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

Much remains to be done. The LK claims they have only covered roughly 40 per cent of the
total land area surrounding their two existing water sources. They must negotiate with the
other landowners to complete their programme to establish buffer zones and reafforest their
watershed. To facilitate this, the LK is working hand in hand with the municipal LGU to get
these landowners to sit down at the negotiating table. One of the identified landowners has
even expressed his desire to change the existing land use, which is agricultural and develop
the area for industrial purposes (see Section 4.2). There is also the concern that there could be
a change in government priorities; 26 watershed protection might be accorded less priority by
potentially unsupportive local officials in the future. At present the LK relies on its good
relations with the incumbent officials and on its own track record. It has no legal mandate to
serve as the manager of the watershed, which its members intend to correct with the pending
resolution declaring LK as the legal management body of the watershed (see above
discussion).
Organisational meetings
The people of Balian recognise the importance of the watershed as a planning unit. Because
the watershed is the basis of unity, they are able to tackle other downstream issues, such as
soil erosion, sedimentation, flooding, irrigation, and solid waste and connect such issues to
watershed management and protection. Organisational meetings thus serve as a venue for
comprehensive planning and management of the area.
Conflict resolution is done through constant dialogue and discussions among community
members. Furthermore, they conduct major discussions during the Easter Holy Week. Not
only does the season set the tone for reconciliation, also community members are at rest
during that day and the following day as well.
Maintenance of the water supply system
The SBPTI continues to exist as part of the LK, with its main responsibility limited to
maintaining the water supply system of Balian. Some of the bamboo pipes have been
replaced with rubber ones over the years. However, there are still portions of the watersupply
system that rely on bamboo. Carabao grazing and increased population in the upland
areas have periodically caused these pipes to break, thus affecting the water supply of
residents below. In order to ensure the continuous supply for all residents, SBPTI continually
conducts monitoring and rehabilitation activities, the latter usually involving replacement of
cracked or worn-out water pipes. Furthermore, SBPTI regularly conducts cleaning activities
for the intake tanks, which are located near the water source. Such activities necessarily entail
raw material costs. To pay for the material used to maintain the system, the SBPTI now
charges PhP15 per household per month as water-supply fees. Fees were brought in only in
the 1990s, at a low rate of PhP5 per household per month. The fee, however, is only to cover
the cost of raw materials, not a payment for the water per se. Still, the revenue generated is
insufficient to cover all material expenses. Rather, the organisation depends on donations
from the municipal and barangay government units and from wealthy landowners in the area.
Labour for planting, water-system repairs and maintenance is free, as members of the SBPTI
maintain the water system themselves.
3.2.4 Institutional and resource use conflicts
The passage of the Local Government Code of 1991 provided local governments with the
power to raise revenues over all resources within its jurisdiction. Water became a point of
26 Local elections occur every three years, and elected officials can only serve a maximum of three consecutive terms.
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