ICM in Macajalar Bay: Conservation of Coastal Ecosystems thru LGU Alliance Located in Northern Mindanao (Region X), Macajalar Bay is a 1,000-square kilometer body of water that is home to various marine resources that are depended on by thousands of individuals. It is the catchment basin for To address the issues, Xavier University runoffs brought by the Cagayan de spearheaded the creation of the Macajalar Bay Oro and Tagoloan rivers that Development Alliance (MBDA) to implement initially stream from the water- a bay-wide integrated coastal management that sheds of Misamis Oriental and was concretized by the signing of a Bukidnon provinces. The bay’s Memorandum of Agreement in 2008. coastline is lined with light to heavy industries, while a few are It is composed of 15 local government on the works for construction. units (LGUs) including 12 municipalities Various threats are faced by the (Alubijid, Balingasag, Binuangan, Jasaan, bay including population increase, Kinoguitan, Lagonglong, Laguindingan, Opol, developmental pressures, lack of Salay, Sugbongcogon, Tagoloan, and management schemes for the Villanueva), 1 component city (El Salvador), 1 coasts and its resources, and chartered city (Cagayan de Oro), and the others. provincial government of Misamis Oriental. The local chief executives of the LGU members The ER-PROGRAM used a constitute the Council, with each LGU having at least comprehensive approach for a its respective agriculturist and planner who are assigned bay-wide integrated manage- as technical working group (TWG) members of the ment in Macajalar Bay. It MBDA. The MBDA has also established its Project attempted to enhance the Management Office that manages the day-to-day resiliency of the bay by establish- activities of the alliance. Currently, the MBDA has ing a network of Marine established five TWG components, namely: coastal law Protected Areas and by streng- enforcement, information and education campaigns, thening the management of the habitat and resource management, monitoring and network. At the end of the evaluation and planning, and policies and governance. project in 2013, composite To achieve its goal and objectives, MBDA undertakes coastal law enforcement teams actions that address fi ve key areas of influence; regional and coastal resource monitoring cooperation, national government support, private and evaluation teams were sector engagement, academe, and community action. formed, which was one of the major outputs of the ER- MBDA’s strong collaboration with Xavier PROGRAM. The MBDA has University has greatly influenced the alliance in the also collaborated with RARE for implementation of most of its programs. For one, it the conduct of the Pista sa Dagat, has assisted the MBDA in drafting the integrated coastal which was participated in by the management plans of 5 LGUs with the expertise of coastal barangays of Alubijid. Mindanao State University – Naawan in 2011 and 2012. Also GIZ-funded is the 2-year project called This activity has influenced Enhancing Resiliency to Climate Change of Macajalar the provincial government for Bay: Enhancing Resiliency through Policy the conduct of a province-wide Recommendation, Outreach, Governance, Research, Pista sa Dagat in 2015. The Adaptive Management in Macajalar Bay to Climate MBDA has received its first Change (ER-PROGRAM). With this project, the MBDA award from the central and coordinated closely with Xavier University and key regional offices of BFAR in government agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries recognition of the alliance’s and Aquatic Resources, the Department of contributions and efforts in the Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine conservation and management Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police of fisheries and aquatic Maritime Group, to name a few. resources in October 2011..