Natural Resources Governance : Way Forward Action Plan

A 2003 World Bank study, "Governance of Natural Resources in the Philippines," analyzed natural resources management and governance in the Philippines. It assessed sector policies, particularly property rights, institutions, and financing mechanisms as well as program implementation. The study concluded that implementation failures in the Department arose from: (a) Unclear institutional mandates between national and local governments; (b) Lack of sustained financing at the national level and limited generation of revenues at the local level for natural resources management; (c) Protracted procedures in the issuance of forestry tenure instruments and difficulties in the enforcement of provisions of agreements; (d) Lack of equivalent tenure instruments for coastal waters and resources; (e) Administrative constraints, such as inadequate funds and personnel to carry out sustainable natural resources management; and, (f) Insufficient capacity, accountability and transparency in public and private institutions responsible for natural resources management. Because the Governance study stopped short of proposing a way forward, this follow-on activity was designed to develop an actionable follow-on plan that could be translated into short-term to medium-term investments. This follow-on study had the following specific objectives: (a) A Policy Review of the various legislations, such as acts and executive orders that govern the management of resources; and (b) An Institutional Environment Review. Activities to promote integrated community-based watershed management would focus on developing management plans for the major watersheds; strengthening institutional arrangements; providing incentives for good governance; generating adequate funding for river basin management; reclassifying forestlands and taking into account the rights of indigenous people; developing a land use policy and preparing land use mapping; and consolidating all databases and lessons learned. Activities are also proposed to fully develop integrated coastal zones management and to promote community-based protected area management.