First SCOTIA Grant Contract Awarded to People's Organization in El Nido for MPA Management

In October 2005, SCOTIA facilitated the organization of the TMMD, the Tarabiangan Ang Maerintek na Manigisda sa Dipnay (Small Fishermen's Group in Dipnay) in Bgy. San Fernando, El Nido. The members were eager to get involved in marine conservation for ecotourism development of their community, especially since San Fernando had no community-based organization managing its existing MPA and its other coastal resources. After facilitating discussions, lessons and training on MPA management, SCOTIA awarded a grant contract to the TMMD on May 17, 2006 to support its requirements like a guard house, patrol boat, IEC materials, and others. The grant will be matched by a counterpart fund from the municipal government of El Nido.

SCOTIA Study Tour elicits MRF Allotment for Puerto Galera Barangays

Progressing from a year of highly successful SWM programs in Puerto Galera, SCOTIA brought its stakeholders to the municipalities of Alitagtag and Sto. Tomas in Batangas on April 21, 2006 for a study tour of their materials recovery facilities (MRF). The positive report of the LGU, resort owner, and market vendor participants to their mayor, Aristeo Atienza, elicited from him a very proactive response-an allotment of P20,000 for every barangay to set up its own MRF.

SCOTIA-PEMSEA-LGU Ink MOA for Puerto Galera Sanitation System

On March 31, 2006 SCOTIA signed a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement with the Partnership for the Environmental Management of the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) and the local government of Puerto Galera. Under the agreement, the three parties will collaborate towards the construction of a sanitation system for Puerto Galera. SCOTIA will provide technical assistance for design and construction while PEMSEA will set up the financing system for private sector investment. The local government will provide the necessary ordinances and manage a comprehensive public information campaign for local residents, resort owners, and other stakeholders.

Moalboal Passes User's Fee Ordinance

On March 13, 2006 the Sangguniang Bayan of Moalboal in Cebu passed an ordinance establishing its Municipal Waters User's Fee (MWUF). The ordinance was much-awaited by all stakeholders concerned for the environmental sustainability of Moalboal's marine resources. With SCOTIA's facilitation and guidance, issues and concerns regarding the user's fee system and management were worked out among the LGU officials, the resort and diveshop owners, the fishermen and other stakeholders. The MWUF ordinance applies to all of Moalboal's municipal waters which cover seven coastal barangays. Divers and boat operators who enter the area will be charged the user's fee to be used for environmental management of the municipal waters. The net revenue will be divided among the municipal government, coastal barangays, and the fishermen's associations. SCOTIA is currently assisting the local government in drafting the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the ordinance and in setting up the collection system.

SCOTIA - BMTP Partnership Boosts Panglao's CRM Programs

Working with the Bohol Marine Triangle Project (BMTP), SCOTIA provided technical assistance in EUF implementation in the Panglao and Dauis municipalities. This included capacity-building for the BMT Project Management Office (PMO) staff and members of the municipal and barangay MPA management boards. In April 2006 SCOTIA accompanied the BMT Management board members on a study tour of the whaleshark viewing tourist attraction in Donsol, Sorsogon. SCOTIA is working on a possible Grant Activity Fund for IEC materials on EUF, again in collaboration with BMTP, in addition to other sustainable financing mechanisms for CRM in Panglao.

SCOTIA Forges LGU Partnership in Tingloy, Batangas as Key to Project Sustainability

SCOTIA's initiatives among the LGU officials of Tingloy in Balayan Bay led not only to a million-peso budget for its environment programs but to a reinforced working relationship among the officials. SCOTIA's proficient environmental law specialist and local coordinator were able to challenge the stakeholders to work as one and seize the vast amount of sustainable tourism opportunities available to Tingloy.

Moalboal Pioneers MOA between LGU and Private Stakeholders

SCOTIA facilitated the formation of the Environmental Society of Moalboal (ESM) with a MOA between the LGU and the non-government stakeholders such as the divers' association, the business and tourism association, the women's group ABAKA, and the fisherfolk. Being the primary stakeholders in the environment project, this proactive move clearly displayed their desire to be united and cohesive in their commitment even before they engage others in the work involved. The representative of the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) who signed the second MOA with the LGU and the ESM indicated strong support for this trailblazing approach which she believes can eventually be replicated in other coastal municipalities.

People's Organizations Flourish with SCOTIA's Doable Challenges

SCOTIA facilitated the formation of people's organizations in El Nido, namely the Tarabiangan ang Maerintek na Manig-isda (TMMD) and the Maligaya Neighborhood Association (MANA). Composed of fishermen, women, and young villagers, the two organizations have developed into strong and effective partners in MPA management and ecotourism possibilities.

In Moalboal, the ABAKA or Ang Babaye ug ang Kalikupuan Asosasyon has evolved into a very dynamic catalyst towards citizen participation in environmental protection efforts. The women's relentless leadership to effectively manage the municipality's solid waste disposal has resulted not only in drastic decreases in its waste volume but in influencing their neighbors as well to improve their own barangays. (See SUCCESS STORIES)

10-Year Municipal SWM Plans Accomplished to Address RA9003

SCOTIA assisted the municipalities in drawing up their 10-Year SWM Plans to comply with the Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003). This requires LGU's to implement and enforce segregation and collection of solid waste at the barangay level and to convert open dumpsites to sanitary landfills.

2nd Stakeholders Workshop - Dynamic Exchange of Technical Training and Lessons Learned

SCOTIA's 2nd Stakeholders Workshop was held on February 8 to 10, 2006 in Baguio City attended by representatives of the various stakeholders. Distinguished experts were invited to give technical presentations on LGU powers in coastal and environmental management, technology assessment, solid waste disposal rules and regulations, sustainable funding mechanisms for LGU environmental infrastructure, sanitation systems, and ecotourism planning and packaging. A whole day was devoted to visiting and learning from the Baguio integrated sewage treatment system; the sanitary landfill and Ecosan demonstration sites in San Fernando City, La Union; and San Fernando Mayor Mary Jane Ortega's low-cost housing project, the Fishermen's Ecological Village, which had every unit equipped with an Ecosan toilet. Sharing of lessons learned, discussion of common concerns, and more workshops on the four strategies were packed into the last day. As in the 1st stakeholders workshop, the participants capped the weekend with personal written commitments to further the aims of SCOTIA in their areas.

Participants pick up lessons at Baguio Sewerage Treatment Plan		View an actual Ecosan toilet in La Union		Exercise ecotourism packaging for which Bgy. Cap. Joseph Pangatungan of Maribago, Mactan was awarded an Ecosan toilet for best presentation

SWM - Year 1's Most Demand-Driven Intervention

In all the six project sites, solid waste disposal was the most acute concern which the stakeholders expressed to SCOTIA immediately when the project began. Solid waste management (SWM) training thus became the most demand-driven intervention for SCOTIA in its first year. Training the stakeholders on Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) and other SWM measures and monitoring implementation in the participating communities reaped for SCOTIA outstanding levels of waste reduction. (See SUCCESS STORIES)

SCOTIA Assists Project Sites in SMS

SCOTIA's technical assistance to the project sites in the area of sewage management and sanitation (SMS) were from simple creek clean-up in barangays to the construction of low-cost residential sanitation systems to water reedbed sanitation systems for small-sized resorts all the way to alliance building with PEMSEA for financing of the P84million-sanitation system for Sabang, Puerto Galera. Consultations with the communities led to the overwhelming demand for on-site sanitation systems, specifically the dry sanitation or Ecosan toilets. As a result, the plan developed for each site was a focused and direct intervention.

CP Modules Foster New Perspective Among Participants

SCOTIA offered Cleaner Production (CP) workshops to resort, restaurant, and dive resort owners and the coastal community PO's. The stakeholders were trained in the CP principles and technical measures, then volunteer establishments were assessed on their existing practices that had specific impacts on the environment. The proceedings were a brilliant eye opener for the stakeholders who learned not just problem solving for their waste disposal but a totally new outlook in their role of stewards and partners of the environment. The Bohol Divers Resort in Panglao was one of the earliest resorts to achieve positive results in its CP program. (See SUCCESS STORIES)

1st Stakeholders Workshop - Valuable Technical Training in One Forum

SCOTIA held the 1st Stakeholders Workshop in Lapulapu City in Mactan Island, Cebu on January 25 to 27, 2005. The participants represented the project sites' LGU's, people's organizations, tourism establishments, and some SCOTIA partners. Environmental specialists in different fields gave technical presentations on The State of the Philippine Environment, Coastal Resource Management, Solid Waste Management, Sanitation Systems, Legal Instruments for Environmental Protection, Recommended Guidelines for Evaluation Technologies, and IEC Strategies and Resources. Day 2 brought the group to Gilutongan Island, a well-preserved and well-managed model of a Marine Protected Area (MPA), supported by an efficiently-implemented environmental user's fee (EUF) collection. The participants also toured the SWM and wastewater management systems of Shangri-la Resort which is the first ISO14001-certified hotel in the country. On the last day, the participants exchanged experiences, insights, and concerns and shared their personal pledges to the workshop's objectives.