kaban galing - front cover - galing pook

ird species, including migratory birds that are on the international list
of threatened species. Because of the diversity of the species that
dwelled in the mangroves, the place became an ecotourism site. This
brought added income for the community. Bani is also maintaining and
protecting a 185-hectare communal tree farm, which serves as a
watershed.
As a result of these changes, fish became plentiful once more.
Average fish catch was recorded at 2 kg to 3.27 kg a day in 2005.
Supplementary livelihood projects, such as mangrove seedling
production, oyster production, mud crab production and bangus
deboning, enabled participating people’s organizations to earn as much
as P82,000 in half a year (from January to June 2005).
The municipality consulted with the community and formed a multisectoral
technical working group, which drafted the coastal development
plan. The assistance of the University of the Philippines Marine Science
Institute was also sought. When the draft of the coastal development
plan was completed, a series of consultations and multi-sectoral
meetings were convened to review the proposed coastal management
plan with the participation of the affected communities. After going
through the whole process, Bani came up with a 10-year (2001-2010)
Comprehensive Coastal Development Plan (CCDP). The CCDP serves
as the main guide in the management of Bani’s marine resources and
in addressing the rapid and continuous depletion of municipal coastal
resources.
There are 13 fishers’ associations in Bani. An estimated 48% of the
members have been trained in resource assessment, organizational
development and livelihood management. The municipality also sent
fisherfolk association members to law enforcement training and
deputized them as fish wardens. There are now 42 deputized fish
wardens in the municipality who enforce fishery laws and policies.
Stewards of their Piece of the Earth
Overall management of the CCDP is in the hands of the MFARMC. The
four coastal barangays facing South China Sea have formed the
SANCEDACO General Council (after barangays San Simon, Centro
Toma, Dacap Sur and Colayco). The council closely coordinates with
the Sagip Lingayen Gulf Project. Among its acivities are coastal habitat
assessment, fish visual census, fish catch monitoring, installation of
70 Kaban Galing