the Alliance itself - and that is Advocacy. To bring to the forefront pressing issues in community-based MPA’s management which can not be resolved at the community level most especially the implementation and enforcement of the new Fisheries Code of the Philippines (R.A. 8550) and other related local ordinances.
The membership of the Pamana ka sa Pilipinas is scattered in coastal community sites nationwide. In these sites, at least small marine sanctuaries are initiated and managed in different forms, sizes and dynamics. It is also recognized that these community-based marine sanctuaries will not be possible without the presence of CATALYSTS. These are the Non-government organizations (NGO’s), National Government Agencies (NGA’s), Academic Institutions, Religious Organizations and Local Government Units (LGU’s), which have created models and frameworks of community-based coastal and marine conservation with their respective niche and expertise. These catalysts are instrumental in bringing about more than 500 community-based marine sanctuaries all over the country into a dynamic micro ecosystem-based marine conservation initiatives in their respective sites, whereby, from these sites, Pamana ka sa Pilipinas membership emanates.
The accomplishments (1999 – 2002) of the Alliance was within the framework of the project called “Building National Community of Local Resource Managers in the Philippines”. Also known as Pamana Project or BNC-LCRM, Haribon Foundation implemented this project with funding from David and Lucile Packard Foundation and John D. & Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.
