Bantay Dagat: Local Law

Enforcement in Coastal

Management in Bolinao, Philippines

Dr. Alfonso F. CelesteMayor, Municipality of Bolinao

The Mayors’ RoundtableUNEP/GEF South China Sea Project

Bangkok, Thailand, 26 November 2007

INTRODUCTION

Local Governments in the Philippines are facing enormous challenges in managing the coasts.

There are numerous ways to address the issues. But one that stands out as most effective is capacity building anchored on genuine participation by stakeholders.

In Bolinao, this is true, with the Local Government as the focal point & moving force for the initiatives

This presentation aims to share with you one specific highlight of our effort to address coastal resources management issues through capacity building:

THE BANTAY DAGAT (SEA PATROL)

BOLINAO13 coastal villages7 protected areas

80,000 ha reef system22,500 ha seagrass beds

• Projected population (2007): 70,178• Number of households: 13,539• Major income sources:

• Agriculture (fishing & farming)• 27,549 MT of cultured fish (milkfish)• 3,333 MT of captured fish (tuna)• 12,428 MT of assorted wildfish

• Tourism• Manufacturing• Services• Cottage industry

• Estimated no. of fishers: 4,209

Municipality of Bolinao

A civilian fisheries patrol force made up of volunteers who keep a 24-hour watch on Philippine coastal waters up to 15 kilometers from shore (Municipal waters).

Founded by Senator Santanina Rasul in 1994, the Bantay Dagat had over 100,000 volunteer coast watchers as of 2000.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is the lead agency for Bantay Dagat

Bantay Dagat (Sea Patrol)

The Bantay Dagat force operates a variety of patrol boats including native outriggers (bancas), fiberglass, as well as aluminum speedboats

The funding for the patrol boats comes from a variety of sources including the Bureau of Fisheries, American NGOs, & the Japanese government. Aside from municipalities using their own funds, various congress & senate officials have also donated patrol boats

In some parts of the Philippines…

The Bantay Dagat operates with 8 motorized native outriggers (bancas):

1 speedboat (donated by BFAR)1 from SAGIP Project1 from BSDS5 from LGU

17 law enforcers (Bantay Dagat), 16 volunteers from peoples’ organizations (POs)

In Bolinao…

MAYOR

Coastal Development Management Staff

BarangayBantay Dagat

• Coastal clean-up

• 16 personnel• PhP200/mo/volunteer

• Patrol & rescue•11 personnel•PhP1,000/mo/volunteer•Aided by police•5 patrol boats

ABBA Task Force

MPA Caretakers

•Intrusionin 8 MPAs•8 registeredPOs•PhP3,000/mo incentive/organization•4 patrol boats

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

MONITORING,

CONTROL,

SURVEILLANCE

MPA, MANGROVE

MANAGEMENT

BENEFICIARY

LOW - MEDIUM

VERY HIGH

VERY HIGH

Bantay Dagat involvement before BSDS…

BEFORE, ‘LOW - MEDIUM’ INVOLVEMENT

OF BANTAY DAGAT. THIS WAS BECAUSE OF LACK

OF BASIC OPERATIONAL FUNDS

Decrease in number of violations (dynamite and trawl fishing and use of active gear

(1997 - 2007)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

No

. o

f ap

pre

hen

sio

ns

…enhanced law enforcement

…clear sign of political will!

Illegal fishersapprehended

With BSDS & other partners…

Increased budget for 2008 = PhP1,000,000 (US$22,727)

…another clear sign of political will!

FOR 2008

WITH THE BUDGET INCREASE, BANTAY DAGAT WILL BE REORGANIZED TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE & DYNAMIC IN CONFORMITY WITH THE COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Bantay Dagat

volunteers doing coastal

clean-up

ISSUES & IMMEDIATE NEEDS

BANTAY DAGAT PERSONNEL ARE VOLUNTEERS, NOT AUTHORIZED TO CARRY FIREARMS. HENCE, THEY ARE ALWAYS AT RISK, ESPECIALLY WHEN PITTED AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING SYNDICATES, & IF FISHING IS DONE OUTSIDE MUNICIPAL JURISDICTION

WITH THE INCREASED AREA OF MPAs, MORE FOCUSED TRAINING ON THE LEGAL & PARALEGAL ASPECTS (LAW ENFORCEMENT) ARE NEEDED TO COMPLEMENT THE LGU’s INITIATIVES

Outcomes & Impacts of BSDS

Process outcome Process indicatorsActivities

reduced uncertainty

BSDS-MBMoA Partnership

BSRIEC

LivelihoodDatabase

Tarektek FestLaw Enforcement

‘Informalities’

confidencefamiliarity

trustrespect

curiosityacceptance

presence

volunteerismsupport

participationinquiry

camaraderie

seagrassseagrass

livelihoodlivelihood governancegovernance

compliance

CONCLUSIONIn Bolinao, one of the most significant outcomes of In Bolinao, one of the most significant outcomes of capacity building is the enhancement of Law Enforcement capacity building is the enhancement of Law Enforcement anchored on the Bantay Dagat. With modest beginnings & anchored on the Bantay Dagat. With modest beginnings & armed only with knowledge, pure guts, & less than barest armed only with knowledge, pure guts, & less than barest essentials to operate, this group of dedicated volunteers essentials to operate, this group of dedicated volunteers have been have been ‘‘cleaningcleaning’’ the coasts of Bolinao of undesirable the coasts of Bolinao of undesirable fishing practices, at the same time partnering actively with fishing practices, at the same time partnering actively with coastal dwellers to improve their livelihood base.coastal dwellers to improve their livelihood base.

We, the LGU, even with our equally meager resources, are We, the LGU, even with our equally meager resources, are fulfilling our commitment to the UNEP/GEF SCS Project, fulfilling our commitment to the UNEP/GEF SCS Project, making sure that the gains we have had are sustained, for making sure that the gains we have had are sustained, for the enhancement of our coastal resources & the lives of the enhancement of our coastal resources & the lives of our people dependent upon them.our people dependent upon them.

Thank you!