[ Infanta, Quezon

Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park ]

Site Inventory: The Social and Legal Environment
Submitted by: Enriquez, Kriszia Lorrain Marquez, Armi Gascon, Raymond Tuazon, Paolo Submitted to: Prof. Mark Anthony M. Morales, Ar., EnP.

Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park

I. Social Environment
The project site is located in Barangay Binonoan, an estuarine classified barangay of Infanta. Based on the latest census of population conducted by the local government, the barangay has a total population of 1,653, with 813 males and 840 females (BMIS, 2011). It has a relatively large number of dependents, especially population below 15 years old totaling to 549. (BMIS, 2011)

Majority of employed population are in the primary sector, which are engaged in farming, fishing and animal-raising. Those who are in farming are specifically engaged in activities such as rice farming, nipa sap collection for lambanog, and nipa shingles making. The barangay has a total area for nipa, classified as open-access of 14.74 hectares (Infanta FLUP, 2011) making it as one of the major wine-producing barangays in the municipality. Most of the fisherfolks in the barangay are considered marginal fishers, and therefore they fish only in the municipal waters and nearby estuary. Women are especially engaged in collecting shelled mollusks such as snails. Some practice aquaculture production, which supplies crabs, shrimps, tilapia and milkfish to the local market. The total area being used for fishponds, both with and without FLA, is 18.22 hectares (Infanta FLUP, 2011).

Ninety four percent (94%) of the households are already energized and connected to Quezon II Electric Cooperative. There are a relative large number of households that use mainly charcoal and wood as fuel for cooking, which is sourced out, from the nearby mangrove area. There are some, however that have alternative source of fuel to charcoal and wood such as LPG, kerosene and electric gas. (BMIS, 2011)

There are 80 houses that are situated along riverbanks and irrigation canals and close to mangroves. In terms of sanitation, only four (4) households in the barangay do not have toilet. Majority or 222 of the households have their own, water-sealed, sewage/septic tank. With regard to disposal of solid and domestic waste, 190 households are doing waste segregation, which is then collected by the local government. Others still practice burning, putting in open pit or just throwing anywhere, while others practice composting. For source of potable water, 114

1 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park households are connected to the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA), while the remaining households get their water from deep and dug wells. (BMIS, 2011)

II. Legal Environment

Barangay Binonoan has a total land area of 604 hectares, in which 298 hectares are, classified forestlands and 306 hectares are Alienable and Disposable (Infanta FLUP, 2011). The site is located within forest zone, specifically within mangrove area, making it subject to government rules and regulations. Hence, it is imperative to have a legal tenurial instrument such as the Community-based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) to facilitate utilization, development and management of the site and of the resources within and surrounding it.

The project site is within the 17.8 hectares CBFMA-covered area of Binonoan Producers Cooperative (BIPCO). The actual area to be developed initially as part of the Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park is .052 sq. km. (still has to be revalidated)

Project Site Aquasilviculture

Project Site.

2 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park

BIPCO-CBFMA
BIPCO is a registered cooperative to Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), with a total member of 26 families all coming from Brgy. Binonoan. Its goal is to promote sustainable development of mangrove ecosystem and to develop livelihood opportunities for its members and constituents. The CBFMA was granted to BIPCO on November 6, 2003. (BIPCO Powerpoint Presentation, 2012)

BIPCO is one of the existing cooperatives in Infanta, Quezon that is committed to preserve the municipalitys best asset the mangrove forest ecosystem. CBFMA is a production sharing agreement between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the participating peoples organization for a period of 25 years renewable for another 25 years and shall provide tenurial security and incentives to develop, utilize and manage specific portions of forest lands as stipulated under DAO No. 96-29 (DENRForestry website, 2012). The issuance of CBFM is anchored on people first and sustainable forestry will follow principle. Moreover, it is in line with the governments belief that by addressing the needs of local communities, they themselves will join hands to protect and manage the very source of their livelihood. (DENR Primer on CBFM).

3 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park CBFMA goals include promoting: Sustainable management of forest resources Social justice and improved well-being of local communities; and Strong partnership among local communities and the DENR

As mentioned, CBFMA is renewable for another 25 years, yet it is dependent upon successful assessment of tenure management provided by the DENR. management aspect are the following: Approved management plan Functional management of tenure Budget plan for implementation Property rights arrangement Year-round protection activities Compliance with policies and Functioning M&E systems Non-forest based livelihood Conflict resolution mechanism External linkages Forest production system Participation of women The criteria or

regulations in the tenure

BIPCO has continuously implemented activities to manage, preserve and sustain the benefits derived from mangroves. These include reforestration of mangrove and nipa areas (BIPCO Powerpoint Presentation, 2012).

The bakawan of BIPCO are the oldest mangrove trees in Infanta ranging between one to 30 years old.

4 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park

BIPCO also practices aquasilviculture to grow and culture crabs, shrimps and fish species. Aquasilviculture is an environment-friendly aquaculture system that promotes the harmonious co-existence between fishery species and mangrove trees in a semi-enclosed system. The system helps in providing alternative livelihood to fisherfolk while instilling in them the value of protection and maintenance of the ecosytem. (BFAR)

Aquasilviculture system of BIPCO. .

Serving fresh steamed crabs harvested from the aquasilviculture system is one of the attractions the area could offer to tourists.

1 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park Aside from this, members of BIPCO are also involved in producing nipa palm-based products such as lambanog which is made out of nipa sap, vinegar and nipa jam. Moreover, they do activities like rice farming and animal-raising to supplement their livelihood. Recently, they have been into selling of mangrove sprouts or seedlings to DENR for its mangrove reforstation projects. In terms of socio-economic status, the members of BIPCO range from low income to middle income households.

As one sources of income, the sprouts of bakawan are being harvested and sold to other areas for mangrove reforestation.

Nipa trees where BIPCO members obtain the sap for their lambanog and vinegar production.

2 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park

Profile of the Target Clientele and their Needs

The Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park is envisioned to be an area for recreation and education. As such, it will provide services that cater to both needs. Likewise, its target clienteles will be segmentized to ensure appropriateness and responsiveness of the services that it will be providing. The target clienteles of the project are divided into three (3) main groups as follows: 1. Students belonging to Grades 5 & 6 up to 1st to 4th year high school. It is during these school levels where students are generally introduced to concepts related to environmental science and environmental awareness. A part of their curricula for environmental science, for instance, can be a field visit to the site, which could provide personal and a close-encounter experience to the mangrove forests and to the ecosystem that it supports. There are also a number of large bats that live in the canopies and other wildlifes which they can have an encounter with and admire to. With this experience, students will learn the

interrelationships and interdependencies of organisms with their environment as well as the important ecological function of this ecosystem, thereby raising their awareness and environmental concerns. Similarly, this also serves as recreational activity to students by way of nature tripping. In order to keep the students attention, there will be a need for educational areas that are interesting and probably interactive. There is also a greater need for secured facilities and areas to ensure the students safety while inside the park, and facilitate movements within the area.

2. Scientists and researchers. This group of people may come from various institutions - private and public, local and international. They may also come in groups or individuals. College students and members of the academe also belong to this group. They may have the same purposes and intents in visiting the site like to contribute in knowledge building, but this group may have different needs that must be considered when planning the site. For instance, they might need a sheltered area, where they can peacefully and quitely observe the organisms in the mangrove ecosystem, and therefore, there should be an area where entry of other groups shall be restricted. Further, this group might need access such as banca or canoe in order to explore and study the deeper parts of the area.

3 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park 3. Local and international recreational tourists. This group includes local and international tourist who come to the place to enjoy nature and its surrounding environment and engage in ecotourism activities such as wildlife watching, kayaking or boating, game fishing, and other similar activities.

Transportation and Utility Services

The target receiving area leading to the site is seven (7) kilometers away from the Municipal Building/Hall. It can be accessed by land travel via national road and barangay road, respectively. The mode of transportation is tricycle which plies to & fro the area on a regular basis. However, the existing road leading to it is accessible only to small and light vehicles. It cannot accommodate large vehicles, particularly buses. On the other hand, the distance of BIPCO site from the holding area is more or less one (1) kilometer and presently, this can be accessed only by boat. With this, an efficient, safe and eco-friendly mode of transportation to ferry the tourist from the receiving area to the actual site is vitally important. There are options that can be undertaken to provide accessibility and adequate transportation services to the receiving area. One would be to undertake clearing operations and probably widening of roads. However, the latter would entail a huge amount of financial resources on the part of the local government. In addition, it will deal with the issue of easement encroachment of some private houses. Indeed, it is important to settle this up, but it will take time to finally resolve this issue. Thus, another option is for the local government to actively engage its transportation sector and organize them to provide the necessary services such as the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association and the Public Utility Van and Jeepney Operators. If it is a group, then a jeepney or a van can transport them directly to the reception area. Yet, it is important that tricycles be part of the transportation services because these are part of life in Infanta. Therefore, a tourist riding the tricycle can somehow have an experience of peoples way of life. As of now, there is no power or electricity on the site connecting from the power lines, especially near the mangrove areas where BIPCO is located. Potable water source within the site is also currently not available as well as the sewerage system. These concerns are apparently a primary requirement to provide utility services to the target market population. However, these

4 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013

Infanta, Quezon Mangrove Preservation and Ecotourism Park can be easily remedied, since it is possible to connect the whole project site to main utility lines through the initiative and infrastructure development support of the municipal government. Mobile phone signals are also not a problem, as the project site has good reception for most major mobile networks. There is a need however to improve the existing levees to facilitate safe and comfortable walking within the area, and probably install pathways or boardwalks that are adaptive to ebb and flow of water.

The pilapil or levees surrounding the fishpond areas serves as the primary road to walk around the area. During high tides, some segments are submerged into water making them impassable.

5 Plan 231 Site Planning UP-SURP, AY 2012-2013