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information exchange and cross-sectoral relations amonggovernment and nongovernment stakeholders in the bay,including fishers.At the operations level, the Provincial Government-Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) wascreated through Provincial Ordinance No.03-95 (December1995). The PG-ENRO serves as the lead coordinating agencyfor SEMP implementation, the focal point for monitoring andevaluating progress among stakeholders with regard to theobjectives and targets identified in the SEMP, as well as thetechnical arm of the Council.A united frontBy 1998, the problem of commercial fishers encroachingthe municipal waters of Mabini and Tingloy was becomingcritical. Fishing pressures were having spillover effects in theestablished MPAs with commercial fishing boats comingfrom the neighboring coastal municipalities (e.g., BatangasCity, Bauan, Balayan and Lemery). In addition, the growingindustrialization and shipping activities in the coastal areaposed increasing risks of land- and sea-based pollution to theconservation areas. On top of this, the tourism industry wasbeginning to show interest, which added further conflictsamong the traditional and commercial fishers (Tongson, 2003).Similarly, other coastal municipalities were beginning toset up MPAs in their areas together with partner people’s<strong>org</strong>anizations and NGOs. These MPAs, like those in Mabiniand Tingloy, were individually and sectorally managed.There was no mechanism to coordinate and integrate theefforts of the different local government units (LGUs) toaddress the growing threats to their respective protectedareas from external sources.The WWF-Philippines recognized that the conservationefforts in Mabini and Tingloy would not be effective orsustainable without an integrated baywide approachin Balayan Bay. It was at this time that the effectiveimplementation of ICM in Batangas Bay came to theforefront. The benefits of the multisectoral process, thelong-term strategic road map (SEMP), and the institutionalmechanism providing policy direction, coordination andoperationalization of the SEMP provided the necessarygovernance structure that was lacking in the existing MPAarrangements.Concurrently, the Provincial Government recognized thatrapid growth and development were potential threats tothe marine and coastal resources of the area, and to thecoastal communities that depended on these resources.The Provincial Government decided to expand the ICM4
program to the other bays, thereby providing broadermanagement coverage.A partnership was f<strong>org</strong>ed between WWF-Philippines andthe Provincial Government to support the replication ofthe ICM model developed in Batangas Bay to Balayan Bayand adjacent bays. The resulting ICM plan was adoptedby the 12 coastal municipalities and the ProvincialDevelopment Council in 2005.The scaled up ICM program now covers the entire coastlineof Batangas. The SEMP was updated incorporatingthe management of the three bay regions (BatangasBay, Balayan Bay and adjacent bays, and Tayabas Bay)and was adopted by 34 local governments on 22March 2007 through Resolution No. 129. Similarly, theinstitutional mechanism for its implementation has beenstrengthened to address the broader geographical scopeand management issues. In September 2008, throughProvincial Ordinance No. 5, the three-tiered BatangasEnvironmental Protection Council was adopted, whichnow serves as the multisectoral body to guide theimplementation of ICM. The new Council integrates thethree baywide ICM Boards and Municipal ICM Councils. ThePG-ENRO still serves as the secretariat and technical armof the Batangas Environmental Protection Council in theimplementation of the SEMP.As MPAs were already under the broader implementationof the provincewide SEMP, through the PG-ENRO,coordination among LGUs was facilitated. The coastal LGUsnow share the same guiding principles and objectives inmanaging their resources.ICM in the Global Center of MarineBiodiversityIn 2005, the Conservation International (CI)-Philippines 2initiated a marine biodiversity program in the Verde IslandPassage Marine Biodiversity Conservation Corridor aspart of the Sulu-Sulawesi Seascape Project. The Corridoris bordered by the provinces of Batangas, Orientaland Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon.Fortunately, the mechanism for the implementation ofbiodiversity conservation in Batangas had been in place aspart of the implementation of the Batangas Province SEMPled by the Provincial Government. The SEMP then becamethe platform for CI-Philippines to implement its programin the Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor. The BatangasProvince SEMP is now a major component of the VerdePassage Management Framework Plan.The existing MPAs in Batangas are within the bounds ofthe Verde Island Passage, thus creating a network of MPAspromotes the ecological integrity of the area. The networkaims to enhance the effectiveness and functionality of theMPAs in promoting sustainable livelihood for fishers andprotection of coastal resources.The CI-Philippines and the WWF-Philippines thenbecame partners of the province in the establishmentof the network of MPAs. This network facilitates thesharing of information, experiences and resources;the resolution of conflict; the assistance to otherLGUs in the establishment of their own MPAs; and theconsolidation of law enforcement efforts. As part of theSEMP implementation, the PG-ENRO, also takes theNetwork of MPAs in Batangas (August 2009).MunicipalityArea of MPA(hectares)Number ofMPAsBalayan 6 2Batangas City 6 3Bauan 136 1Calatagan 165 3*Lemery 3 1Lobo 40 3Mabini 79 4Nasugbu 113 4San Juan 704 11*Tingloy 4 1Total 1,256 33*Includes one mangrove protected areaSource: PG-ENRO, 2009.2When WWF-Philippines finished its project implementation in Batangas in June 2008, the CI-Philippines took over as the partner of the Provincial Government in the continuousimplementation of the MPA and Bantay Dagat initiatives.5
Page 1 and 2: Case StudyVol. 1 No. 1 October 2009
Page 3: SEMP and ICM Plans in Batangas Prov
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