Conservation Area Management Plan

The publication is made possible with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme– Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GEF) New Conservation Areas in the Philippine Project (NewCAPP), in partnership with the municipal government of Bongao in Tawi-Tawi, the provincial government of Tawi- Tawi, the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the ARMM, and the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines. UNDP-GEF NewCAPP is being implemented by the DENR Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB). TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary 1

A. PLANNING PROCESS IN CONSERVATION AREA MANAGEMENT Use of Research-based Information 4 Stakeholder-driven Decision-making 4 Building on Existing Institutions 5 Incorporation of Lessons from Other Conservation Sites 5

B. DESCRIPTION OF THE CONSERVATION AREA Historical Background 6 Biogeographic Setting 6 Regional and Local Setting 7 Conservation Area Boundaries and the Rationale of their Location and Zoning 7 Geology, Topography and Climate 9 Ecosystems, Flora and Fauna 10 Human Population 12 Legal Status and Management Arrangement 16

C. MANAGEMENT PLAN Conservation Value and Concerns 17 Goals of the Management Plan 17 Objectives of the Management Plan 19 Key Management Issues 19 Site Management Strategies and Activities 21 Monitoring and Evaluation and Data Management 23 Administration, Financing and Capacity Building 23 One-Year Work Program 26 One-Year Budget 28

Annex 1 Proposed Outline of Bud Bongao Conservation Area Ecotourism Plan 30 Annex 2 Outline of Enforcement System 30 Annex 3 Terms of Reference of the Conservation Area Manager 31 Annex 4 Knowledge and Skills Area Covered by Training Courses 32

LIST OF TABLES ACRONYMS

AFP Armed Forces of the Philippines ARMM Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao BBMC Bud Bongao Management Council BBMO Bud Bongao Management Office CAM Conservation Area Manager DA Department of Agriculture DENR Department of Environment and Natural Resources FLUMA Forest Land Use Management Area FLUP Forest Land Use Plan GEF Global Environmental Facility GPS Geographic Positioning System IEC Information, Education and Communication IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JMCC Joint Management Coordinating Committee LGU Local Government Unit MNLF Moro National Liberation Front Mm Millimeter MOA Memorandum of Agreement NewCAPP New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project NGO Non-Government Organization NIPAS National Integrated Areas Protected System NSO National Statistics Office PCG Philippine Coast Guard PENRO Provincial Environment and Natural Resources PNP Philippine National Police PO People’s Organization UNDP United Nations Development Programme Executive Summary

To pursue the Philippine strategy of biodiversity conservation through in-situ activities and to complement national protected areas, LGU-managed conservation areas are established under the New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP). One of these is the Bud Bongao Conservation Area in Tawi-Tawi.

To launch and manage it, a plan is prepared The Bud Bongao Conservation Area is one of the few re- using four strategies: (1) use of research- maining patches of forest in the Sulu Archipelago based information, (2) stakeholder-driven biogeographic zone. The biology of the zone is poorly decision-making, (3) building on existing known but being the transitional stepping stones between institutions, and (4) incorporation of les- Borneo and Mindanao, it evolved distinctive species sons from other conservation sites where while harbouring both Sundaic and Philippine species. the LGU has a leading role while adapting The conservation area has 102.64 hectares with 222.64 it to the local setting. To obtain research- hectares of buffer zone. The entire conservation area is a based information, studies were done on strict protection zone except for 0.6 hectare for special the physical, biological, and socioeco- use and 0.3 hectares of cultural zone. Closed broadleaved nomic characteristics of the area. The in- limestone forest covers 75.8 percent of its area. The rest formation was presented in three is mainly open broadleaved forest, grassland, and area stakeholders’ meetings for validation and of mixed vegetation. Its rich biodiversity is seen in 36 where they decided on its boundaries and species of trees and birds respectively. It also has 15 zoning, issues to be addressed, and the species of ferns and allies and 6 species of reptiles. Seven measures to take. They also configured its faunal and one floral species are endemic. Two charis- management organization from lessons of matic endemics, the Sulu bleeding heart and Sulu hornbill, existing protected areas while ensuring are no longer found in the area. The buffer zone is mainly broad-based representation. agricultural where the biodiversity is much less. Covering the conservation area and To meet these goals, a plan of eight main activities was consti- buffer zone are six barangays with a tuted: (i) install boundary markers and establish entry control combined population of 18,582. It points; (ii) promulgate regulations and operate an enforce- grew by 4.8 percent per year from ment system; (iii) develop and operate a solid waste manage- 2000 to 2010 or almost three times ment program; (iv) rehabilitate degraded areas; (v) develop the national rate. The population and implement an ecotourism plan; (vi) design and implement has urban characteristics with 80 an IEC campaign; (vii) plan and implement a buffer zone pro- percent of income derived from sala- gram; and (viii) operate a working management organization. ries and wages. Only 12 percent are Since the conservation area is classified as timberland and earned from farming. Nonetheless legally under the DENR, its management will be transferred to the in-migration-propelled popula- the municipality of Bongao through a MOA. The municipality tion growth resulted to constant en- will manage it through a three-layer management structure: croachment of farms and settlement Joint Management Coordinating Committee (for advisory and while easier access swelled visitors’ guidance); Bud Bongao Management Council (for policy-mak- volume. The resulting threats ing and oversight); and Bud Bongao Management Office (for prompted the stakeholders to for- day-to-day operation). The capability of council members and mally protect Bud Bongao to secure office staff will be enhanced through training. The first-year its cultural and biodiversity value operation of the conservation area will concentrate on start- and tap its tourism potential while up activities while setting the regulations, preparing the sus- serving as an adaptation tool for cli- tainable financing mechanism and establishing the monitor- mate change. ing system. The first year budget is P1,464,500. Conservation Area Management Plan

One of the six strategies for biodiversity conservation in the Philippines is the enhancement and integra- tion of existing and planned conservation efforts with emphasis on in-situ activities. 1 To implement this strategy, the government, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is establishing and operating conservation areas under the direct management of indigenous peoples and local government units (LGU).2 This is meant to complement the existing national government-managed nation- wide network of conservation centers of which the national integrated areas protected system (NIPAS) is a main component.3 The conservation areas are expected to expand NIPAS’ gains in biodiversity conservation.

Bud Bongao is one of the LGU-managed conservation areas being established and which management is being planned. The timeframe of the plan is not specified because it is intended to be continuously translated into a yearly plan and updated whenever it is seen suitable. The plan will mainly provide the management groups running the conservation areas with direction and guide external organizations who wish to be part of or compliment the protection effort.

A. Planning Process in Conservation Area Management

The planning process for Bud Bongao is anchored on four strategies: (1) the use of research-based information, (2) stakeholder-driven decision-making, (3) building on existing institutions and (4) incorporation of lessons from other conservation sites where the LGU has a leading role while adapting it to the local setting. These strategies will ensure that the plan is based on scientifically robust data. These will also ensure the plan’s social acceptability to local communities and key stakeholders while being able to harness local knowledge. The support of local institutions will also be gained and ease in implementation will be attained because experience-based practices are part of the plan.

1 The other strategies are (i) expanding and improving knowledge on the characteristics, uses and values of biological diversity; (ii) formulating an integrated policy and legislative framework for the conservation, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of benefits of biodiversity; (iii) strengthening capacities for integrating and institutionalizing biodiversity conservation and management; (iv) mobilizing an integrated information, education and communication (IEC) systems for biodiversity conservation; and (v) advocating stronger international cooperation on biodiversity conservation and management. DENR and United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 1997. Philippine Biodiversity: An Assessment and Action Plan. Makati. Bookmark Inc.

2 The initiative is under the DENR, with the assistance of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and UNDP and called “New Conservation Areas in the Philippines Project (NewCAPP). It will run for five years (2010-2015) and covers 13 sites including Balbalansang-Balbalan National Park (Kalinga and Mountain Province), Zambales Moun- tains (Zambales and Pangasinan), Mounts Irid Angelo and Binuang (Rizal, Bulacan and Quezon), Polilio Group of Islands (Quezon), Mount Iglit Baco National Park (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental), Nug-as/Lantoy (Cebu), Mount Nacolod (Southern Leyte), Mount Hilong-Hilong (Caraga Region) and Mount Bongao (Tawi-Tawi).

3 Republic of the Philippines. 1992. An Act Providing for the Establishment and Management of National Integrated Protected Areas System, Defining its Scope and Coverage and for other Purposes. Republic Act No. 7586. Use of Research-based Information Stakeholder-driven Decision-making The first strategy aims to provide the The research-based information collected was stakeholders the best available information from analyzed and presented to stakeholders so that primary and secondary sources so that they can they could validate it against their experience and make informed decisions in constituting the plan. observation as residents around Bud Bongao and Studies on physical, biological, and socio-eco- Bud Kabugan. They also used the information as nomic characteristics of Bud Bongao and the input for making decisions that constitutes the adjacent mountain, Bud Kabugan, were made us- plan. The full disclosure of research information ing standard research methodologies. The infor- and stakeholders-driven decision-making engen- mation gathered on physical characteristics was dered not only transparency of the process but on topography, slope, and land cover including also broad-based accountability of the plan and various types of forest cover. The information its implementation. was obtained from existing maps and air photo and was validated through ground survey on Feb- The stakeholders participated in the process ruary 2013. through a series of three workshops done in Bongao. In the first workshop (11-12 April 2012), The biological inventory of the flora and fauna the stakeholders first learned the initiative to con- in Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan was carried out serve Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan and reviewed on 17-26 December 2011 and 14-31 May 2012. and validated the partial result of the biological The floral survey covered trees, ferns, herbs, and socio-economic studies. Based on the result, grasses, palm, and cycad. The faunal survey cov- they identified the issues that may arise in the es- ered reptiles, amphibians, rodents, butterflies, tablishment of a conservation area and the meas- anthropods, dragonflies, birds, and primates. ures to take. They also formed two ad hoc groups Quadrants, time-area counts, mist-nettings, and to carry the planning process forward. One is the live trappings were the methods used to collect 11-member multi-sector Joint Management Coor- the sample species. The species were identified dinating Committee (JMCC) which mainly performs and their conservation status was determined guidance and oversight functions. Another is the based on the classification of DENR and Interna- Bud Bongao Management Council (BBMC) which tional Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). has 16 multi-sector members. Its functions are The diversity index type of flora and fauna was mainly policy and decision making. also determined. In the second workshop (11 September 2012), the The socio-economic setting was characterized in stakeholders again reviewed and validated the terms of the following: population size, growth study results and identified new issues and meas- and density, education, occupation, income level, ures to take. They also studied the management distribution and sources, land tenure, farming, arrangement options for the conservation area fishing and animal raising patterns, issues on under the current policy environment and agreed livelihood, sentiment on conservation area man- that the best is for the municipality to manage it agement and customary laws (addat), and gov- under the oversight of DENR. Under this arrange- erning the use of sacred sites (tampat) in Bud ment, the DENR would hand over the management Bongao. Secondary data were gathered from the of the proposed conservation area to the munici- municipal records and National Statistics Office pality of Bongao. The process of the handover was (NSO). A household survey was done to collect formulated. They subsequently set the goals of primary data using a household questionnaire. the conservation area. They also reviewed the ac- A sample size of 100 households was randomly complishment since the last workshop and pre- selected through systematic interval from among pared an action plan to generate the management 3,096 households living in six barangays where plan and for the municipality to gain the manage- Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan are located. The ment responsibility over the conservation area. barangays covering Bud Bongao are Nalil, Pahut, The actions include map generation, collection of and Pasiagan. Those in Bud Kabugan are Pag- added socioeconomic information, plan prepara- asa, Samangdagit, and Tubig Boh. The sample tion, and forging a memorandum of agreement size is computed to have 10-percent sampling (MOA) between the DENR and the municipality. error and 98-percent reliability. The formulation of the plan was undertaken dur- The three workshops had a total of 199 partici- ing the third workshop (19 February 2013). The pants (Table 1). The most number of participants stakeholders studied the area maps (topography, was in the first workshop with 83. The two other slope, land cover, and population density) and workshops had 56 and 60 participants, respec- delineated the conservation area boundary and tively. The national agencies had the most repre- various management zones. They also revisited sentation. Their participants accounted for 33 per- the issues and measures identified and actions cent of the total. They represented the following suggested in the last two workshops and final- agencies: DENR-ARMM, Department of Agriculture ized these based on the new information in the (DA) -ARMM, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), third iteration. In the context of the final techni- Philippine National Police (PNP and Philippine cal description of the conservation area and the Coast Guard (PCG). The second group with the management measures to respond to the issues, most representation was non-government organi- the stakeholders reviewed the composition and zations (NGOs) and people’s organizations (POs) functions of the JMCC and BBMC. They subse- composing 23 percent of the total. Among the LGUs, quently put in place an organizational structure the barangays were most represented constitut- to implement the management plan and set the ing 14 percent. The municipality had 5 percent tasks for each of its four layers of authorities. while the province had 6 percent. The other groups They identified the capacity-building measures for represented were the academic institutions, me- them to effectively perform the tasks. The outline dia, religious groups, and land claimants. Around of the management plan was also finalized. 32 percent of the participants were women.

Building on Existing Institutions

The organizational management structure of the conservation area was designed in consideration of existing institutions. These include government (national agencies, LGU and learning institutions) and non-government (NGO, PO, private sector organizations and religious groups). The resulting structure is multi-level, reflecting the formal and traditional line of authority in Bongao municipality while the organizational composition has multi-sector representation. This representation captures the municipality’s social and political diversity and ensures inclusiveness in the conservation initiative. The structure provides all relevant existing institutions a role and opportunity to contribute to the initiative.

Table 1 Number of Participants in the Three Workshops Incorporating Lessons for the Establishment of Bud Bongao CA from Other Sites

In designing the organizational management structure of Bud Bongao conservation area, the situation in three conservation sites where the LGU has a leading role was looked into. These sites were the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the Tubbataha Reefs Natu- ral Park, and the Mangatarem (Pangasinan) critical habitat. The stakeholders assessed the organizational management structure of each. Seeing the ad- vantages and disadvantages of each, they designed the organizational management structure for the conservation area taking those elements from other sites that were considered work- able in their situation. B. Description of the Conservation Area

Historical Background The Sama who settled in Bongao IsIand organ- ized an administrative system based on land The unique biodiversity of Bud Bongao can only be ownership. Three quarters of the island of understood and appreciated through its history. Bongao including Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugao Bongao Island where the two mountains are located were reportedly under the traditional owner- is part of Sulu Archipelago. In their incipient stage, ship of the Halun family, considered the island’s 11 the islands comprising the archipelago were an arc ruling nobility. But when Tawi-Tawi became a of submarine volcanoes that have existed for at least part of the Republic of the Philippines, the gov- 25 million years. These volcanoes were formed as a ernment land classification system was super- result of the collision and partial subduction of imposed on traditional ownership and Bud large oceanic tectonic plates. The islands in the Bongao was classified as timberland and be- Sulu Archipelago began to be visible above the sea ing so, a government land. The timberland area in the last 15 million years.4 During the Pleistocene extends 50 meters circumferentially from the or about two million years ago, the global sea lev- foot edge of the mountains. Nonetheless, the els were 120 meters below the present as a result of Halun was still locally recognized as the land the formation of glaciers in the temperate zones. owner until the eruption of the secessionist war The majority of the Sulu Archipelago became one in 1972. At present several portions are cov- island, separated from Basilan-Mindanao to the ered by various tenure instruments: Certificate north and greater Sibutu and Borneo to the south by of Title, Deed of Donation, Tax Declaration, Right deepwater channels of 205 m and 290 m depths, over Inheritance, Award of a Parcel of Military respectively.5 Reserve Lot and stewardship certificate.

The islands of the archipelago are currently divided Biogeographic Setting into island groups.6 Bongao Island is part of Tawi- Tawi which is a group of about 30 bigger islands. Being geologically separated from the large is- The islands in the archipelago are mostly low-lying lands of Mindanao and Borneo, the Sulu Archi- coralline with Bud Bongao as one of the highest pelago evolved into its own biogeographic zone. points at 300 meters. 7 The Sama people are consid- Although poorly known biologically as the tran- ered the indigenous peoples of Bongao Island and sitional stepping stones between Borneo and whole of the Sulu Archipelago. They are, however, Mindanao, the archipelago evolved distinctive spread all over Sulu-Sulawesi Seas and as far as species while harbouring both Sundaic and Phil- Northern Luzon and Northern Australia.8 Folklores ippine species. But many taxa are identical to among the Sama in Sulu Archipelago identify Jahore or derived from taxa in Mindanao because un- in the present day Malaysia as their place of origin.9 like Palawan, the archipelago was never con- But recent evidence points that they were from nected to Borneo. Even Sibutu, close to Borneo Zamboanga Peninsula and fanned out to the Sulu and separated from the rest of the Sulus by the Archipelago until they reached Borneo in the 11th Sibutu Passage, contains an avifauna more century.10 closely related to the Sulu Archipelago than to

4 Hall R. 1998. The Plate Tectonics of Cenozoic South East Asia and the 8 Jubilado, R.C. and others. 2010. The Sama- Distribution of Land and Sea. In: Hall R. and Holloway J.D.,(eds) Bajaus of Sulu-Sulawesi Seas. Perspective from Biogeography and Geological Evolution of Southeast Asia. Linguistics and Culture. Jati. Volume 15. De- Leiden: Buckhuys Publishers, 99-11. cember 2010

5 Heany, L.R. 1986. Biogeography of Mammals in Southeast Asia: 9 Nimmo, H.A., 1968. Reflections on Bajau His- Estimate of Rates of Colonization, Extinction, and Speciation. Bio- tory. Philippine Studies. 16 No. 1. Pp 22- logical Journal of Linnean Society 28,127-165 23

6 The island groups are as follows: Basilan, Jolo, Keenapusan, 10 Pallensen, K. 1985. Culture, Contact and Laparan, Pangutaran, Tapul, Tawi-tawi, Sibutu, Mapun, Turtle Language. Monograph Series No. 24. Ma- Islands and Mapun. Basilan, Sibutu, Turtle Islands, and Mapun nila: Linguistic Society of the Philippines are administratively considered part of Sulu Archipelago. 11 Gonzales, M.T. 2012. Land Ownership of 7 Mt. Sinbangkok is the highest point at 532 meters. See Allen, D. Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan. Report Sub- 1998. On the birds of Tawi-Tawi Province in the Philippines. Bulletin mitted to WWF-Philippines. 5 June Tsurumi University. 35 (4) 73- 154 Borneo.12 Conservation Area Boundaries and the Rationale of their The uniqueness and significance of its biodiversity Location and Zoning is nonetheless well-recognized that its forest is included in the five components of Philippine moist The proposed conservation area originally cov- forest, which is among the Global 200, the top prior- ered Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan. Based on ity conservation areas worldwide.13 But expansion of analysis however, Bud Kabugan has only 3.2 agriculture, settlement and incessant logging has al- percent remaining forest all of which is open most obliterated the forest in the archipelago.14 Among broadleaved forest. Further, the entire moun- the few patches that remained is in Bud Bongao. tain is already covered by various private tenure instruments. Taking into account these Regional and Local Setting facts, the stakeholders decided to confine the conservation area to Bud Bongao and classify Bud Bongao is part of the municipality of Bongao, the Bud Kabugan as a buffer zone. Bud Bongao capital of the province of Tawi-Tawi. The province is still has 46.8 percent closed broadleaved for- part of the ARMM. The Organic Act for Muslim est and 9.8 percent open broadleaved forest. Mindanao (Republic Act No. 6734) created the region in 1989 and Tawi-Tawi was one of the four out of The Bud Bongao conservation area has 102.64 proposed 13 provinces who decided in a plebiscite hectares. The buffer zone has 222.64 hectares to be included in it.15 Being part of ARMM and a including the 124.94 hectares of Bud Kabugan government land, Bud Bongao is under the jurisdic- and 97.70-hectare area around Bud Bongao. tion of the autonomous government’s DENR. The of- The boundaries of Bud Bongao conservation fice of the Provincial Environment and Natural Re- area and its buffer zone are delineated in the sources (PENRO) represents the department in Bongao. coordinates shown in Table 2.

12 Dickinson and others. 1991. The Birds of the Philippines: An Annotated Checklist. BOU Checklist Ser 12-1-507

13 The other components are Greater Negros-Panay rain forests, Luzon montane rain forests, Luzon rain forests, Mindanao montane rain forests, Mindanao-Eastern Visayas rain forests, and Mindoro rain forests. See Olson D. and E. Dinerstein. 1998. The Global 200: A Representation Approach to Conserving the Earth’s Ecoregions. Washington D.C.: WWF

14 Allen, D. 1998. On the birds of Tawi-Tawi Province in the Philippines. Bulletin Tsurumi University. 35 (4) 73-154

15 The creation of an autonomous region for Muslim Mindanao was provided for in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. It was intended to fulfill the 1976 Tripoli Agreement between the Philippine Government and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the armed political organization that fought for independence of the land identified belonging to Bangsa Moro (Moro Nation). The land covers Mindanao, Sulu and Palawan. The agreement concluded the war that erupted in Mindanao in 1972. Apart from Tawi-Tawi, the other ARMM provinces are Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, and Sulu. Bud Bongao conservation area has three management zones, namely: a) strict protection zone, b) special zone, and c) cultural zone. Through management zoning, the limits of acceptable use and development in the CA are established. The entire conservation area is a strict protection zone except the 0.6 hectare for special use (Philippine Navy station and Globe Telecom cel- lular phone tower) and 0.3 hectares of cultural zone. The cultural zone is three separate areas of sacred sites. One is about 0.3 hectare and the other two are about 0.05 hectare each. A network of trails connects the sacred sites and the special use zone. This means that outside the trails and the special and cultural zones, all other human activities are prohibited except for scientific studies. For areas within the strict protection zone which are degraded or converted to cultivation, the forest which was lost will be restored.

Table 2 Coordinates of the Boundary of Bud Bongao Conservation Area and its Buffer Zone Figure 1 Maps of Bud Bongao Conservation Area and management zones

The buffer zone is not considered part of the conservation area. But being adjoined to it and under the jurisdiction of the DENR, it will be managed to increase the level of protection of the conservation area from encroachment and unauthor- ized resource harvesting. Being treated as an integral part of the conservation area, a program will be developed to enable land users adopt farming practices compat- ible with protection activities. Co- ordination with the DENR and other concerned agencies will also be made to improve tenure protection of zone.

Geology, Topography, and Climate

Bud Bongao is a limestone formation. Around 39.45 hectares or 38 percent of the area is very steep (Table 3). This slope orientation provides it natural protection against aggressive expansion of agriculture and settlement. Around 21 percent is steep and the remaining area is moderately sloping to rolling. The buffer zone has less steep slopes. Around Bud Bongao, only 19 percent of the buffer zone is very steep. Around 40 percent is steep. The rest ranges from level to rolling. The slope is gentler in Bud Kabugan. Only 27 percent is steep or very steep. The rest ranges from level to rolling.

The climate of the Sulu Archipelago biogeographic zone is tropical wet (National Geographic Society16 1999). There are apparently short (two-week) dry seasons in January and May on Tawi-Tawi. The biogeographic zone is located south of the main typhoon track that so strongly influences the more northerly Philippine17 islands. In the Coronas climate classification map, Tawi-Tawi is Type IV, which means it receives rainfall evenly throughout the year.

16 Allen, D. 1998. On the birds of Tawi-Tawi Province in the Philippines. Bulletin Tsurumi University. 35 (4) 73-154

17 Dickinson and others. 1991. The Birds of the Philippines: An Annotated Checklist. BOU Checklist Ser 12-1-507 However, this Table 3 Slope of the Bud Bongao Conservation Area and Buffer Zone: 2013 weather pattern is bound to change under the climate change scenario.18 Based on the baseline observation in Zamboanga City, the temperature in the area is bound to increase by 1 degree by 2020 on average under a medium-range emission scenario. The number of days with maximum temperature of over 35 degrees will increase from 54 at present to 114 days in 2020. The number of days with rainfall more than 150 mm will increase from 1 to 8 in 2020. This means that Tawi-Tawi needs to preserve its remaining forest to better regulate and cool down on-site temperature, store water for longer dry season and mitigate flooding resulting from extreme rainfall.

Ecosystems, Flora and Fauna

The conservation area is dominated by natural ecosystems mainly closed broadleaved forest. It covers 77.82 hectares or about 75.8 percent of its total area (Table 4). The other natural ecosystems are open broadleaved forest (11.47 percent), grassland (1.2 percent), area of small wooded species, shrubs, and grass (8.76 percent), and an open area of rocky surface (0.91 percent). The total forest area comprises 87.3 percent. Within the conservation area are cultivated and built-up areas which total 1.92 hectares or 1.9 percent of the total. The built-up area is used as AFP naval station, a cell tower of Globe Telecom, and sacred sites with concrete shrines.

Table 4 Land Use of Bud Bongao Conservation Area and Buffer Zone: 2013

18 Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomic Services Administration (PAGASA). 2011. Climate Change in the Philippines. Quezon City. March In contrast, cultivated areas dominate The areal extent of the forest defines the richness the floral the buffer zone. It composes 66.7 per- and faunal diversity of Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan. The cent of the area around Bud Bongao and study in the area found the existence of a limestone forest in 56.6 percent of Bud Kabugan. Although Bud Bongao with loosely dense patches of veteran and emer- there is no built-up area around Bud gent trees.19 It also shelters the largest molave tree (Vitex Bongao, it covers 10.7 percent of Bud parviflora) in the Philippines, a species associated with lime- Kabugan. Only 33.3 percent of the area stone forest. Bud Kabugan is extensively cultivated with small around Bud Bongao remains with natu- thickets of shrubs, herbs and grasses but devoid of hard- ral cover and 32.7 percent of Bud wood species. Kabugan. In both parts of the buffer zones, the natural cover is mostly small On fauna, the study shows the number of identified bird spe- wooded species, grass, and shrubs cies is highest compared to the number of other species for composing 22.1 percent around Bud both Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan. Bud Bongao had 36 Bongao and 24.17 percent in Bud species of birds and Bud Kabugao had 13 (Table 5). The bird Kabugan. This area used to have closed diversity is a potential attraction for bird watching enthusi- broadleaved cover until the trees were asts. The difference in the ecological status of the two moun- harvested. Only small patches of for- tains could be seen in the number of species found. For est remained in the buffer zone. There instance, Bud Bongao had 36 species of trees but Bud Kabugao are around 5.1 hectares of mostly open had only 9 (Table 5). The diversity index of Bud Bongao for broadleaved forest around Bud Bongao birds and trees is still over 3.0 which is considered high and 4.56 hectares of purely open (Table 6). Bud Kabugan did not get the same rating in any of broadleaved forest in Bud Kabugan. the indices.

Table 5 Number of Species Identified in Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan: 2011

Table 6 Diversity Index of Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan: 2011

19 Lukman, A, G. 2012. Biodiversity Asessment for Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugao. Report Sub- mitted to WWF- Philippines. 25 June. Seven endemic faunal and one floral spe- Human Population cies were found in Bud Bongao. The endemic animals include: the Mindanao Ea- Six barangays have jurisdiction over the two mountains. gle Owl (Mimizuku gurneyi), the Reddish Bud Bongao is within barangays Nalil, Pahut, and Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia phasiarella), the Pasiagan. Bud Kabugan is within barangays Pag-asa, Tawi-Tawi Brown Dove (Phapitreron Samandagit, and Tubig Boh. The six barangays had total comata), the Tawi-Tawi Forest Rat (Rattus population of 18,582 persons in 2010 (Table 7). The tawitawiensis), the Orange Albatross (Apias barangays with bigger population were Pag-asa (5,648) nephele), the Red Dragonfly (Camacinia and Tubig Boh (4,644) where Bud Kabugan is located and gigantea), and the Philippine Monkey Nalil (3,154) which hosts part of Bud Bongao. The popu- (Macaca fascicularis). The IUCN considers lation of the six barangays grew at 4.8 percent per year the Tawi-tawi Brown Rat vulnerable in from 2000 to 2010. This is very high considering that the 2000. Two endemic bird species which were population of Bongao grew by only 3.2 percent during not found in the survey and believed to be the same period. The national growth rate was 1.9 per- extinct in the two mountains include the cent. Sulu bleeding heart (Gallicolumba menagei) and the Sulu Hornbill (Anthracoceros High growth rate due largely to in-migration mainly ex- montani). The Sulu hornbill’s closest rela- plains the encroachment of settlement and farms into tive is the Borneo black hornbill (Anthraco- the two mountains. But the exceptional population ceros malayanus).20 Also not found is the growth in barangays Nalil and Tubig Boh is due to the Sundaic slow loris (Nycticebus coucang) government housing project in the two barangays. Popu- which is endemic to Tawi-Tawi and not lation increase resulted to greater resource harvesting found in the rest of the Philippines.21 including quarry materials, water, timber and wildlife.22

The population in the Table 7 Population Size and Growth in Barangays: 2000-2010 six barangays is rela- tively well educated. This is reflected in the educational attain- ment of the respond- ents of the household survey done on Octo- ber 2012. They spent an average of 9.7 years in school or equivalent to 3rd or 4th year high school (Table 8). The farmers and forestry workers are the smallest occupation group accounting for only 1 percent. Given the number of households in the six barangays, the percentage is equivalent to about 30 households. This number indicates the total households’ low degree of dependence on land based resources.

20 Allen, D. 1998. On the birds of Tawi-Tawi Province in the Philippines. Bulletin Tsurumi University. 35 (4) 73-154

21 Heany, L.R. Biogeography of Mammals in Southeast Asia: Estimates of Rates of Colonization, Extinction, and Speciation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 28. 127-165

22 Hassan, A. 2012. Socioeconomic and Institutional Assessment of Bud Bongao and Bud Kabugan. Report Submitted to WWF- Philippines. 26 June 2012. Table 8 Selected Data on Education, Occu- pation, and Income in Six Barangays with Jurisdiction over Bud Bongao CA and Buffer Zone: October 2012

The six barangays are apparently largely urban as indicated in their largest occupation groups. Around 9 percent are professionals while 6 percent are plant and machine operators. Another 6 percent have elementary occupations.23 Five percent are technicians and clerks respectively. Nonetheless, unemployment stands at 6 percent. The 19 percent who reported housekeeping as their occupation means that unemployment and underemployment are higher among women.

23 Elementary occupations include vendors, cleaners, domestic helpers, building caretakers, messengers, garbage collectors and laborers. National Statistics Office. 1992. 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Socio-economic and Demographic Characteristics. Philippines. Manila. June Further indicating the high urbanization of the The other income source relying on natural re- economy in the six barangays are the sources of source harvesting is fishing. It supports 18 per- incomes. Around 80 percent of the households de- cent of the households but contributes only one rive income from salaries and wages. Only 12 per- percent of the household income. It is engaged cent still earn from farming. The average house- 15 times in a month and the average catch is 12 hold income is P188,863 per year or P15,738 per kilograms per session. Only 56 percent of the month. Only 2 percent is brought in by farming. catch is sold with the rest being consumed or The biggest income contributor is salaries and given away. Around 29 percent also raise ani- wages (80 percent) distantly followed by business mals mostly chickens. But like farming and fish- (13 percent). Income distribution is skewed with ing, production is largely subsistence with only only 6 percent of the households earning P25,000 22 percent of the chickens being sold. The per- or more a month. Around 36 percent of the house- centage of chickens which died is higher at 39 holds are earning P5,000 at the maximum. percent mainly due to lack of veterinary services. The rest of the chickens is consumed at Farming operation is a small portion in the economy home. of the six barangays but it poses the most serious threat to the conservation area due to its rapid ex- Only 1 percent collects wood from Bud Bongao pansion. The average farmland is 0.6 hectares but (Table 10). It is collected for fuel. The rest mainly the range is wide from 0.003 to 3.5 hectares (Table collects mangrove timber for fuel. Apart from 9). Around 54 percent is owner cultivated while wood, they also collect fruits from Bud Bongao. sharecroppers cultivate the rest. Around 77 per- Mainly because of the limited direct dependence cent are planted to fruit trees and 20 percent to for resources from Bud Bongao and the moun- coconut. The rest have bananas. Only 62 percent tain’s spiritual importance to the local people, of the coconut harvested and 55 percent of the ba- all the households support its protection. They nanas are sold. Like most of the yield from fruit also suggested better solid waste management trees, the rest are consumed at home and given away. for the mountain, reforestation, banning of tim- The farmers consider land encroachment as the ber harvesting, ecotourism development, and the most serious problem. operation of enforcement system. Table 9 Selected Data on Livelihood Sources in Six Barangays with Jurisdiction over Bud Bongao CA and Buffer Zone: October 2012

Table 10 Forest Product Extraction and Senti- ments on Conservation in Six Barangays with Jurisdiction over Bud Bongao CA and Buffer Zone: October 2012 Legal Status and Management Arrangement

The management arrangement for Bud Bongao and The third option was to establish a Forest Land Bud Kabugan was decided in the context of three Use Management Area (FLUMA) where the DENR key legal provisions: (i) DENR’s mandate of primary will transfer to the LGU the management of a responsibility over forest land (Executive Order No forest land through a MOA. In consideration of 192 Series 1987; Section 4), (ii) devolution of com- the lengthy NIPAS process, limited DENR capac- munal forests, greenbelts, tree parks and commu- ity, absence of options in the Local Government nity-based forestry areas to the municipality (Lo- Code to conserve forested areas and desire to cal Government Code; Section 17) b2ii); and (iii) put the area under municipal management, the application of the Local Government Code in the September 2012 workshop participants unani- ARMM until it enacts its local autonomy law (Or- mously favoured the third option.24 ganic Act for Autonomous Muslim Mindanao; Arti- cle III Section 3). This option entails the preparation of a five-year Forest Land Use Management Plan (FLUP) and These provisions provided three options of man- its subsequent implementation. Its preparation agement arrangement. One was to establish the process laid down by NewCAPP is as follows: (i) area as part of the NIPAS under the management of data and map collection; (ii) situational analy- the DENR as provided in the Republic Act No 7586. sis; (iii) consensus of non-negotiables, priori- The second option was to use the first option but ties and strategies; (iv) plan preparation; (v) le- for DENR to transfer its management to the munici- gitimization; (vi) plan approval by DENR regional pal government using the Puerto Princesa Subter- office and MOA signing; and (vii) joint plan Im- ranean River National Park as a precedent. plementation.

24 The April 2012 Workshop participants agreed to name the proposed conservation area “Bud Bongao National Forest Park.” They may reconsider the word “national” after they decided to put it under municipal management. C. Management Plan

Conservation Value and Concerns The threats generally stem from fast increasing population and development and their need for land. Bud Bongao is one of the very few portions left Tawi-Tawi has been the refuge of in-migrants from of the moist forest in the Sulu Archipelago the restive islands of Sulu Archipelago. Its relative Biogeographic Zone. The task to protect Bud calm, surging economy propelled by mariculture, Bongao is considered urgent not only among and proximity to the more prosperous Malaysian conservation scientists and workers but also by state of Sabah makes it an attractive destination. the people living around the mountain and its The expanding population spawned expansion of government and non-government stakeholders. cultivated areas and settlement, higher land val- The spiritual importance of Bud Bongao to the ues resulting from urbanization, and diversifica- Sama people adds to its value and the need to tion of ethnic composition which dilutes the cul- protect it. Advancing threats raises the urgency tural values that has long shielded Bud Bongao from for such protection. any form of destruction.

Goals of the Management Plan

The Sama in Tawi-Tawi have four subgroups: Sama Dilaut (living on the sea and also called Badjao); Sama Bihing (living in and around population centers); Sama Deya (living in cleared forests and on dry land cultivation); and Sama Talun (living in and subsisting on the forest). 25 But all these subgroups are one in their belief of spirits (jinns) domiciled in Bud Bongao.

25 Sangogot, T.L. 2005. The Tawi-Tawi Sama Literary Voice. In: Literature of Voice Epics in the Philippines. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University pp59-73 Even though it has never been systematically studied, this belief apparently precedes the coming of Islam to the islands in the 13th century. Based on pieces of information from local people and journalistic reports, part of the belief is that these spirits influence the physical and spiritual well-being of the people as well as of the land and sea supporting them. 26 To ensure such well-being, the spirits must be continuously appeased and Bud Bongao, their aBude, must be taken cared even under a syncretic Islamic form. This belief served as the platform in setting the goals to formalize its protection under the conservation area mode and harmonizing existing customary and formal instruments. The goals of such protection are as follows: i. Uphold the significance of the area particularly v. Contribute to global response to climate Bud Bongao in the culture, history, spiritual life, change by increasing the area’s gas seques- and identity of the Sama people in Tawi-Tawi; tration capacity through forest enhancement and expansion while strengthening its wa- ii. Formally recognize the area as the landmark of ter retention capacity as climate change ad- Bongao in view of the residents’ high emotional aptation tool; attachment to the mountain; vi. Intensify the sense of community ownership iii. Restore and maintain the rich biodiversity of of the area and inculcate among stakehol- the area for the future generations being part of ders their responsibility for it; and the heritage of the Tawi-Tawi Sama; vii. Develop a working model for locally-man- iv. Enhance the tourism value of the area through aged areas with social, cultural and biologi- better management of its attractions and visi- cal importance in the context of the Organic tors; Act for Autonomous Muslim Mindanao.

These goals not only expressed the aspiration of the stakeholders to manage the area for conservation of biodiversity, culture, and traditional worldviews. They also serve as stepping stones to decide the suitable management arrangement within the existing legal framework.

26 Mercado, Jun. 2008. Bud Bongao. GMA News Online. October 21. http://blogs.gmanews.tv/jun-mercado/archives/25-Bud- Bongao.html Objectives of the Management Plan

The objectives of the management plan are to arrest the immediate threats undermining the conservation of Bud Bongao and ensure that an effective management organization operates to carry out the needed activities. These objectives are as follows: i. Secure the boundary of the conserva- v. Prepare and implement an ecotourism plan to en- tion area and its management zones by hance the value of the conservation area, educate provision of physical markers and con- visitors on its biodiversity and cultural importance, trol in its designated ingress and egress and operate mechanism for sustainable financing; points; vi. Design and implement an IEC campaign to raise ii. Promulgate regulations and operate a public awareness on the value of the conservation community-based but multi-level en- area and heighten the sense of ownership among forcement system to ensure compliance; communities living around it; iii. Develop and operate a solid waste man- vii. Work with concerned agencies for the adoption by agement program to have a garbage-free farming households of agro-forestry and other prac- conservation area through reduction, tices that compliment the protection of the conser- recycling, and reuse; vation area and in rationalizing land tenure; and iv. Identify and rehabilitate degraded ar- viii. Institute and operate a management structure and eas including forest areas which should system to ensure that the objectives of the manage- be restored and eroded trails and slopes ment plan and goals of the conservation area are which should repaired; attained.

Key Management Issues

The objectives of the management plan will respond to key issues that undermine the physical integrity of the conservation area, quality of its resources and natural functions, and culturally-sound regard for its social importance. These issues are as follows: i. Undefined and porous boundary. Although Bud Bongao ii. Destructive and inappropriate behav- has long been revered among the Sama people as a iour. Customary laws used to provide spirit abode, the boundary of its constituent area was Bud Bongao sufficient protection never defined. It was the government through the DENR against actions incompatible with its which surveyed the area in 1965 and set the bound- conservation.27 But population and ary of timberland area covering Bud Bongao and Bud land pressure, diversification of Tawi- Kabugan. Between 1965 and the present, the edges of Tawi’s ethnic composition, erosion of the area around Bud Bongao and the whole of Bud traditional beliefs, and growing volume Kabugan were encroached, placed under various ten- of visitors (pilgrims and tourists) to ure instruments for private use, and converted to Bud Bongao have taken their toll. En- farms and settlement. The DENR again surveyed the croachment on forested areas, re- area in 2012 and generally moved back the bounda- source harvesting, indiscriminate ries of the timberland area largely reflecting the ex- waste disposal, and incidence of dis- isting forest line in Bud Bongao, while covering the play of behaviour inappropriate in sa- farmland and residual forest in Bud Kabugan. The cred sites are observed to be acceler- stakeholders adopted the area within the 2012 ating. Formal regulations have to re- timberland area boundary as the conservation area inforce the customary laws and an en- and buffer zone. The boundary will be marked on the forcement mechanism has to operate ground and entry and exit points will be controlled. to impose compliance.

27 A number of folklores among the Sama people in Bongao tell of the misfortune that befell on persons who desecrated Bud Bongao. Among these is the soldier who shot a monkey and fell to his death in the cliff. Another is the one who cut a tree to make a boat which sank on its maiden voyage. A woman reportedly visited the tampat in body-hugging dress and centipedes went inside her dress. iii. Solid waste. The accumulation and disper- vi. Need to expand and sustain public support. The sal of garbage throughout Bud Bongao operation of a conservation area is the first for needs a solid waste management program. the municipal government. Its current constitu- The volume of solid waste is continuously ency of government officials, NGO, academic in- increasing due to three factors: (1) grow- stitutions, and PO must be extended to the local ing number of visitors; (2) customary re- communities and general public. Public sup- quirement to bring food offering into the port is necessary to facilitate compliance to regu- sacred sites; and (3) replacement of nito lations, encourage participation in enforcement, vine (Lygodium circnatum) with plastic as and ease the collection of users’ fee. Public sup- material for prayer knot. The prayer knot port is also a hedge to ensure that the mainte- is a pliant material tied by the pilgrim into nance of the conservation area will always be a branch of tree to signify his wish to the in the agenda of the local and national govern- spirits. While once or twice a year, civic ment. groups and citizens do a one-day clean- up, this is sporadic and not sufficient to vii. Gaining support of users of the buffer zone. keep the mountain continuously free from Around 30 to 40 households are farming in Bud garbage. Kabugan and around Bud Bongao. These households must be considered as social fence of the iv. Degraded area rehabilitation. Edges of the conservation area. They can prevent encroach- Bud Bongao conservation area are already ment of new arrivals and limit the expansion of deforested and some are gradually con- their farms. However, they must be assisted in verted to agriculture. The forest in these securing the tenure of their area, commit to stop areas must be restored. Parts of the trails expansion to existing forest and encourage to to the sacred sites and to the Navy station adopt agroforestry and organic farming prac- are already severely eroded with very deep tices to complement the conservation of Bud scouring marks. These areas have to be Bongao. Because the municipality cannot solely repaired and terraced to regulate runoff carry out these activities, it will work with DENR, and enhance the safety of hikers. DA and NGO in the context of conservation area operation. v. Absence for sustainable financing. While the municipal government will initially al- viii. Need for working management organization. The locate funds for the operation of the con- implementation of activities addressing the key servation area, it is realized it will be com- issues requires a capable management organi- peting with other concerns some of which zation. This in turn hinges on sustained support are considered more immediate (e.g, of the stakeholders, sufficient funds, and tech- health, education, infrastructure, and hu- nical competence of its managers and workers. manitarian assistance). As an added cost The support of the stakeholders will only be gal- center to the municipal budget in a limited vanized if they are represented in decision-mak- revenue environment, the yearly provision ing bodies. The municipal government can partly of sufficient funds for the conservation assure sufficient funds but a sustainable financ- area will be a challenge. To ensure that the ing mechanism is the long-term and permanent conservation area will generate funds for response to this concern. A capacity-building its own operation, ecotourism develop- program is needed to develop the capacity of ment is the most viable option given the decision-makers, managers, and workers of the mountain’s established reputation as an management organization so that they can ad- attraction and existing visitors’ volume. equately run a conservation area. Site Management Strategies and Activities

The implementation of the plan will use the same strategies as in its preparation: (1) use of research- based information, (2) stakeholder-driven decision-making, (3) building on existing institutions, and (4) incorporation of lessons from other conservation sites where the LGU has a leading role while adapting it to the local setting. Further, plan implementation will reconcile customary laws with conservation area policies in recognition of the fact that its management is overlaid over traditional belief system. The use of these strategies is seen in each planned activities. i. Install boundary markers and establish ii. Promulgate regulations and operate an enforcement entry control points: (1) form a team who system: (1) arrange a stakeholders’ meeting with will put the concrete markers on the strong community participation to identify the be- boundaries composed of the conserva- haviour to be regulated; (2) agree during the meeting tion area manager (CAM) and representa- the various degree of violations and the correspond- tives of the DENR, NGO, PO, municipal gov- ing fines and penalties; (3) draft the result of the ernment and concerned barangays and workshop into a policy; (4) incorporate customary land users; (2) study the coordinates of laws in sacred sites into the policy; (5) submit the the boundary in the map and prepare a draft policy for consideration and approval by the work plan, schedule and budget; (3) de- BBMC; (6) conduct an inventory of the barangay and cide on the interval and location of the municipal personnel, equipment, vehicles, and train- markers and prepare the exact number ing to undertake enforcement; (7) form community of markers and installation equipment; enforcement teams; (8) arrange another meeting to (4) find the location of the markers using set up a three-level enforcement system: community, a Global Positioning System (GPS) and park wardens and composite team of PNP and DENR; install these; (5) refer any dispute on the (9) present in the meeting the enforcement system boundary to the DENR; (6) prepare bill and manual of El Nido municipality (Palawan) as boards informing the public where the model in preparing the conservation area enforce- conservation area boundary line is and ment system and manual; 28 (10) guide the meeting install these in location along the bound- participants in formulating the enforcement system ary most vulnerable to incursions; and and manual for Bud Bongao; (11) train the persons (7) limit the number of ingress and egress involved in enforcement of their duties; and (12) dry- points and install a control post at the run the system and manual and refine these based ingress manned 24/7. on the result.

Table 11 Customary Laws Governing Behavior of Visitors in Tampat Area

28 Municipality of El Nido. 2005. El Nido Enforcement System and Environmental Enforcement Manual of Operation iii. Develop and operate solid waste management vi. Design and implement an IEC campaign: (1) program: (1) assess the current status of solid define the various targets of the IEC campaign waste reduction, collection and disposal in including the communities around the con- Bud Bongao; (2) arrange a stakeholders’ meet- servation area, school children, general pub- ing to constitute a solid waste management lic, and potential visitors; (2) collect base- program; (3) present to the stakeholders best line information on the level of awareness practices in solid waste management to mini- on the need to protect Bud Bongao and their mize waste generation, maximize recovery and sense of ownership of said mountain; (3) as- recycling, and institute efficient and sanitary sess the baseline data and pinpoint the ar- collection and disposal system; (4) put to- eas of knowledge and attitude which need to gether a solid waste management program be enhanced; (4) arrange a meeting among based on best practices as applicable in Bud key stakeholders including media persons to Bongao including installation of composting present the baseline result and analysis and and material recovery facilities; (5) prepare a agree on the campaign component; (5) include budget to operate the program and submit this as campaign components per targets the key to the BBMC for consideration and approval; messages, channels, message positioning, and (6) dry run the implementation of the pro- creative execution, and stints; (6) prepare a gram and refine it based on the result. budget for implementation; (7) submit the campaign plan to the BBMC for considera- iv. Rehabilitate degraded areas. (1) identify the tion and approval; and (8) test -run the cam- degraded forest areas and eroded portions of paign and refine it based on the result. the trails and measure the size; (2) assess the restoration work required and prepare a res- vii. Plan and implement a buffer zone program: toration plan incorporating the use of indig- (1) identify the actual land users of the buffer enous species for reforestation; (3) estimate zone; (2) collect baseline information on their the financial requirements for their restora- land tenure, farming practices and attitude tion work; (4) develop and maintain nursery towards the protection effort in Bud Bongao; of indigenous species; (5) institute a mecha- (3) arrange a meeting among land users to nism to use compost from the solid wastes in explain the protection effort, present the base- area rehabilitation; and (6) submit the reha- line information, solicit their concerns, and bilitation budget to the BBMC for considera- negotiate for their direct and indirect par- tion and approval; ticipation including in securing the boundaries of the conservation area; (4) assess with v. Develop and implement an ecotourism plan: them their farming practices in the meeting, (1) collect data on the tourist characteristics areas for improvement in terms of income (volume, demographic characteristics, ex- and sustainability and the potential enhance- penditure pattern) and assets of Bud Bongao ment of organic farming and agro-forestry; and existing support infrastructure (e.g., (5) link with mandated agencies and resource transportation, accommodation and tourism institutions (e.g., DENR, DA and Municipal As- operators) and capable manpower available sessor’s Office) to respond to their tenure in the municipality; (2) arrange a stakeholders’ concerns and expand agroforestry and or- meeting to formulate the ecotourism plan; (3) ganic farming practices; (6) facilitate assist- present the collected data in the meeting to ance of mandated agencies and resource in- assess the ecotourism potential of Bud stitutions to the farming households; and (7) Bongao; (4) present in the meeting best prac- monitor the performance of the farming tices of protected areas with strong households in protecting the conservation ecotourism component; 29 (5) agree in the meet- area against encroachment and their ing the ecotourism plan components includ- progress in adopting agroforestry and organic ing areas opened to visitors, mechanics of farming practices. visitors orientation, limits of visitors’ volume, tourism activities, visitors facilities for instal- viii.Operate a working management organization. lation, users fee and collection mechanism, The structure and functions of the manage- marketing scheme and budget for initial im- ment organization was already agreed in the plementation; (6) draft the plan using Annex 1 19 February 2013 workshop. The capability as guide; (7) submit the plan to the BBMC for building measures to be implemented were consideration and approval; and (8) dry-run also laid down. The next step is to legitimize key ecotourism processes and refine its based its operation through an ordinance and im- on the result. plement the capability-building program.

29 Best examples of these protected areas are Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Monitoring and Evaluation Administration, Financing, and Data Management and Capacity Building

Monitoring aims to provide the BBMC and The organizational structure that will manage Bud BBMO accurate, complete, relevant and Bongao Conservation Area has three layers (Figure 2). timely data for planning and decision-mak- On the first layer is the JMCC which will act as an ing. Its results will also be used for project advisory body. Its function is to provide advice and development and public communication. guidance to the BBMC on the management of the con- Monitoring will be done at outcome and servation area. The second layer is the BBMC which impact levels. The monitoring of the out- will formulate policies and regulations and oversee come of each key activity will be continu- their implementation. The third layer is the BBMO ously done. The impact-level monitoring which is the executing agency of the policies and im- will be done every five years and will use plementer of the day-to-day management activities. the baseline biological and socioeconomic study results as the first of the time-series. The JMCC has 11 members and chaired by the vice- This means that it will use the same indica- governor of Tawi-Tawi (Table 13). The BBMC has 22 tors, instruments, methodology and sample members and chaired by the Mayor of Bongao. The sites. Local academic institutions and spe- BBMC will form a three-member executive committee cialists will carry out the monitoring activi- to perform its functions for matters that it will desig- ties due to the limited capability of the Bud nate. The BBMO will be headed by a conservation area Bongao Management Office (BBMO). manager and staffed with four wardens and one visitors management staff. The number and positions of But the BBMO will lead the various groups staff may be expanded later based on the need and in outcome monitoring. This means that it availability of funds. It will also serve as the secre- will prescribe the data collection format, tariat of the BBMC. The tasks of the BBMC and BBMO standardize the collection methodology and are shown in Table 14. will compile, consolidate and store the data collected. The BBMO staff and various The BBMO will be attached to the Office of the Mayor groups involved in the activity will collect or to any office of the municipality deemed by the the data. They will be trained on how to mayor as suitable to enable it to perform its functions administer the formats, check the data col- better. As part of the municipal office, the BBMO will lected and turn these over to BBMO. The receive annual allocation for its efficient and effective data collected will be stored in hard and functioning allocated by the annual municipal budget. soft copy in the BBMO. The indicators to be The employment of the BBMO staff will be subject to covered, collection methods to be employed civil service rules and regulations. The CAM will head and the main data collectors are in Table the BBMO. The terms of reference of the CAM is in 12. Annex 3. Table 12 Planned Activities, Outcome Indicators, Collection Methods, and Data Collector

Figure 2 Organizational Structure Managing Bud Bongao Conservation Area Table 13 Members of the JMCC and BBMC and their Designation

Table 14 Functions of the JMCC, BBMC, and BBMO All income of the Bud Bongao Conservation To prepare the BBMC and BBMO for the performance Area will be remitted to the municipal treas- of their functions, the capability needs were deter- ury and subject to the accounting and audit- mined based on their perceived weaknesses. Three ing rules and regulations of the government of training courses were identified for both the BBMC the Philippines. If the BBMC deems that it is and BBMO. These are as follows: Project Develop- more beneficial to the management of the con- ment and Marketing, Monitoring System Formulation, servation area, all its income may be put into and Operation and Sustainable Financing. The BBMO a trust fund where it can be conserved and in addition requires training on Park Management, used for the sole purpose of implementing the IEC, and Enforcement System Formulation and Op- management activities of the conservation eration. The suggested training curriculum is in An- area. nex 4.

One-Year Work Program

The one-year work program (March 2013-February 2014) is prepared in the context of the site management activities contained in this plan. It means that the one-year work program merely describes the initial actions which require the implementation of succeeding actions if the plan objectives are to be attained. On the first year, the actions are concentrated on starting up the operation of the conservation area and the BBMO (Table 15). These includes transfer of the management of the conservation area from the DENR to the municipality of Bongao, building the capacity of BBMC and BBMO, personnel recruitment, and setting up the BBMO’s physical office. Table 15 One-Year Work Program for Bud Bongao CA Management Certain activities in the management plan will One-Year Budget be implemented in the first year as well being considered critical to the viability of the con- The budget for the one-year work plan amounts to servation area. These activities are on prom- P1,464,500 (Table 16). Around 80 percent of the ulgation of regulations and on ecotourism. amount will go to the start up actions. Around 68 The latter is considered key to sustainable percent of the amount allocated to start-up actions financing. The transformation of the open- will be spent on capacity building of the BBMC and access tourism in Bud Bongao to a viable BBMO. The procurement of fixed equipment will get enterprise will not only raise the regard of 12 percent of the budget for start-up actions. The rest the municipal government over its protection will go to office supplies and two-month salaries of but will also put it in the path of financial the BBMO personnel. The services of the personnel independence. Also scheduled on the first are not expected to commence until January 2014. The year is the establishment of the monitoring one-year budget covers the period from March 2013 system and capacity building for BBMC and to February 2014, hence, the two months coverage of BBMO. The monitoring system is considered their salaries. The rest of the one-year budget will go fundamental tool in managing the conserva- to promulgation of regulations, development of tion area. ecotourism, and jumpstarting the monitoring system. Table 16 One year Budget for Bud Bongao CA Management: March 2013-February 2014 ANNEXES

ANNEX 1

Proposed Outline of Bud Bongao Conservation Area EcoTourism Plan

A. Resource-Carrying Capacity C. Carrying Capacity versus Demand

Tourism Resources (Natural, Cultural, Historical, D. Carrying Capacity Limits and Expansion Recreational) Infrastructure (Transportation, Trails, Water Demand Cap Quantity and Quality, Sewerage, Solid Waste, Infrastructure Health) Institutional Natural Resources (Land use and Allocation, Human Resources Agriculture, Forest, Endemic Diseases) Natural Resources (No go-zones, Offset, Land Use Institutional Resources (Regulatory Organizations, Plan, Seasonal and Diurnal Use) Policies, Programs, Revenue Streams, Enforcement Mechanism and Capacity) E. Plan Components Human (Employability, Readiness and Capital) Development Principles B. Tourists’ Demand Tourism Targets (Number and Types) Spatial Plan Tourist volume and arrival pattern Site Development Plan (Land Allocation, Demographics (nationality, age, gender, education) Accessibility, Services and Utilities) Travel behavior (length of stay, number, etc) Community participation and Benefit Sharing Information sources and travel arrangement Marketing Plan Routes and Activities Financial and Economic Analysis and Plan Expenditures Management Enhancement Plan (Policies, Institutions, Systems, Training)

ANNEX 2

Outline of Enforcement System

A. Process of System Generation E. Equipment Procurement and Maintenance

B. Training and Deputizing Procurement Storage, Release and Retrieval Maintenance C. Coordination and Communication F. Financing Enforcement

Organizational Structure Grants Program User’s Fee Reporting System Government Allocation Operational Procedures G. Monitoring and Evaluation D. Surveillance and Intelligence H. Transitory Activities ANNEX 3

Terms of Reference of the Conservation Area Manager

The position is assigned responsibilities involving the management and supervision of the operation of the Bud Bongao Conservation Area.

Typical Functions:

The functions of the positions include but may not be limited to the following:

• Assures a safe, well-maintained conservation area • Assumes the responsibility of natu- through the efforts of a properly supervised and trained ral resource protection and environ- staff. mental education as a manager of • Provides an efficient operation that stays within conservation area operations and budget constraints and which assures fiscal control visitor programming. and accountability. • Analyzes financial information and • Provides visitor service and promotes usage through operational requirements in order positive community relations, developing local part- to plan, prepare and manage the nerships and volunteer programs and aggressive mar- conservation area’s operating keting efforts. budget.

Level Descriptors:

Knowledge and Skills required include knowledge of the principles of park management and business administration; of marketing and advertising methods and principles; of general construction methods and maintenance procedures; of personnel and financial management; of public relations; of laws, rules and regulations concerning the operation of protected areas, contracts, purchases of government equipment and supplies and property management; and of supervisory principles and practices. Ability is required to supervise the work of others; to maintain effective working relationships and public relations; to formulate goals and objectives; to apply rules and regulations; to maintain records and prepare reports; and to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of a bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, park administration or management, criminal justice, natural resources or a closely related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of experience in park management or operations, business administration, building and grounds maintenance, general construction or natural resource management.

Special Requirements:

This position requires the incumbent to perform law enforcement duties in the enforcement of government laws or conservation area rules and regulations to ensure the safety and welfare of visitors, properties and facilities. Applicants for these positions must possess a valid driver’s license to operate government vehicles at the time of appointment, be willing to work irregular hours; and possess the psychological and physical ability to perform law enforcement duties, as evidenced by completion of a written examination administered prior to appointment. ANNEX 4

Knowledge and Skills Covered by Training Courses