Developing pro-poor markets for environmental services in the ...

PAMB. 19 A broad set of guidelines can be issued by each national government agency
involved, which should be coordinated among themselves first.
The delineation of an area into a PA depends mainly on the natural configuration of its
resources. Geological and ecological factors will come into play. Hence, it is difficult to pin
down a specific number of members that can truly represent all stakeholders involved in PA
management. Some areas such as Mt Apo in Davao have demonstrated that PAMB
membership can grow as big as 250 members. But because of the sheer size, it is very
difficult for them to meet regularly, further delaying discussions and agreements on pending
issues. For areas such as Mt Apo, the PAMB should be flexible enough to create smaller
groups that can be given jurisdiction on smaller areas within the PA. The extent of autonomy
for these smaller groups will be on a case-by-case basis, depending on the nature of the issues
to be resolved, and the capacity of the groups to act on them.
3.1.7 Conclusion
The whole concept of the IPAF is new, although the law was passed ten years ago. It took
time for protected areas under the system to be able to generate revenues on their own, a
critical occurrence because of the traditional dependence on the national government for local
budgets and funds. On the other hand, national government offices are still grappling with the
idea of letting go of major functions to local government entities, functions that have been
traditionally and solely performed at the national level. The Philippines has been undergoing
birth pains with respect to devolution and decentralisation for the past decade, and as
expected, there were problems along the way. Some departments have responded by
reclaiming control of certain functions, while some have increased the layers in the
bureaucracy for ensuring checks and balances.
The IPAF is no exception to this. The concept is groundbreaking for the country in any case:
now 75 per cent of revenues generated from PAs will go directly into the area’s own
management and protection. Experiences on IPAF requests have been new and far too few.
Only those that have actually been able to generate their own revenues have had such
experience. It can be inferred that such PAs are the more advanced ones at least in terms of
management, thus one would expect them to be able to implement their programmes and
projects in an efficient manner. There is the hope for sustaining economic development
without sacrificing environmental and natural resource management. However, release of
budgets have been bogged down by the long process and numerous signatures involved. As
such, delays in implementing their WFPs have been long and drawn out.
The options in this report are meant to ensure that such efficiency is not hampered by
circumstances not under the control of the PA management bodies. It is hoped that efficiency
does not get lost along the way because of fears of unscrupulous local managers getting the
better of the national government. If at all, such efficiency should even be rewarded to serve
as incentives for others to emulate. The answer lies in stricter monitoring procedures and a
stronger penalty system for would-be violators and abusive PA managers.
19 The NIPAS Act specifies the DENR regional director as chairperson of the PAMB.
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