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National Marine Policy Review and Strategic Direction

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National Marine Policy Review and Strategic Direction 2016 Volume XV No. I SPECIAL ISSUE National Marine Policy Review and Strategic Direction Review and Update of the 1994 National Marine Policy and the Formulation of the National Marine Strategy EDNA E.A. CO MARK ANTHONY M. GAMBOA MICHAEL ERIC L. CASTILLO with the assistance of PAOLA G. CERIOLA MADELINE N. DAVEY SHAIRA F. PANELA RHODELYN SABAN ARIES IVAN VIRAY (PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK) EDITORIAL BOARD Alfredo E. Pascual, Chair; Emerlinda R. Roman; Emil Q. Javier; Francisco Nemenzo, Jr.; Jose V. Abueva; Edgardo J. Angara; Emmanuel V. Soriano; Edna Estifania A. Co; Gisela P. Concepcion; J. Prospero de Vera III Copyeditor Lea Marie F. Diño Layout/Proofreading Maria Jorica B. Pamintuan Public Policy (ISSN 0118-8526) is published semi-annually by the University of the Philippines. Editorial, Business & Subscription Offices UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies UP Bahay ng Alumni Building 1101 Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tel 435-9283 Telefax 929-3540 Email [email protected] Website http://cids.up.edu.ph/ Facebook page facebook.com/up-cids Public Policy accepts submissions of All manuscripts must be original. manuscripts examining contemporary social, Authors should be prepared to rewrite their cultural, economic and political issues in the articles in accordance with the comments Philippines and the Asia-Pacific. Manuscripts, and suggestions of referees. The editors in Times New Roman or Calibri, and in single will not assume any responsibility for space or 1.5 spacing, must be submitted on manuscripts received; materials will be CD and as hard copy. These must include returned only if a written request for these an abstract and proper references with is made by the author/s. end notes kept to a minimum. References The articles in Public Policy do not should be in Chicago format. A style that is represent the views of the University of the comprehensible and easy to read is preferred Philippines. The editors are responsible for and welcomed. Authors may submit tables, the selection and acceptance of all articles. graphs, maps, illustrations and other artwork They are not, however, responsible for the with the manuscript. Contributors may also views expressed in any article published submit book reviews, review essays or article in this journal; the responsibility for the reviews. These articles, 2-5 pages long, should views expressed in any of these articles be in the format as stated above. Authors of remains with the authors. books reviewed by contributors can respond with articles following the same format. Reviewers Reviewer Affiliation Eufracio Abaya University of the Philippines Alyssa Peleo Alampay University of the Philippines Aileen Baviera University of the Philippines Sedfrey Candelaria Ateneo de Manila Law School Clarita Carlos Center for Political and Democratic Reform, Inc. Eulalio Guieb III University of the Philippines Leticia Ho University of the Philippines Simeon Ilago University of the Philippines Ponciano Intal Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia-Indonesia Napoleon Juanillo, Jr. Commission on Higher Education Bernard Karganilla University of the Philippines Anthony Leachon University of the Philippines Joseph Anthony Lim Ateneo de Manila University Gilbert Llanto Philippine Institute of Development Studies Ruth Lusterio University of the Philippines Eduardo Mendoza University of Munich Marie Antonette Menez University of the Philippines Henry Tadap Okole Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands National Research Institute Perry Ong University of the Philippines Jeremaiah Opiniano University of Santo Tomas Visiting Lecturer University of Hawai'i at Manoa-Convenor, The Road Antonio Oposa,Jr. Sharing Movement National Academy of Science and Technology, University of the William Padolina Philippines Emma Porio Ateneo de Manila University Jon Quah National University of Singapore Ma. Lourdes Rebullida University of the Philippines Alfredo C. Robles, Jr. De La Salle University Agnes Rola University of the Philippines Patricia Sto. Tomas Advisory Council - Philippine Civil Service Commission Peter Sy University of the Philippines Jorge Tigno University of the Philippines Public Policy (PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK) Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 National Marine Policy Review 28 Strategic Direction 48 References 63 Appendices 71 Preface This timely update and review of the National Marine Policy (NMP) of the Philippines is strategically crucial, coming at the important crossroad of our nation’s archipelagic development. While the seminal works have started over 20 years ago, i.e., with the Cabinet Committee on Marine and Ocean Affairs (CABCOM-MOA ) circa 1994, its urgency is highlighted by the fast-changing needs of our time. As exemplified in our Philippine-style participatory governance and policymaking, the team has travelled to the islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao holding consultation workshops, engaging key stakeholders and experts, and distilling a comprehensive framework of policy imperatives from its groundwork. The NMP is drawn from a series of gap analyses on the root causes of our fragmented governance, tying together the socio-ecological institutional systems that are combined with the cultures of island communities. These are woven into the strategic imperatives elucidated in the four pillars of the NMP and its desired outcomes as outlined in: a) marine politics and jurisdiction with its defined baselines and the award of the Benham seamount; b) marine regulation and enforcement in strategically implementing national programs and securing its borders; c) marine development and conservation such as the maritime industry and energy development and sustainable fisheries balanced with local and national marine protected areas governance; and d) marine security in the face of ascendant China and the US Pacific pivot. These crosscutting areas are also tied together in the quest towards building resilient communities, the imperatives to act now in meeting the demands of climate change and a rapidly changing world. A clear road map is required for the future to capture the imagination of our nation, the NMP presents a framework for a common vision for what appears to be fragmented archipelagos of socio-ecological systems. These are opportunities of islands hope for our country to chart our course, bounded by our maritime byways, anchored on sustaining community based efforts that develops into a strong inclusive “blue” economy. It will be through our individual and collective responsibilities that we are committed to be the brave stewards of these seas that bind us to our common future. Our journey of over a thousand miles would not have been possible without the valuable contributions of countless partners as documented in the appendices and those undocumented. They have made the travel all worthwhile. Porfirio M. Aliño, PhD Deputy Director for Research, Marine Science Institute University of the Philippines-Diliman Acknowledgments The University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP-CIDS) acknowledges the financial assistance extended by the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) led by Undersecretary Jose Luis Alano, NCWC Executive Director, under the Office of the President, Republic of the Philippines. UP-CIDS also acknowledges the faculty from the University of the Philippines who extended their expertise to the project. They are Dr. Marie Antonette Meñez, Dr. Porfirio Alinio, Dr. Aileen Baviera, Atty. Jay Batongbacal, Atty Celeste Ruth Mallari, Atty. Mark Anthony Gamboa, Dr. Nathaniel Anasco, Engineer Nathaniel Diola, Dr. Ernesto Pernia, and Dr. Gil Jacinto. This project would not have been possible without the support and cooperation given by the key informants, some of whom are high officials in government, legislators, and international agency experts on marine sciences and environmental economics, and by people from the different communities which the project team visited and with whom the team touched base during the focus group discussions. To them, UP-CIDS owes so much for making this policy review possible. The staff and researchers of CIDS who committed their time, talent, and efforts are most appreciated especially during times when they braved the rough waters of the Pacific Ocean and West Philippine Sea to make numerous discussions and consultations across the archipelago possible. The UP-CIDS deeply appreciates the unparalleled support extended by the UP President Alfredo E. Pascual and the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs led by Danny Uy especially at the beginning of the project and in the crafting of the Memorandum of Agreement with the NCWC. We are truly grateful to these people for giving the UP-CIDS an opportunity to serve the country albeit in a modest way. (PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK) Introduction The Philippines is the world’s second largest archipelago with approximately 7,500 islands (Macaranas 2016) and more than 36,000 square kilometers of coastline. It has been declared the “Center of the Center for Marine Biodiversity” (Carpenter and Springer 2005). The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is about two million square kilometers. The country faces the Luzon Strait to the north, Celebes Sea to the south, West Philippine Sea to the west, and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The country is divided into three island groups: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It has 17 administrative regions and one autonomous region (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). There are 81 provinces, 144 cities,
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