Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine

Research and Development (PCAMRD),

Los Banos, Laguna 4030, Philippines

ABSTRACT

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are the major interventions aimed at resource regeneration within the framework of coastal resources management in the Philippines. More than 400 areas are under some form of protective management, ranging from cross-border international parks to small village-based sanctuaries. However, there is little doubt that only a fraction of the total can be considered functional and providing the expected impact or benefits.

In order to help assure the likelihood of expected positive impacts and sustainable management of MPAs, regardless of size and lead implementing agency, several key contributing factors are identified. These are, apart from the obvious funding support and political will, the following:

• structured planning procedure (e.g. logframe or goal-oriented project planning) with clear, realistic objectives and properly defined, suitable indicators for monitoring and evaluation of process and impact;
• drafting and continuous implementation of an MPA management plan as a reference and guideline for the different project partners, informing clearly on roles, functions and responsibilities;
• truly participatory (community-based) approach from incipient stage to monitoring and evaluation, even if the initiation of the process was academe- or NGO-driven;
• continuity in partnership between community-based organization, local government unit, non-government organization, and academe;
• provision of supplemental livelihood opportunities or access to income diversification for affected fisherfolk in return for reduced access to traditional fishing grounds;
• well designed information and education campaign carried out as on-going activity over an extended period of time; targeting general public, school children and decision-makers or local chief executives with appropriate media and contents
• acceptability and manageability as criteria for MPA selection are of paramount importance, particularly on local government level; these can be influenced by constituency building, community organizing, or institutional strengthening and capacity building (training).

None of the listed seven areas of concern describe entirely new practices. Therefore, more than 25 years after MPA establishment was initiated in the Philippines, increased attention should be paid not only to the type of activities which need to be implemented in order to secure the MPAs’ effectiveness, but more emphasis needs to be placed on the quality of the processes initiated and carried out.