Chapter 18 The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program: Status, problems and perspectives Miguel D. Fortes Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, The Philippines Vision—For the JSPS-DOST Coastal Marine Science Programme: “A lasting Japan-Philippine collaboration instituted to understand tropical marine ecosystems & utilize the knowledge & skills in order to improve capacity to conserve biodiversity, protect the environment & sustainably use Philippine marine resources. It is founded on mutual respect & achieved through sharing of knowledge & expertise.” Introduction The JSPS CMS Program in the context of the Philippine National Marine Policy Strategies of the Philippine National Ma- The Japan Society for the Promotion rine Policy of Science (JSPS), Japan’s core organiza- The National Marine Policy (NMP) of tion for advancing science, encourages the Philippines is a policy framework to scientific research conducted by research- comprehensively address concerns related ers at universities and other institutions to the utilization and management of the since it plays a vital role in the creation of country’s marine resources. It identifies new knowledge. By generating knowledge key development strategies clustered into shared by humankind, Japan makes its four policy areas: extent of the national unique intellectual contribution to the glo- territory, protection of the marine environ- bal society, while ensuring its own devel- ment, development of the marine economy opment as a “nation based on creativity of and technology, and maritime security. science and technology”. In partnership Among the specific strategies are the de- with Southeast Asian countries, it funds velopment and management of marine re- collaborative undertakings focused of key sources consistent with the principles of issues the region is facing. Biodiversity sustainable development, adoption of the loss is one such issue. “polluter-pays” principle, and management In the Philippines and in relation to of coastal resources based on integrated biodiversity, Marine Key Biodiversity Ar- coastal resources management. It also in- eas (MKBA) have been identified. These cludes the development of marine research are sites of global significance for and fisheries management programs. biodiversity conservation identified using S. Nishida, M. D. Fortes and N. Miyazaki, eds. Coastal Marine Science in Southeast Asia —Synthesis Report of the Core University Program of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science: Coastal Marine Science (2001–2010), pp. 173–187. © by TERRAPUB 2011. 174 M. D. FORTES Fig. 1. Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBA) in the Philippines, emphasizing the three major ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves) and associated fishes and seaweeds. globally standard criteria and thresholds, based on the needs of biodiversity requir- ing safeguard at the site scale (Eken et al. 2004). Figure 1 shows these areas in rela- tion to the major coastal support ecosys- tems (corals, mangroves, seagrass beds) and their associated fishes and seaweeds (Conservation International 2008). These ecosystems are a focus of the JSPS CMS Program, since with the data generated, the program could help coastal communities and decision makers understand better these priority sites for expansion and re- inforcement of existing marine protected area (MPA) systems in the country. Membership in the JSPS-MCUP-CMS Fig. 2. Map showing locations of mem- ber institutions. The Coastal Marine Science Program (CMS) in the Philippines comprises six major institutions of higher learning, di- The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program 175 rectly involving 23 researchers (number of University (DLSU); Ms. Dia Sotto researchers in brackets; the location of the Alibo, University of San Carlos (USC); institutions are shown in Fig. 2): Mr. Felix G. Ayson, Southeast Asian 1. University of the Philippines Fisheries Development Council a. Division of Biol. Sciences (UPV) [2] (SEAFDEC); Ms. Evelyn de Jesus, b. College of Fisheries & Oceanology SEAFDEC. (UPV) [1] c. Marine Science Institute CS (UPD) Status and Performance [7] 2. De la Salle University (DLSU) [1] The Philippine Component of the JSPS 3. Mindanao State University (Naawan) Coastal Marine Science is a “loose” group [1] of independent institutions and research- 4. Southeast Asian Fisheries Develop- ers from both public and private sectors, ment Council (SEAFDEC) [2] focusing their activities on the thrusts of 5. University of San Carlos (USC) [1] the program. For the first 4 years (2001– 6. Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Re- 2004), it had moderate gains seen from the sources [8]. high quality and number of its products, e.g. publications, fellowships, awareness The CMS projects and the 15 Principal materials, and partnerships developed with Researchers or focal persons are given both national and regional science institu- below: tions. • Project 1: Water Circulation & Material “Loose” management, lack of funds Transport [3 Researchers from University and political support remain as the great- of the Philippines Marine Science Institute est obstacles to program progress. Its great- (UPMSI)] est assets, on the other hand, are the few Dr. Maria Lourdes S. D. McGlone; Dr. dedicated researchers who persevered Laura T. David; Dr. Fernando Siringan against all odds, even under very discour- • Project 2: Ecology & Oceanography of aging conditions. Functional collaboration Harmful Marine Microalgae (2 Research- with regional and international institutions ers) and organizations appears to be the big- Dr. Rhodora V. Azanza, UPMSI; Dr. gest factor helping some program activi- Arnulfo Marasigan, College of Fisher- ties (e.g. seagrass, see Fig. 4) meet its ob- ies, University of the Philippines jectives, address concerns of users, and Visayas (UPVCF) broaden its impact to the region. • Project 3: Biodiversity Studies (7 Re- searchers) Research Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, UPMSI (JSPS In terms of research, studies conducted National Coordinator); Dr. Marco N. E. by members were of high quality, produc- Montano, UPMSI; Dr. Edna G. Fortes, ing results that contributed to science and UPMSI; Dr. Lourdes V. Castillo, UP directly, to JSPS goals. These are, how- Los Baños (deceased); Dr. Enrico ever, conducted largely individually, not Villoso, College of Fisheries, UPVCF; reflecting JSPS thrusts in a coherent man- Dr. Annabelle del Norte-Campos, UPV ner. Thus, when problems occur, there was College of Science; Dr. Willy Uy, practically no way the program could re- Mindanao State University, (MSU) spond collectively in solving the problems. • Project 4: Pollution of Hazardous Chemi- As a whole, the Philippine Component cals (POME) (4 Researchers) comparatively did well. This is viewed in Dr. Maricar S. Prudente, De La Salle relation to the substantial number and high 176 M. D. FORTES quality of products produced despite the weed/Seagrass Workshop (1) in 2008 increasingly discouraging prevailing con- 2. As participant and host: ditions. a. NaGISA/JSPS-DOST Taxonomy The continuance of these products (and Workshop - August 2007 services) that emerged from project activi- b. Joint NCMS-DOST/JSPS-PNSC ties during the project, however, is at high Biodiversity Workshop - December 2007 risk of being lost or at least is uncertain c. UNEP/GEF SCS Project-DOST- from 2010 onwards. This calls for a re- JSPS Echo-Training Seminars newed and more functional coordination (Biodiversity) among the members, vigorous campaign d. Plankton workshop in Iloilo City, to raise external support, and shift activ- the Philippines, 13–15 July 2010 ity focus to those which show more prom- 3. As participant in new research, assess- ise in addressing the issues. ment and monitoring, capacity develop- One major encouraging outcome which ment: spawned partly from the CMS is the ap- a. SeagrassNet (Phase 3) 2008–2009 proval and implementation in March 2010 b. PERSEUS (Coal Spill Assessment of the 5-year Philippine-Japan Project, “In- & Monitoring): 2008–2013 tegrated Coastal Ecosystems Conservation c. JST-JICA Bilateral Capacity Build- and Adaptive Management Under Local ing Initiative and Networking: 2008–2013 and Global Environmental Threats in the 4. Maintenance & Enhancement of Philippines” (CECAM). Here, 11 institu- Herbarium Marinum: tions in Japan and 6 institutions in the Phil- a. 53,000+ collections ca. 2000 spe- ippines are collaborating to fill the gaps in cies (96% seaweeds, 4% seagrasses) science and management sorely needed in b. New records of seagrasses marine resource conservation and govern- 5. Marine biodiversity promotion in ance. In addition, two proposals currently media (Local & Japanese TV channels under review have been submitted, one to (NHK and DAI Enterprises), BBC). the Asia Pacific Network for Climate It is deemed urgent that members of Change Research (APN) and another to the JSPS CMS focus on overall program Department of Science and Technology of progress and sustainability via perform- the Philippines-Japan Society for the Pro- ance auditing of its components. Hopefully motion of Science Joint Research Project to be taken up in future, the results of the (JRP 2011), both focusing on the capacity audit and evaluation would be the basis of of seagrasses and mangroves to act as decisions towards the true direction of the “bioshields” against biodiversity loss and program. impacts of environmental uncertainties. Accomplishments Other major activities There were other major activities that Administrative