kaban galing - front cover - galing pook

community and the UNDP/IMO-PEMSEA for the establishment and
implementation of the Bataan Integrated Coastal Management Program
(BICMP).
To implement the BICMP, a project coordinating committee (PCC)
composed of representatives from the different stakeholders in the
province was formed to act as the highest decision-making body. Also,
a project management office (PMO) under the Office of the Governor
was established to handle the day-to-day activities of the ICM project.
To add stability to the program, the business community organized
itself and became the Bataan Coastal Care Foundation, Inc. (BCCFI)
to help facilitate funding for the project. In addition, municipality-based
structures for the conduct of KKD have been set up through the local
governments and civil society groups. The PMO serves as the conduit
between the provincial government and the business community.
From Reactive Tactic to Proactive Strategy
The biggest mark that KKD has made on coastal resource protection,
conservation and rehabilitation is catalyzing the development of the
Bataan Coastal Strategy (BCS) which spells out the comprehensive
environmental framework to be adopted by the province for its marine
and coastal resources. With the KKD as the primary education and
awareness raising activity, it became easy for the Bigay Galing sa
Kalikasan ng Bataan BIGKIS-Bataan) ICM program to conduct municipal
consultations and workshops that resulted in the Bataan Coastal Strategy.
By the end of 2001, the KKD project had been adopted as a regular
undertaking by eleven municipalities and one city in Bataan involving
59,000 participants and volunteers for its clean-up and awareness raising
activities. Mariveles has formed a multi-sectoral organization called
Bantay Kalikasan, while Balanga has consolidated its environmental
management projects and has taken steps to institutionalize coastal
resources management programs.
As a result of the KKD operations, red tide cases in Bataan have
gone down, resulting in increased income to fisherfolk engaged in mussel
and oyster farming. It has also meant lesser expenses for medicines
and health services since the hazards posed by pollution and the resulting
red tide had been reduced. The regular clean-up also helped unclog
waterways, thus reducing the risk of contamination of water supply for
drinking and domestic purposes.
100 Kaban Galing