Philippine CRM plans and coastal projects towards achieving economic growth: do they talk to each other already well?

Transcription

1 Philippine CRM plans and coastal projects towards achieving economic growth: do they talk to each other already well? Rene N. Rollon Professor and Director Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman Quezon City 1101 PHILIPPINES Reclamation Summit, CS Auditorium, October 2012

2 Introduction Common Theme: Optimizing Coastal Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development Environmental Threats, Challenges to CRM? Focus: Coastal Development and CRM? Coastal projects towards achieving economic growth Mainly, reclamation, sea ports, large power plants, large resorts, aquaculture, etc. Question: do CRM and these coastal development projects communicate already well?

3 The CRM Cycle Issue identification and baseline assessment CRM plan preparation and adoption Action plan and project implementation Information management, education and outreach Local legislation Regulation Coastal law enforcement External revenue sources Annual program preparation and budgeting Revenue generation Monitoring and evaluation

4 CRM Measures Regulation of fishing effort Ecosystem-based measures People-focused measures

5 CRM Measures Regulation of fishing effort Limit access Size limit Catch quota Gear restriction Close and open season Ecosystem-based measures People-focused measures

6 CRM Measures Regulation of fishing effort Ecosystem-based measures Habitat protection Habitat restoration Habitat enhancement People-focused measures

7 CRM Measures Regulation of fishing effort Ecosystem-based measures People-focused measures Incentive system Public education Community development

8 Possible Zoning Classification Rehabilitation Zone Preservation Zone Buffer Zone Fisheries Management Zone Tourism Zone Navigational Zone Multiple-Use Zone ILOG MALINO ESTANZA BINABALIAN LUCERO G O YO DEN VICTO RY CONCORDIA SALUD ARNEDO LUCIENTE I PILAR G ERM INAL BALINGASAY LUCIENTE 2 LUNA LEGEND: Zone 1 Zone 2 PATAR TARA Zone 3 B O LIN A O CULANG CATUNGI Zone 4 MPA ZARAG O SA LAM BES

9 985 MPAs [Weeks et al. 2009] RA 8550 (1998):... among others, 15% of municipal waters to be delineated as fish sanctuaries! Relatively greater effort and denser MPA in the Visayas

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11 For all development projects, the Philippines has an Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS)...

12 Key sections of an EIS document. Project Description Where (proposed location)? Magnitude (size)? Activities (operation)? Duration (lifespan: until when)? The Environment (Baseline): land, air, water, life, people The Potential Impact Mitigating Measures (EMP/EMS) so, scope of study is project-dependent

13 The General EIA Process Screening: EIS needed? Scoping EIA (Study) Report EIA Report Evaluation: EI, EMP Decision/Recommendation Monitoring/Audit Recall? Cancellation?

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15 Some notes on the Philippine EIA (Briffet et al. 2003) EIA practice: longer than most other countries in Asia! Familiarity of stakeholders, very strong Implementation: exceedingly weak! General impression: EIA failed to protect the natural resources from degradation, etc. Institutional problems EIA as bureaucratic red tape! Lack of data management systems Inappropriate monitoring mechanisms Lack of skilled and trained manpower Political interference Decentralization Evidence of well-established procedures Translation of paper to practice: wanting!

16 More notes on the Philippine EIA and CRM Although some parts of the EIA process may be participatory, the recommendation for final decision is mainly done by a technical review panel Supposedly, EIA is a comprehensive evaluation of potential impacts of any proposed project Link with existing CRM plans, not present CRM: LGU-driven (Municipal, sometimes provincial?) EIA: DENR-driven (Regional/National) A clear disconnect!

17 Courtesy: Dr. WY Licuanan

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21 Siganus guttatus

22 Siganus canaliculatus

23 Siganus fuscecens

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25 Imbalance in Research Effort and Public Awareness (Figures from Duarte et al. 2008)

26 Consequently. 1. Also, huge imbalance in the effort of conservation, protection, and restoration; 2. Most of the 1,000 or so marine protected areas (MPA) in the country are coral reef based 3. Continuing destruction of mangroves, but more particularly, seagrass beds! 4. Even, planting of mangroves on seagrass beds

27 El Nido, Palawan (17 March 2012)

28 Habitat conversion

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36 % of BMT Panglao seagrasses 75.4 Panglao Bay seagrasses 37 (probably) Panglao Bay (if entirely a seagrass system) 90!

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38 Habitat map (CRM Plan ) Corals Mangroves Seagrasses

39 Google Earth Map: Cordova Intertidal Wetland

40 Google Earth Map: Cordova Intertidal Wetland (about 4,000 hectares?)

41 Bolinao, Pangasinan

42 Bolinao, Pangasinan (10 Mar 2011)

43 Image taken: 20 November 2003

44 Image taken: 09 November 2005

45 Image taken: 17 May 2009

46 Image taken: 10 March 2011

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48 Cansaga Bay (Cebu) 23 February 2005

49 Cansaga Bay (Cebu) 02 June 2009

50 Cansaga Bay (Cebu) 21 December 2009

51 Cansaga Bay (Cebu) 17 June 2010

52 Philippine Daily Inquirer 05 April 2012 (Maundy Thursday)

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54 On 5 Dec 2011, PRA requested DENR clearance for: Site/Location Number of Projects (reclamation programs) Size (hectares) Manila Bay 38 26,234 Davao Gulf Cagayan Special Economic Zone? 220 Albay Gulf? 100 Leganes (Iloilo)? 1,200 Bacolod City? 250 Semirara Island? 980 Kalibo? 200 Isabel (Leyte)? 113 Talisay (Cebu)? 250 San Jose de Buenavista (Antique)? 300 Total , as tools in achieving economic growth and development...

55 Excluding those already approved / implemented, under discussion: Site/Location Size (hectares) Status Coal-Fired Power Plant Complex Pagbilao? < 10 Power Plant now operational Sual? < 10 Power Plant now operational North Mactan Reclamation (Cebu) ~500 ECC already granted SRP (Cebu)? completed Cordova (Cebu) 10? 40? 120? 3,500? Under discussion/ controversy Cansaga Bay (Cebu) > 210 since 2005? On-going? Panglao Bay (Bohol) Proposal for massive seaweed farming on Danajon Bank 650? 200? 25,000 to 100,000 (with provisions to expand to 1 million ha) LGU withdrew support after long series of review Bohol LGU rescinded MOU with Korean Investors after series of review

56 Concluding Remarks Achievements (landmarks) from CRM efforts over the past 3 decades had been overwhelming Yet, a mechanism for the EIA process to respect existing CRM plans is still to be clearly legislated An imbalance in our understanding and public awareness of the various coastal habitats still persists Those least appreciated (i.e., seagrass beds and mudflats) are destroyed most Threats (e.g., reclamation, mining, etc.) still keep on coming today!

57 Thank you.