This publication has been made possible with funding support from Malampaya Joint Ventures Partners, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro and Provincial Government of Occidental Mindoro Copyright: © Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. All rights reserved: Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes, in any form or by any means, is prohibited without the express written permission from the publisher. Recommended Citation: Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (2014). Mt. Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment (RSEA) Final Report. Muntilupa City. Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. ISBN 978-621-8010-01-7 Published by: Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. Manila Office 22F Asian Star Building, ASEAN Drive Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntilupa City, 1780 Philippines Telephone: +63 2 8502188 Fax: +63 2 8099447 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.mbcfi.org.ph Provincial Office Gozar Street, Barangay Camilmil, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro, 5200 Philippines Telephone/Fax: +63 43 2882326 Final Report Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment MCWS-RSEA Team: Grace C. Diamante Executive Director/Project Director MBCFI Lisa J. Paguntalan Team Leader Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI) www.pbcfi.org.ph Survey Team: Philip Godfrey Jakosalem Wildlife Biologist Don Geoff E. Tabaranza Wildlife Biologist Kathy Lene S. Cielo Wildlife Biologist Mary Ann O. Cajano Botanist Virtito Natural Jr. Wildlife Biologist Kim John Doble Wildlife Biologist Cristian Tiburan, Jr GIS Specialist Minerva G. Gonzales Socio-Cultural, Economic and Governance Specialist (with contribution) Errol A. Gatumbato Technical Advisor/Reviewer MBCFI http://errolgatumbato.wordpress.com With funding support from: Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) 77 Matahimik Street, Teachers’ Village, Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines Telephone: (02) 927 2186 / 926 9629 / 927 9403; Fax: (02) 922 3022 This research was also made possible through the additional support from Malampaya Joint Venture Partners. The content of this report is the sole responsibility of the researchers, and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment or the Malampaya Joint Venture Partners. 1 Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. Foundation for the Philippine Environment March 2014 Final Report Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment Table of Contents Content Page No. Preface 3 Acknowledgements 4 Executive Summary 5 List of Acronyms and Abbreviations 16 List of Figures 18 List of Tables 19 List of Appendices 20 I. Introduction 21 A. Historical Context of the Project Site 22 B. Mindoro Biogeography 24 1. Geological History 24 2. Biological Importance 24 II. RSEA Objectives, Scope, Limitations and Methods 25 A. Objectives 25 B. Approach, Scope and Limitations 25 C. Data Collection Methods 26 1. Physical and Geo-Political Profiling 26 2. Biological Resources 27 2.a. Habitats and Ecosystems 27 2.b. Flora 28 2.c. Fauna 28 D. Socio-Cultural and Economic Characterization 30 E. Institutional Arrangements and Governance Assessment 30 III. Project Site Profile: Results and Discussions 31 A. Biophysical Profile 31 1. Physical and Geo-Political Profile 31 1.a. Location and Area 32 1.b. Slope and Topography 36 1.c. Geology and Minerals 38 1.d. Soil 42 1.e. Hydrology 43 1.f. Climate 44 1.g. Land Classification 47 1.h. Land Cover 48 1.i. Geo-hazards 51 1.j.Natural Features and Attraction 53 2. Biological Resources 53 2.a. Habitats and Ecosystems 53 2.b. Flora 55 2.c. Fauna 65 2.c.1. Birds 66 2.c.2. Mammals 71 2.c.3. Herpetofauna 78 2 Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. Foundation for the Philippine Environment March 2014 Final Report Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment B. Socio-Cultural and Economic Conditions 88 1. Demographic Characteristics and Settlement 88 2. Basic Services and Social Indicators 89 2.a. Transportation System, Roads and Bridges 89 2.b. Power Supply 90 2.c. Communication Facilities 91 2.d. Water Supply 91 2.e. Solid Waste and Sanitation 92 2.f. Education Status and Services 94 2.g. Health Services and Conditions 98 2.h. Peace and Order 100 2.i. Religious Churches and Practices 100 3. Local Economy, Employment and Poverty 101 3.a. Agriculture and Fisheries 101 3.b. Commerce and Industry 101 3.c. Employment and Income 103 3.d. Poverty Levels and Hunger Incidence 107 3.e. Housing 109 4. Land and Other Natural Resource Uses and Practices 111 5. Cultural Profile 113 C. Institutional Arrangement and Governance 115 1. Policies and Legislations Affecting the Project Site 116 2. Stakeholder Profile and Analysis 120 3. Plans, Programs and Projects Affecting the MCWS 123 IV. Situational Analysis: Trends, Challenges and Recommendations 124 References 132 Appendices 137 3 Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. Foundation for the Philippine Environment March 2014 Final Report Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment PREFACE The Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Paluan municipality, Occidental Mindoro province, was formerly declared as a game refuge and bird sanctuary, by virtue of Executive Order No. 9 on 28 January 1920. This declaration became the main basis of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to work out for the proclamation of the MCWS as a protected area, under the wildlife sanctuary category, in accordance with the National Integrated Protected Areas Systems Act, or RA 7586. Presidential Proclamation No. 292, issued on 23 April 2000, declared the MCWS covering a total land area of 18,016.19 hectares. The Congress has still to enact a law that would finally establish MCWS as a final component of the NIPAS. The Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment aims to establish the baseline information on the biodiversity status of the MCWS and determine possible conservation interventions that shall be initiated in the area. The Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc, with funding assistance from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, implemented this RSEA in 2013. MBCFI identified MCWS as one of its priority project sites. This is the Final Report of the RSEA, which includes the profile of MCWS in terms of its physical and geo-political characteristics; terrestrial biological resources, aquatic vertebrates and macro-invertebrates; socio-cultural and economic conditions; and the institutional arrangement and governance. This report also provides analysis on the different conditions prevailing in MCWS, and the corresponding recommendations in ensuring its protection and conservation as a protected area and at the same as one of the Key Biodiversity Areas of the Philippines. 4 Mindoro Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. Foundation for the Philippine Environment March 2014 Final Report Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Heartfelt thanks to all the people who have helped the resource and socio-economic assessment project in Mount Calavite Wildlife Sanctuary (MCWS) possible. The Provincial Governor of Occidental Mindoro Josephine Ramirez-Sato and its Provincial Officers Engr. Mariano Montales Jr. Provincial Administrator, PgENRO Ruben Soledad, Myrna Ramos CDO II and its staff. The municipality of Paluan Mayor Abelardo S. Pangilinan, and its officers Eddie Yambao Municipal Administrator, Mr. Erwin Gaupo Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Capt. Arnel Tupas PNP Paluan, Mr. Domingo Tamayo Brgy. Capt. of Barangay Alipaoy, Mr. Benito Cababay Brgy. Capt. of Harrison and its Barangay Officers who gave a warm welcome and provided temporary shelter for the survey team. To the families of Capt. Cababay and Boy Tadalan’s family who also shared their homes with the survey team. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources headed by Mr. Edgardo O. Galeon, Regional Executive Direcor of DENR-MIMAROPA. DENR-MIMAROPA PAWCZMS Division Officers Gwendolyn Bambalan, RTD and its staff. To Provincial Officer Conrado Espejo, Jr. PENRO-Occidental Mindoro and its staff PASu Celso Almazan, Abe Francisco- Chief PAWCZMS, Caesar Quebec OIC CENRO-Mamburao, Boy Tadalan (Park Ranger, Guide), Robert Suaverdez (Park Ranger, Guide), Arman Tarog (Park Ranger, Guide), Jason Paguio (Park Ranger, Guide). The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Provincial Officer Karen Ignacio and former Provincial Officer Reynante Luna and to its entire staff in Occidental Mindoro. IP leaders from Sitio Ulasan Mangyan Mayor Merly Villanueva, Ulasan Mangyan Vice Mayor Lemuel Parisan, Sitio Hinugasan Mayor Florencio “Puding” Sambutan, Solomon & Rodel Sambutan (Father & Son Mangyan Guides), Armando Pandac (Mangyan Guide). The IP communities in Sitio Ulasan, Sitio Pamutusin, Sitio and Hinugasan. The Adventist school in Sitio Ulasan where the survey team temporarily stationed their camps managed by Mr. and Mrs. Dario Benavidez together with Mr. Rudy Racasa. The MCWS Survey Team headed by Lisa Marie J. Paguntalan, composed of researchers Philip Godfrey Jakosalem, Don Geoff E. Tabaranza, Kathy Lene S. Cielo, Mary Ann O. Cajano, Minerva G. Gonzales, Cristino L. Tiburan Jr., Virtito Natural Jr., Kim John Doble, and Field Technicians Marco Hispano, Jaime Getaruelas and Pedro Villarta. Our sincere