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PUSOD Inc.PUSOD Inc.2011-20122011-2012

ADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES OFADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES OF MALARAYAT ECOSYSTEM AND DEPENDENTMALARAYAT ECOSYSTEM AND DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE YEAR IICOMMUNITIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE YEAR II

FINAL REPORTFINAL REPORT

With Fund Support from the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF)With Fund Support from the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF)

1. Identifying Information:

Name of Proponent: Pusod, Incorporated

Unit 19-M, 2nd Floor, Big Ben Complex

J.P. Laurel Highway, Lipa City

www.pusod.org

Project Title: Addressing Vulnerabilities of Malarayat Ecosystem and

Dependent Communities to Climate Change

Contact Person: Maria Paz G. Luna

Executive Trustee

ipatluna@pusod.org

(043) 757 3192

Ann Hazel P. Javier

Executive Director

annhazel@pusod.org

(043) 757 3192

Project Location: Mt. Malarayat Forest Reserve, Barangays Sto. Niño and Talisay,

Lipa City

Total Project Cost: Php 773, 300.00

Total Counterpart: Php 157, 000.00

Amount Requested: Php 616, 300.00

Project Duration: Six (6) Months

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The project would like to give profound gratitude and deep regards to the contributions of people and

institutions in the achievement of goals of the Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve conservation project.

Lipa Headwaters Council and members (City Environment and Natural Resource Office, City Planning and

Development Office, Sangguniang Panlungsod, City Agriculture, City Engineering, Metro Lipa Water District,

LIMA Water Corp., DENR and NPC). Sangguniang Barangay and community members of Barangay Sto

Nino and Barangay Talisay, in Lipa City. Deputized Forest Officers (DFOs) and members of Malaraya –

Malepunyo Watershed Protection Council (MMWPC)

The Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) Technical Staff for the support in the water

valuation study.

Our partners in tree planting and other initiatives: De La Salle Lipa, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde,

Pilipinas Kyohritsu Inc., BigBen Complex, Batangas State University - Lipa Campus, STI – Lipa City,

University of Batangas, Canossa Academy, Fernando Air Base, Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines – Sta. Rosa

Plant.

Earthday Network and Geoinfometrics for the assistance in the Rainforestation Program and GIS Training,

respectively.

The Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFCF) for providing financial and technical

support to the project.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYEXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve (MMFR), based on the Proclamation 842, covers approximately 1,210 hectares

of forestlands within the five upland communities in Lipa City. It is the remaining chunk of forest within

the Malaraya-Malepunyo mountain range. The proclamation was declared to protect the watershed and the

mountain range. Through the Department of Justice Resolution signed last November 2009, the jurisdiction

of Malarayat watershed given to the National Power Corporation (NPC) through Executive Order No. 224.

In response to the need to conserve the MMFR as a source of water to Lipenos and as a result of series of

consultations with the stakeholders, the local Government of Lipa initiated the creation of the Lipa

Headwaters Council in 2007. The LHWC shall take the lead in the conservation of Malarayat Watershed.

Conservation initiatives composed of trainings, seminars, and other activities were launched.

The whole mountain range is shared by the provinces of Batangas, Laguna and Quezon. The subwatershed

of the pilot areas directly drains to Padre Garcia, Batangas. Out of five (5) upland communities in the city

of Lipa, Brgys Sto Nino and Talisay communities were selected as pilot sites for the year 1 project. Brgys

Sto Nino and Talisay has a total population of 2,425 and 4,143, respectively.

Mt Malarayat has rich biodiversity. There are approximately 122 plant species, 63 species of birds, 35

species of herpetofauna and 16 mammals, among which the famous alamid (Paradoxus philippinensis) and

the threatened Luzon Bleeding Heart (Gallicolumba platenae) for birds also thrives within the forests of Brgy

Sto Nino and Talisay.

Ironically, as it was reflected in the delineated MFR map that there are obviously no more public land

within the forest reserve, all of which are titled or claimed. There are no more available areas for restoration

in Brgy Sto Nino and Talisay. While it was determined that the grasslands in Brgy Malitlit is a potential

reforestation area. This project focused on nurturing and maintaining the 5 hectares of grassland in Brgys.

Sto Nino and Talisay, planted with indigenous forest trees. Assisted natural regeneration and replanting,

protection and fireline establishment were carried out.

Family – based nurseries worked better for Brgy Sto Nino and Talisay during the first year of the project

than the community – managed nurseries thus families interested to get involved in nursery activities were

given the assistance and provided the needed planting stocks during the project period. A total of 10 families

and households from the pilot barangays benefitted from the supplemental income derived from selling

native tree seedlings.

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The result of the delineation activity in the first year inferred that there are no more available public lands

within the forest reserve thus, the project focused on nurturing the trees planted in the 5 hectares of open

grassland through assisted natural regeneration and replanting, protection and firelines. While the project was

not yet able to solicit the support of the 135 land owners, the project increased the awareness of the

communities and other stakeholders on the importance of the watershed and its conservation. While there

was difficulty in the protection of planted trees in Brgy Talisay due to the accessibility and its location, the

project ensured that maintenance in both barangays were ensured through regular maintenance partnership

with the community and partners from private sector.

Enforcement is among the promising focus of intervention in the future as local community patrol group has

already undertaken series of capacity – building through the expanded – paralegal training in partnership

with Tanggol Kalikasan. The support to the Mt Malarayat Watershed Protection Council MWPC) may

contribute to increased local policy – formulation towards watershed protection that will back-up the

enforcement interventions. Also with the support of NPC in the forest protection activities, it is hoped that

pressure on the remaining forest vegetation is reduced.

It has been proven still that the political environment in Lipa City is not ripe for ecosystem service charges

for water usage as there are still remaining objections on reassigning the use of the current P10 from its

existing use as environmental fee for solid waste management to the funds for watershed conservation. In

the study conducted by ERDB in collaboration with Pusod, showed that households in Lipa City are in

favor the creation of a trust fund and contribute as much as P25 per household per month to ensure that

there is a sustainable supply of water in the future.

Since the Metro Lipa Water District has not fully fulfilled its mandate for watershed protection under the

law. Continuous promotion of watershed conservation to Lipa Headwaters Council members was undertaken

to increase support to conservation interventions for Malarayat ecosystem. The LHWC will be facing more

challenges ahead due to the political climate in Lipa City (May 2013 National Elections, October 2013

Local Elections). With these, programs must involve more private partners while continuously building the

capacity of the LGU.

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TABLE OF CONTENTSTABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Project Description 7

Project Highlights 9

Initiatives with other Conservation Partners 19

Sustainability Mechanism and Lessons Learned 21

Management Issues and Concerns 23

Recommendations 24

Annexes 25

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The Mt Malarayat Watershed Conservation Project Year II

I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A.A. IntroductionIntroduction

At the advent of climate change and continuous pressure to watershed and forest ecosystems in the

country, Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve is not exempted in this current general environmental condition. The

project fueled the important activities of the Lipa Headwaters Council, National Power Corporation and

DENR in the implementation of priority actions for Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve amidst the climate change

crisis.

The result of the hydrologic study conducted in the first year of the project concluded that water

received by the watershed is lessened with changing climate and thus immediate interventions to mitigate its

impact to water supply is to be undertaken. The MFR with the chunk of forest left is the source of

groundwater supply to Lipa City. Moreover, the risk and vulnerability assessment focused on the vegetation

cover with implication to biodiversity, watershed capacity and land –use change, yielded that there is a

45% decrease in the closed forest (broadleaved) from 189 hectares to 85 hectares and 4% increase in the

open forest and 60% increase in cultivated lands.

The main objective of the second year remained to be the identification followed by full

comprehension of the vulnerabilities of the watershed ecosystem of Mt. Malarayat and provision of

information to the Lipa Headwaters Council to enable them to address these vulnerabilities and enhance

ecosystem resilience. Specific objectives include continuing research that would point the way towards more

efficient and strategic interventions, community engagement and enhanced local capacities geared towards

protection and responsiveness to the vulnerabilities, institutional arrangements to make these gains

sustainable, and wide public dissemination to gain support.

B. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

The objective of the project is to identify vulnerabilities of the watershed ecosystem of Malarayat

and dependent communities and provide information to the Lipa City Headwaters Council to be able to

address these vulnerabilities and enhance ecosystem resilience. Since climate change impacts are varied, the

project will continue to undertake biodiversity protection and management, identify effective management

systems to address conservation and vulnerability issues, and identify innovative conservation techniques and

approaches to enhance watershed ecosystem and continued provision of environmental services, particularly

water resources to residents and business establishments in Lipa City.

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C. The Bigger Picture

The project fueled the important activities of the Lipa Headwaters Council, National Power

Corporation and DENR in the implementation of priority actions for Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve amidst of

climate change crisis.

Resources from the different stakeholders and key players were pooled and were put to use. Aside

from the financial and technical support from the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation, the

national government agencies such as NAPOCOR and DENR also provided assistance in the decision –

making of important issues in Malarayat Forest Reserve.

The local government of Lipa City is the Chair of the LHWC. However, in the absence of Mayor

Meynard Sabili, Committee Chair for Environment and Health City Councilor Councilor Avior Rocafort

presided most of LHWC meetings. The Lipa Headwaters Council served as the platform in complementing

activities and preventing replication of interventions leading to a more maximized and optimized use of the

government and other financial resources.

The native trees nurseries established in the pilot barangay served as a model to the rest of the 72

barangays for the MAS to Million Project of Lipa City. Barangay Talisay participated in the Rainforestation

Forest Restoration Initiative (RFRI). This served as an encouragement to the communities in finding

additional means of income and as a positive response to the watershed conservation. Moreover, the

biological fencing along the MFR boundaries, which is supposedly one of the components of the next

Malarayat Proposal, was implemented by the City ENRO in partnership with NPC. However, during the

Malarayat Water Forum, a question was raised regarding the introduced species, Delonix regia that is being

used in the biological fencing of MMFR. With this, Pusod, Inc has drafted a letter of inquiry to UPLB

College of Forestry to get their opinion regarding the species mentioned (see Annex).

The NPC promotes co-management of its geothermal reserves. Thus, the MAKBAN Watershed Area

Team, led by its Chief Eliseo Calleja together with the other members of LHWC, conducted an evaluation

of the NPC – managed reforestation site in Brgy Malitlit. The NPC endorsed adoption of the 30-hectare

reforestation plots for maintenance and protection to interested companies and offices.

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS (Outcome and Expected Results)PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS (Outcome and Expected Results)

The project paved a way for more permanent, dynamic and sustainable watershed conservationThe project paved a way for more permanent, dynamic and sustainable watershed conservation

program. It has offered opportunities for partnership and co-management scheme that is highly likely toprogram. It has offered opportunities for partnership and co-management scheme that is highly likely to

work for the communities and the resource under protection. The participation of additional stakeholders inwork for the communities and the resource under protection. The participation of additional stakeholders in

the arena of management decisions concerning the watershed resources will create balance in the pace andthe arena of management decisions concerning the watershed resources will create balance in the pace and

mobilization of set goals and activities. mobilization of set goals and activities.

1. Restoration of Degraded Areas through Stakeholder Mobilization

The restoration activities opened up for opportunities for public-private partnership in undertaking

the restoration and protection of grassland areas in MFR, with emphasis on the use of native tree

species. The stewardship of the watershed resources is increased. The trust to ecosystem

rehabilitation is somehow realized through the project. While the local practice and perception on

open areas rehabilitation is difficult to alter, the project efforts are slowly gaining the trust and

preference of the local people involved in restoration activities.

The project partnered with the different sectors in the conduct of tree growing activities which

involve planting and maintenance as well as the nursery activities. This provided opportunities for

private companies to appreciate conservation initiatives of the community and thus supporting the

restoration activities as well. Volunteers from academic institutions and colleges in Lipa City and

Manila, STI – Lipa, BSU, University of Batangas, PKI, Bigben Complex, DENR, LHWC and

other partners to conduct replanting and maintenance in the planting sites. Various stakeholders were

mobilized to maintain the trees planted in the grasslands in the two barangays. Tree planting

activities, maintenance operation and foot patrols were conducted in the course of the project

through the support of volunteers from the academe, from the private sector and from the

Sangguniang Barangay.

In Barangay Sto Nino, 2600 seedlings were maintained. The project considers the restoration

activities in the planting sites in Brgy Sto. Nino a success. The native trees used grew well even in

the grassland areas (Annex 1). The project and the community conducted maintenance activities

during the wet season and patrolling and during the dry season. With the continuous maintenance

the grassland area the project and the communities expects that there the area will soon be covered

with forest vegetation. The trees maintained in the grassland area in Barangay Sto Nino include

hauili (Ficus septica), Tibig (Ficus nota), Kupang (Parkia timoriana), Malapapaya (Polyscias nodosa),

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Narra (Pterocarpus indicus), Amugis (Koordersiodendrum pinnatum), Kalumpit (Terminalia

microcarpa), Igiw (Dysoxylum decantum and balobo (Diplodiscus paniculatus).

Regrettably, the 3400 (2500+900) native trees planted in the Biak – na – Bundok site in

Barangay Talisay. Portion of it were burned during the summer season last May 2011. To prevent

the event from happening again, the Pusod strongly pushed for the FLUP for proper zoning as the

area may not really be a reforestation area after all. Meanwhile, the project proposes to designate

one possible site for restoration in Barangay Talisay the area adjacent to the current planting

site, which is comparably not along the trail that is commonly used by hikers and local travelers

and forest gatherers (Annex 6). The restoration area should be declared as part of the

restoration zone such that maintenance and strict protection should be implemented.

The NPC promotes co-management of its geothermal reserves. Thus, the MAKBAN Watershed Area

Team, led by its Chief E. Calleja together with the other members of LHWC, conducted an

evaluation of the NPC – managed reforestation site in Brgy Malitlit. The NPC endorsed

adoption of the 30-hectare reforestation plots for maintenance and protection to interested companies

and offices. It was observed however, the concentration of support from stakeholders and even the

council members is on tree growing or tree planting activities rather than on other conservation

intervention. The council should determine the priorities for 2013 based on the urgent issues and

needs of MFR.

2. Continuation and Expansion of Community-based Nurseries

The project encouraged the communities to take advantage of the wildling supply from Mt

Malarayat as a potential source of income and to provide for the growing trend of tree growing

activities in Malarayat and the surrounding areas.

Currently, there are 35,000 native trees grown in the family-based nurseries Table 1 shows the list

of the ten (10) families involved in the native trees propagation in Barangay Sto Nino and Barangay

Talisay (Annex 3-5). While, the list shows that it is 15,000 short to the target number of seedlings,

it is important to note that both barangays established centralized nurseries to support the MAS to

Million trees project of the LGU. This compensates more than 15,000 short for the project as the

community’s counterpart. The communities are also selling the native trees in the nurseries to the

groups conducting tree growing in Mt Malarayat. The project just has to ensure that these trees are

planted within the Mt Malarayat communities. The National Greening Program (NGP) is expected to

provide additional opportunity to these local farmers.

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Table 1. The total number of seedlings and the species propagated by each family-based nursery owner in

the pilot barangays.

Barangay Nursery

Owner

No. of

Seedlings

Species Propagated

Talisay 1. Pedro Latorre 4,607 Kalumpit, binunga, anae, igiw, toog, kalumala, lumbang,

alim, akle, tibig, malauban, hawili, malaikmo, batino,

bayag-kabayo, makasim2. Efren Naturilla 3,831 Kupang, balobo, anae,igiw,binunga, tinig malauban3.Democrito Obales 2,959 Hawili, balobo,igiw, tibig, anae, malauban, kalumpit,

bingonga4.Francisco Montenegro 1,680 Tibig, hawili, balobo5. Lorna Morilla 3,548 Malauban, tibig,hawili,binunga, kalumala, alim,malaikmo,

bakan,amlang, anaeSto Nino 6. Eleno Mea 2,442 Calumala, tibig, ayangao, antipolo

7. Ronnel Pesa 5,435 Balobo, calumala, igiw, anae, hawili, tibig, wild ilang-

ilang, tikis-tikis, kupang, antipolo, narra8. Leandro Brasa 2,550 Anae, hawili, tibig, kalumala, balobo, 9. Regino Pesa 3,316 Anae, hawili, tibig, kalumala, balobo, igiw10. Nestor Olayao 5,000 Kupang, hawili, tibig, kalumala, bayag-kabayo, tangisang-

bayawak, malauban, anae, binunga, piling-gubat, mulawin,

sahing, makasim, antipoloTotal 35,368

The community nursery of Barangay Talisay, as designated by the LHWC Secretariat, competed in

the Rainforest Restoration Initiative (RFRI) Leonard Co Award for Best Native Forest Tree Nursery

as an entry from Lipa City. The nursery won third place for the said best nursery award. In addition,

the nurseries provided planting stocks to private local partners such as Earth Day Network for its

planting activities. Currently, the project is also one of the expected sources of native trees for the

National Greening Program in the province.

3. Capability Enhancement for the Continuation of Markets for Nurseries & Student Fieldtrips/Tours

and Services

Pilipinas Kyohritsu Inc. Pilipinas Kyohritsu Inc. has consistently been a partner for Mt. Malarayat

conservation project. Tree planting efforts for two consecutive years are done in Brgy. Sto. Nino

near BMS 6 and now tree maintenance and nurturing were conducted last Nov. 16, 2012 (Annexes

11). Through the support of the private corporation, sustainability for the conservation program can

be achieved even without the support fund from the grantees. PKI also supported the Malarayat

Water Forum 12 12 12. They are also considering to purchase in bulk native trees seedlings from

the family-based nurseries, to be distributed to their employees. Employees will be expected to grow

these trees in their backyard.

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Hands On Manila Foundation Inc. A volunteer- NGO that organizes Corporate Social

Responsibility activities for their partner private companies. Among the private corporation who

partnered with Hands on Manila is the Holcim Cement Corp. who conducted nursery establishment

in Brgy. Talisay last August 2012 (Annex 11). Seedling production to supply the needs for the

native species as response to the NGP program of the President and to help support to have an

income-generating for the locals is the objectives of the activity. Another private partner is the

Philippine Electricity Market Corp. who conducted tree planting activity also in Brgy. Talisay last

Dec. 15, 2012, planted about 1,316 native trees.

Hacienda San Benito. Through the City Agricultures Office of Meaning Agricultural Support

program of Mayor Meynard Asa. Sabili, in partnership with Hacienda San Benito, An Info-Seminar

on Organic Farming was conducted last June 19, 2012 (Annex 10). Through this, it opened an

alternative livelihood opportunity for the Mt. Malarayat stakeholders and to shift them to non-

destructive way of agroforestry. There is a growing market for organic produce locally and we

would like Mt. Malarayat stakeholders to be the forefront of this development.

The LIMA Water. The LIMA Water is among the youngest member of the Lipa Headwaters

Council, which sit in the LHWC as a member only this year 2012. Primarily, the LIMA Water

Corporation has already incorporated environment – related activities and programs in its corporate

social responsibility initiatives. In addition to Mt. Malarayat Tree Planting, LIMA Corp. forged

partnership with organizations such as Lipa Head waters Council which undertakes programs and

activities for Mt. Malarayat Forest Reserve. LIMA Water has supported the Malarayat Water Forum

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Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines Corp. Inquiry regarding the hydrology and hydro-geology study

assessment of Coca-Cola Bottlers Corp. in Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay watershed was initiated by Pusod Inc.

together with the members of Lipa Headwaters Council such as City Environment and Natural

Resources Office and Metro Lipa Water District (Annex 12).

Brgy. Malitlit, San Benito & San Celestino. Consultation meetings regarding the Mt. Malarayat

expansion project on the three barangays were set last Feb. 5 -6 (Annex 13). They were informed

of Pusod initiatives in Mt. Malarayat for the last 2 years of community work in Brgy. Sto. Nino and

Talisay, Lipa City. Different project components were line-up for the 3 barangays for the Mt.

Malarayat expansion.

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4. Watershed Conservation Appreciation and Information Education Communication Campaigns

Greater public and stakeholders participation was accomplished in the course of the project. The

social media sites (Facebook, Balikas and Philippines today) served as platform sharing of written

information for watershed conservation campaign. The articles posted in the said websites reached

the locals and Filipinos nationwide.

The exhibits launched by Pusod Inc. showcased the Malarayat posters, photos and illustrations of

biodiversity and other related materials concerning the conservation of the environment.

The seminars and lectures about Mt Malarayat Watershed and Conservation were included in the

educational trips of De La Salle - College of St Benilde with students majority from Manila and

neighboring provinces. The activity was conducted to consult groups involved in biodiversity

conservation on how to successfully integrate climate change in biodiversity planning and

management in the Philippines.

The audio visual presentation (avp) for the project conceptualized to demonstrate the efforts of the

different stakeholders in MFR to encourage stakeholders in MMFR conservation. The audiovisual

presentation can be used in information campaign and advocacy towards watershed protection,

climate change adaptation and mitigation. The material can target the local community, water

resource user, academe and the policy –makers.

6. Capacity Building for Enforcement and Policy Development

The project provided trainings capacity building activities to the LHWC and the communities to

reduce the risks and pressure to the Malarayat Ecosystem. A follow-up Paralegal Training was

given to the MMWPC members as a refresher course in environmental law enforcement. The

National Power Corporation realized the need to ensure that capacity – building is an integral part

in the implementation of forest protection activities for MFR. A range-wide enforcement training to

be spearheaded and supported by NPC is foreseen by the project. Issues that will be covered by

this intervention include encroachment, timber and wildlife poaching, bioprospecting, logging among

others.

The Draft Ordinance on the “Resolution Declaring Moratorium on the Issuance of Tax Declaration

to Land Titles and Land Claims within the Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve in the City of Lipa, Luzon

Island” was put on-hold by the Sangguniang Panlungsod with the assurance from Assessors’

Office Lipa as the office informed of the cease issuance of titles and tax declaration for the lands

within MFR. In connection to the issue, options such as the filing of cases on court to cancel the 13

land titles within the forest reserve is still suggested by the Land Evaluation Party and the project as

there still exists the threat of massive land development of the privately-owned lands within MFR.

One important issue discussed during the project period was the proposal of DENR CALABARZON

Region – Protected Areas and Wildlife Coastal Zone Management Section (PAWCZMS) to declare

Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve as a protected area as MFR is part of the initial component of NIPAS

Act (Republic Act 7586). An initial meeting was set last August 2011, which was attended by the

Sangguniang Panlungsod Chairman on Environment and LHWC Vice Chairman Honorable Avior

Rocafort. It was agreed during that meeting that instead of a Protected Area Management Board

(PAMB), an expanded council composed of DENR, LGU, LHWC, NGOs with a Memorandum of

Understanding shall be forged. DENR would facilitate the consultation and meetings for the

declaration of Mt Malarayat as Critical Habitat/Watershed. The local government of Laguna and

Quezon shall be invited to encourage them to actively get involved in the conservation and

protection of the mountain.

7. Payment for Environmental Services for MFR

The availability of funds to support the conservation and protection activities for Mt Malarayat or

any other area is among the issues that institutionalization and implementation of a payment

mechanism or trust fund will hopefully resolve.

With the concluded water valuation study of ERDB, the Lipa City communities and stakeholders are

now being geared up for setting – up of mechanism that will ensure sustainability of Malarayat

watershed resources. The results showed low level of awareness of Lipa Residents about watersheds

but high level of awareness was observed about the role of forest in securing water supply. Majority

(72%) of residents are willing to contribute for the proposed watershed management trustfund. The

Mean Willingness to Pay (WTP) is P25 while the total household population of Lipa is 57,434. The

Estimated Potential Revenue is P1,435,850 per month. This potential revenue from water user fee

should finance the estimated annual management cost of MMFR. The legal framework for the water

user fee is Executive Order 318. This may already be integrated in the monthly household bill for

water since this mechanism is already in place.

The study also recommended intensified IEC activities to inform people about watershed and its

importance. A city-wide public consultation is needed before finalizing the price and payment

scheme. Further study must also be conducted considering the WTP of other water user groups

(Industrial, Commercial, Recreational and Agricultural Sectors). Further, the LHWC should make

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recommendations on who will be collecting and administering the fund and where will it be

remitted.

The Metro Lipa Water District is currently collecting P10 per household in Lipa City for

Environmental Management Fund. There are only 5 out of the 72 barangays where MLWD does not

collect since these barangays have their own waterworks. These are Barangays Talisay, Lumbang,

Plaridel, Halang and San Lucas. The collected amount is turned over to the Lipa City Government.

Committee Chair for Environment and Health, City Councilor Avior Rocafort has promised to

deliver a privilege speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session that would request for a report on

the allocation of the EMF. If the EMF is allocated for garbage collection, there are only 22 out of

the 72 barangays more or less are currently being serviced. Also a portion of this amount was

alleged being plowed back to the barangay, but selected barangays could not identify the exact

amount which is bundled in the IRA that they receive. The privilege speech is pending until after

the elections. This was not accomplished by the Councilor who is now running for Vice Mayor. The

City ENRO office was tasked to prepare the draft of the privilege speech.

The results of the study were still further presented during the Malarayat Water Forum 12 12 12

and the succeeding meetings with Barangays Malitlit, San Celestino and San Benito.

8. MMFR Management by the Lipa Headwaters Council/ Institutional Strengthening for Lipa

Headwaters Council (LHWC)

The documentation of the biodiversity, identification of vulnerabilities through ecosystem risk,

hydrologic assessment accomplished in the first year of the project resulted to a series of discussion,

arguments and agreements within the council and the stakeholders of Lipa City in general. The Lipa

Headwaters Council members became much more informed of the importance of decisive

management interventions to ensure watershed services from MFR. Among the major matters of

discussion in the LHWC management meetings include the following issues:

a. Delineation and Mapping of MFR Boundary and Land Claims. Although there has been efforts

to directly bring the issue on the claimants and creation of possible venue for collaboration and

incentive to the claimants and caretakers, this has been one of the most difficult issues to bring

up to the council as the office that would be put on the spot in the matter would be the LGU

itself, together with the department that provide technical advice and assistance to the council

i.e. Assessor’s Office.

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b. Mt Malarayat Biodiversity Assessment = Creation of MFR PAMB vs. Local Watershed

Protection Area. The active involvement of the Department of Environment and Natural

resources (DENR) as technical adviser in the LHWC, toward the end, resulted to the proposal

of DENR to establish the MFR as a protected area. Although it was assumed by the project that

there will still be serious discussions between parties of DENR and NPC on the matter, it is

hoped that the Lipa Headwaters Council has to comment and decide on the issue.

c. Forest Land-use Planning for Mt Malarayat. The Delineation and Boundary Mapping provided

the LHWC a clear vision as to the extent of the lands and claims within the MFR Risk and

Vulnerability Assessment which simply showed the decrease in the forest cover served as

additional consideration for the formulation of a Forest Land-Use Plan for MFR . To ensure

synergy of stakeholders efforts towards conservation and to ensure that resources are prioritized

based on issues and concerns in MMFR. The forest land – use planning process was presented

to the Lipa Headwaters Council . It was a good opportunity since the LGU will also be

updating their Comprehensive Land – Use Plan (CLUP). This process is also seen as an

opportunity to involve the landowners and claimants who has current use and access to the

resources within the forest reserve. This will also set the direction on the management regime

that is most suitable to the area, making sure that everyone is on – board the decision –

making and implementation. While there are still discussions on the matter at hand as to the

budgetary requirements and commitments of various stakeholders, the LHWC members are

willing to provide support to this process. The project is hopeful that the LGU and other major

stakeholders such as MLWD will be more open in financing the FLUP process.

d. Trust Fund for MFR Conservation and Protection. The study on water resource valuation

through a public-private partnership of Pusod and ERDB may be considered as a solution to

financial sustainability aspect of the watershed conservation program. Critically, the creation of

trust fund to support watershed conservation interventions is under review and discussion by the

LHWC members. Despite some questions of public acceptance and ease of implementation,

enormous support from the local populace as shown by the seventy-two percent (72%) of the

Lipa residents who are willing to contribute an estimated mean willingness to pay (WTP)

amount to P25/ household/month to support the watershed protection activities warrants the

probability of success. Among the activities that the fund will support include maintenance and

protection up to 3 years (fast growing) and 5 years (indigenous) of already planted seedlings,

increase awareness of people from Tiaong, Quezon and San Pablo, Laguna as well students of

Lipa City about the importance of protecting MMFR, installation of signage in different portions

of MMFR to inform visitors and the community about their role in protecting the watershed,

Seminar-orientation on forestry related laws for brgy. officials, committee on environment, LGU,

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schools, availability of forest rangers within the MMFR and provide them with proper

communication and transportations facilities, nursery establishment which will provide for the

indigenous seedling requirement of the tree planting activities, seminar on alternative livelihood

for the community.

9. Enhancing Biodiversity and Reduction of Risks and Vulnerabilities of Mt Malarayat

Ecosystem

The Forest Land Use Planning as part of the Updating of the Comprehensive Land-use Planning is

still on the table of CPDO and LGU. During the Committee Hearing by the Sangguniang

Panlungsod on the proposed amendment of the current Comprehensive Land – Use Plan (CLUP)

of Lipa City, the discussion included the establishment of buffer areas around the forest reserve in

Mt Malarayat to prevent further degradation and land conversion. The FLUP process will be

discussed formally during the 2013 Lipa Headwaters Council Meeting where the project proposes to

pursue the FLUP with commitment from the LGU or MLWD as the major resource-users of the

ecosystem services from MFR.

The last LHWC Meeting held on 12 December 2012 informally tackled issues on Trust Fund

Creation, Establishment of Malarayat as Protected Area, Forest Land – Use Planning. The

members agreed to discuss further the said issues and the proposed 2013 initiatives in the January

2013 LHWC meeting tentatively scheduled on January 25,29, 30,or 31.

10. Strengthening and Enhancing the Forest Watch Group Capability on Monitoring and Law

Enforcement

Various skills on environmental monitoring such as the BMS, mapping, wildlife, identification,

rainforestation were provided to the local community and Deputized Forest Officers in the pilot

barangays through trainings, symposium and seminars.

a. Paralegal and Patrolling for Law Enforcement

It was observed that the community through the trainings and seminars provided by the

project and NPC, has become more aware of the illegal activities within the forest reserve

and more responsive to law enforcement by reporting observed illegal activities. This

primarily is the basis to suggest further strengthening in terms of the enforcement capacity

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of the forest watch groups in the future. The need to draft the operations manual for law

enforcement in MFR is recognized. NPC will hopefully collaborate with the

communities and LGU in law enforcement activities.

b. Geographical Information Systems Training

The three-day Community – based GIS training conducted from July 11-12, 2011 attended

by the Malarayat stakeholders enabled the participants to understand the importance of

using the web-based tools in management and monitoring of the forest and watershed

resources.

11. Institutional mechanism for Payments for Watershed Services for Mt Malarayat towards

The project partnered with the Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau (ERDB) to determine

the water valuation study for the willingness-to-pay study. The study focused on the determination

of the willingness-to-pay of Lipenos to fund the watershed protection efforts for Mt Malarayat

Forest Reserve. The project provided assistance and counterpart in the data collection while the

ERDB processed and analyzed the data. The results showed that despite the low level of awareness

of Lipa City residents about watersheds there is high level of awareness on the role of forest in

securing water supply. Seventy-two percent (72%) of the residents are willing to contribute for the

proposed watershed management trust fund at an estimated mean willingness to pay (WTP) amount

to P25/ household/month. The potential revenue from water user fee could be used to finance the

activities to protect and manage MMFR.

In lieu of the presentation to the stakeholders of the water pricing study, the Malarayat Water

Forum was held on December 12, 2012. The forum was participated by the local government unit

of Lipa City represented by the City Planning Office, City Engineering Office, City Agriculture

Office, City ENRO, Office of the Mayor and Sangguniang Barangays of Talisay and San Benito

representatives, national government agencies DENR – ERBD, DENR CALABARZON – LEP,

private sector partners Metro Lipa Water District, LIMA Waters and National Power Corporation,

academic sectors represented by students and professors from FAITH and LIMA Hotel and De La

Salle Lipa and Pusod Inc. Conservation and other related efforts were presented to draft general

action plans for Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve for the next 3-5 years and identify; and identify new

stakeholders and partners in operationalizing the general action plans. Topics discussed in the open

forum include the species used by City ENRO in the biological fencing activity, boundary

delineation and mapping, policy on the creation of trust fund and strengthening of information

campaign to gain more support in the MFR conservation initiatives.

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INITIATIVES WITH OTHER CONSERVATION PARTNERSINITIATIVES WITH OTHER CONSERVATION PARTNERS

1. The National Power Corporation (NPC)

The NPC, as a mandated agency to manage and protect Mt Malarayat was a geothermal reservation

under EO 224, continuously conducts watershed management interventions in the city of Lipa. The

agency National has years of conservation efforts for Mt Malarayat. Among these include the Mt

Malarayat Watershed Protection Council (MMWPC) creation, watershed protection and restoration

activities, community organizing and trainings for alternative livelihood for the forest – dependent

communities in Batangas, Lipa City in particular, Quezon and Laguna.

Several meetings with the National Power Corporation were initiated by the project. Possible future

endeavors, through a MOA, include the 1) management of the 10-hectare reforestation site in

Barangay Malitlit. Pusod shall consider continuing the maintenance and monitoring of the trees

planted in the site; 2) collaboration in further strengthening of Mt Malarayat – Malepunyo

Watershed Protection Council (MMWPC) in terms of sustainability; and 3) continuous capacity

building on enforcement of environmental laws including counterpart sharing on related trainings

and the laws of procedure for environmental enforcement in Mt Malarayat. (the possible framework

of the new project is composed of activities in partnership with NPC – IEC and law enforcement,

MLWD data gathering through weather station and modeling of Lipa’s groundwater recharge,

nursery and rainforestation for the community, PES mechanism and FLUP for the City

ENRO/LHWC for policy Project development stage again is needed.

2. Lipa City Two Million Trees Project

In response to the Executive Order 26 from the Office of the President (Annex 9), the city of Lipa

composed of the 72 barangays is raising native forest and fruit trees in each area. Both the project

sites are actively involved in raising seedlings for the nursery. Brgy Sto Nino nursery has dispatched

a number of seedlings for the SM tree planting along the riverbanks of Sto Nino. Meanwhile, Brgy

Talisay continuously manages their community nursery located near the entrance of the barangay.

This has continuously been managed by through the assistance and support from the Project and

other partners such as NPC and now the City Environment and Natural Resources Office of Lipa.

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3. Biological Fencing in MFR

The City ENRO of Lipa City also consulted with MMWPC, barangay chairman within MFR, NPC,

and City Agriculturist, the City ENRO spearheaded the biological fencing project. Fire trees were

planted in along the 25 corners identified during the mapping and delineation of MFR boundaries.

To lessen leakage for MFR, the conditional cash transfer program of DSWD was also used as a

mechanism to encourage the communities to depart from charcoal-making activities.

4. Metro Lipa Water District (MLWD)

The efforts of MLWD are focused in Water and watershed rehabilitation and maintenance efforts were the

focus of the efforts of the water district, which was grounded on the imminent threat of water depletion. The

MLWD shared the humble beginnings of the Malarayat watershed conservation which was started in 1998

by champions of EPM process sharing the two water forum and the concerted highlighting the creation of

the Lipa Headwaters Council in the process.

5. ERDB – DENR through Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB).

The ERDB is one of the research arms of the DENR. The ERDB research team conducted the study on

valuation of water provided by Mt Malarayat to the City of Lipa. The study was focused on the

determination of the willingness-to-pay of Lipenos to fund the watershed protection efforts for Mt Malarayat

Forest Reserve. The results showed that despite the low level of awareness of Lipa City residents about

watersheds there is high level of awareness on the role of forest in securing water supply. Seventy-two

percent (72%) of the residents are willing to contribute for the proposed watershed management trust fund at

an estimated mean willingness to pay (WTP) amount to P25/ household/month. The potential revenue from

water user fee could be used to finance the activities to protect and manage MMFR.

6. DENR Land Evaluation Party (DENR – LEP).

The DER CALABARZON Land Evaluation Party (LEP) conducted the mapping and location of Malarayat

Forest Reserve Boundary. The mapping exercise revealed the presence of claimants with titles and/or tax

declaration within the Forest Reserve. Also, while the MFR by the virtue of the existing laws regarding its

management, some part of the protected area is developed for commercial use thus, thorough study, legal or

technical is prescribed and ensuring that the rights of the community dependent on the resources are

considered - co-management may be possible for the benefit of all resource users.

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7. DENR CENRO – Batangas. The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, Batangas

City

DENR – CENRO Batangas currently pushes for the establishment of Mt. Malarayat as a Protected Area

under NIPAS Act (RA 7586) with the inclusion of other barangay in Laguna and Quezon provinces. The

Management Plan would also be developed.

SUSTAINABILITY MECHANISMSUSTAINABILITY MECHANISM

The project is hopeful that the LGU and other major stakeholders such as MLWD will be more open in

financing the Forest Land – Use Planning (FLUP) process. Recently, the MLWD has committed to install

rain gauges in the MMFR barangays. They will also ensure that the community will be trained in reading

the rain gauges and the data will be included in their regular monitoring activities.

The City ENRO and the rest of the Local Government Offices who are members of the LHWC or

supportive for MMFR to have its own FLUP. However, this is not yet translated into allocation of financial

support thru the Annual Investment Plan for 2013. Currently, the City ENRO has a regular allocation of

P50,000 for LHWC activities which may be realigned for FLUP upon recommendation and justification of

the City ENRO.

Moreover, the study on water resource valuation may be considered as a solution to financial sustainability

aspect of the watershed conservation program. The mechanism in payment scheme following the creation of

the trust should be institutionalized so that financing the watershed protection interventions and programs for

MMFR will be possible.

Pusod, Inc is continuously engaging potential partners in the conservation initiatives for Mt. Malarayat Forest

Reserve.

LESSONS LEARNED LESSONS LEARNED

The Mt Malarayat Watershed Conservation Project is heading to a more complex management program

influenced by politics, financial availability and sustainability, bureaucracy, economics in Lipa City. The

presence of facilitator, such as the project, to push each key player is indeed vital. The implementation of

the two-year project translates into greater understanding of the dynamics of a typical watershed management

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that is under the mandate of the local and national government and the local people. More effort on the

aspect of advocacy and lobbying to local leaders can be instrumental in the attainment of the project goal.

The set –up of financial scheme/payment mechanism, FLUP should be closely participated by the project

to ensure that gray areas are addressed.

The participation of additional stakeholders in decision – making and in the conservation interventions

creates an avenue for decentralized and shared stewardship of MFR resources and also offers awareness in

the process. More importantly, decisions are critically analyzed based on the views and positions from the

different sectors of resource users.

Co-management of the MFR will benefit the NPC as the mandated agency, the water users and dependent

communities in Lipa through the designation of MFR as local watershed protection area. Otherwise, the NPC

should have enough mobilization funds to ensure that the forest watch groups are able to stop the illegal

activities inside MFR. Private – public partnerships can be forged towards the conservation of MFR with

the growing interest in the environmental conservation. While there are efforts among the stakeholders and

council members, the LHWC should continuously partner with academic institutions, private companies and

corporations, and other interest group.

Next to the results of the willingness – to – pay study, the creation of trust fund for watershed protection

activities and the mechanism to implement such has to be clearly discussed with the community and the

stakeholders of Malarayat water.

The nursery activities and community rehabilitation scheme should be strengthened to ensure that leakage is

prevented. The MFR Forest Land-use Plan should be pursued as this will serve as guide in the

management of the MFR. The different use for certain areas in MFR will be regulated and at the same time

maximized. Massive land conversion, encroachment and commercial development can be regulated and the

designation of the recreation zones and hiking zones will benefit the communities when used in accordance

with the designed FLUP.

Working with the community is at its best when the locals’ welfare is ensured and the purpose of the

project is for the betterment of the community and their environment. Understanding of the community

leaders of the project is essential to ensure support to any intervention that will involve community

participation. Visibility in the community is important. Organizing is a one-step-at-a-time process.

The Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve is ready to be managed sustainably that neither dynamic political

environment nor financial constraints must hinder. The current conservation interventions currently done to

ensure sustainable water supply for all driven by leadership with political will partnered with decisive

community will do it.22

Mt Malarayat has more to offer than the neighboring municipality, provinces and whole world has expected,

to which the community, LGU, and the national government and even the today’s generation should not

give up to destruction.

ManagementManagement ISSUES AND CONCERNS ISSUES AND CONCERNS

The Lipa Headwaters Council members especially the Office of the City Assessor is silent in the issue of

the claimants in Mt Malarayat. Until now and during the last LHWC meeting, there has been no concrete

plan as to the action of the council with regards to the landowners and claimants within the forest reserve.

The verbal assurance from the City Assessors’ Office and DENR has to be secured through a written

document such as the Moratorium issued by the SP as an endorsement Although there has been verbal

discussion and assurance that there are no more issuance of tax declaration to the claimants within MFR, the

Sangguniang Panlungsod has yet to issue an ordinance as a legally binding document.

While the Local government of Lipa became concerned on the framework of a PAMB as proposed by the

DENR, initial meetings were conducted by with the City ENRO which also sits as the Secretariat for LHWC.

During the conceptualization stage, the key LHWC members expressed opinions that LHWC is a

management body capable enough to protect and conserve of what remains in the mountain range and thus

creating a larger body may just slow down the decision – making process, as there are some issues that

need immediate attention and action. However, through its ground working activities, the DENR solicited

support from City ENRO in pursuing the PA establishment concept. It is expected that the National Power

Corporation would have its position when the matter is discussed formally in the regular LHWC meeting.

One of the utmost and persistent issues in the restoration and tree planting activities is the lack of general

terms and guidelines or the protocol for the tree planting and maintenance activities as well as the fees for

the activities in Mt Malarayat Forest Reserve. Without these, the implementation of the activities may not be

harmonized .

The results of the presentation of the willingness – to – pay study results to the pilot communities was

put on-hold as per advised from the Lipa Headwaters Council until such time that SP representative to the

council Councilor Avior Rocafort delivered a privilege speech on the P10 Environmental Management Fund

collected by MLWD. Likewise, the study was presented to the general stakeholders during the Malarayat

Water Forum held on December 2012.

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RECOMMENDATIONS for RECOMMENDATIONS for 2013 - 20162013 - 2016

� The LHWC may consider expansion of membership to the other MMFR barangays (to include

Malitlit, San Celestino, and San Benito), MMWPC and other sectors such as business/chambers of

commerce, academe (research and development), religious, women and health groups for population

management (IMMEDIATE);

� It is urgent for the LHWC to proceed with undertaking Forest Land Use Planning. This will

synergize local efforts for MMFR and will identify clearly the roles of each stakeholder. This will

also prevent piece-meal commitment and sometimes broken verbal promises from the officials and

stakeholders concerned, every agreement should be in written document format and institutionalized

through memorandum, resolution of ordinance, or any similar document from the LHWC. With the

change in leadership, every relevant approach and agreements should be institutionalized.

(IMMEDIATE)

� Re-evaluation and expansion of the Biodiversity Monitoring Sites and information must be

organized in a database/ website so that information may be accessed by others and finally

identifying a “visitor center” where all information may be housed. In addition, the MLWD has

committed to install rain gauges in the MMFR barangays. All other baseline data gathering

initiatives for MMFR must be strongly supported. These information will be crucial for further

management and advocacy and may bring in more conservationist “visitors”.

� A comprehensive ground water/ hydro-geology study is still needed so that the LHWC and the

MLWD especially can better manage the resource with better factual information. Pusod, Inc has

spearheaded the meeting with Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines and was informed that the study cost

about P2 Million Pesos. However, with the geographic size of MMFR and the coverage of MLWD,

the cost for the local study is hoped to be much lesser. (IMMEDIATE)

� There is a need for a legal expert to serve as a technical adviser on law enforcement and other

related issues to the forest reserve. As well as a community organizer that will ensure that there will

be people’s organization that will continue the conservation efforts at the grassroots level.

� Co-management agreement with claimants whereby incentives (e.g tax rebate or water charge rebate)

may be given to the claimants who will participate in this scheme.

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� There is a need for stakeholders in Batangas, Laguna and Quezon Provinces to meet and discuss

issues, concerns and conservation initiatives. Therefore an MMFR Summit is needed before end of

2013. This is also a good opportunity for the National Power Corporation to craft a Management

Plan for MMFR which can span to 2014-2024 (10 years). This will also harmonize initiatives for

2014 and beyond. They can also learn and replicate conservation initiatives.

� Annexes

Photo documentation (before and during the project)� Maps� Seedling inventory (those projects with nursery and planting components –

refer to Seedling production form)

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