Policy Analysis of the NIPAS Law
GIZ was requested by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to assist in “A Desk Review of NIPAS and Related Laws on the Establishment and Management of Protected Areas in the Philippines”. Six (6) initial sites in the Visayas were identified for the review. The six sites in the Visayas were selected by PAWB, GIZ and Silliman University, believed to geographically, typographically and politically represent the state of affairs of Protected Areas management in the Philippines. Three of the sites are terrestrial: Mount Kanla-on Natural Park (MKNP), Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park (NWPPNP), and Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park (BTLNP). Sagay Marine Reserve (SMR) covers the marine area and its inclusive islands while Panglao Island Protected Seascape (PIPS) covers only selected mangrove areas. Only Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) is wholly marine. The purpose of the review is to get the most recent information on the current state of affairs in PA management in the Philippines through testing using the various PA management assessment tools; Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) and Management Effectiveness Assessment Tool (MEAT). Thus, from July 20 to August 31, 2010, a team of experts and students from Silliman University carried out the case study for determining and validating the Management Effectiveness of the six identified sites using METT and MEAT. The sites were subjected to an in-depth analysis using six management effectiveness parameters of
the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA). The six parameters used were: Context, Planning, Process, Input, Output, and Outcome. The framework of analysis focused on the effectiveness of the NIPAS law in protecting genes, species, habitats, and ecological processes. The study revealed that except for SMR which obtained an average of Level 3 rating under the MEAT and 90% under the METT, the sites are poorly managed. Tañon Strait Protected Seascape scored the lowest under MEAT (Level 0) and METT (28%), followed by PIPS scoring Level 0 under MEAT and an average rating of 30% under METT. Panay Peninsula Natural Park had a MEAT rating of Level 0 and METT rating of 32% while MKNP had a MEAT rating of Level 1 and METT rating of 43%. Balinsasayao Twin Lakes Natural Park obtained relatively higher ratings than the other sites, but still had low ratings, Level 3 under MEAT and 50% rating under METT. Among the major reasons for the low ratings were the following: (1) lack of adequate budget leading to lack of capable staff and patrolling facilities; (2) very large and less-informed PAMB; and (3) lack of political support. These arose from ambiguous or very broad statements in the NIPAS laws and/or conflicting statements in the NIPAS law with the status quo, or with other laws, such as the Local Government Code. The study team therefore came up with various recommendations on how to improve and enhance the management effectiveness of the protected areas. Building on the 6 study sites (under METT and MEAT) and the team’s experience in
An In-Depth Review of the Nipas Law and Related Statutes on the Establishment and Management of Protected Areas in the Philippines
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