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Chapter 18
The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program:
Status, problems and perspectives
Miguel D. Fortes
Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, The Philippines
Vision—For the JSPS-DOST Coastal Marine Science Programme:
“A lasting Japan-Philippine collaboration instituted to understand tropical marine ecosystems & utilize
the knowledge & skills in order to improve capacity to conserve biodiversity, protect the environment
& sustainably use Philippine marine resources. It is founded on mutual respect & achieved through
sharing of knowledge & expertise.”
Introduction
Strategies of the Philippine National Marine Policy
The National Marine Policy (NMP) of
the Philippines is a policy framework to
comprehensively address concerns related
to the utilization and management of the
country’s marine resources. It identifies
key development strategies clustered into
four policy areas: extent of the national
territory, protection of the marine environment, development of the marine economy
and technology, and maritime security.
Among the specific strategies are the development and management of marine resources consistent with the principles of
sustainable development, adoption of the
“polluter-pays” principle, and management
of coastal resources based on integrated
coastal resources management. It also includes the development of marine research
and fisheries management programs.
The JSPS CMS Program in the context of
the Philippine National Marine Policy
The Japan Society for the Promotion
of Science (JSPS), Japan’s core organization for advancing science, encourages
scientific research conducted by researchers at universities and other institutions
since it plays a vital role in the creation of
new knowledge. By generating knowledge
shared by humankind, Japan makes its
unique intellectual contribution to the global society, while ensuring its own development as a “nation based on creativity of
science and technology”. In partnership
with Southeast Asian countries, it funds
collaborative undertakings focused of key
issues the region is facing. Biodiversity
loss is one such issue.
In the Philippines and in relation to
biodiversity, Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBA) have been identified. These
are sites of global significance for
biodiversity conservation identified using
S. Nishida, M. D. Fortes and N. Miyazaki, eds.
Coastal Marine Science in Southeast Asia —Synthesis Report of the Core University Program of the Japan
Society for the Promotion of Science: Coastal Marine Science (2001–2010), pp. 173–187.
© by TERRAPUB 2011.
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M. D. F ORTES
Fig. 1. Marine Key Biodiversity Areas (MKBA) in the Philippines, emphasizing the three major
ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangroves) and associated fishes and seaweeds.
globally standard criteria and thresholds,
based on the needs of biodiversity requiring safeguard at the site scale (Eken et al.
2004). Figure 1 shows these areas in relation to the major coastal support ecosystems (corals, mangroves, seagrass beds)
and their associated fishes and seaweeds
(Conservation International 2008). These
ecosystems are a focus of the JSPS CMS
Program, since with the data generated, the
program could help coastal communities
and decision makers understand better
these priority sites for expansion and reinforcement of existing marine protected
area (MPA) systems in the country.
Membership in the JSPS-MCUP-CMS
The Coastal Marine Science Program
(CMS) in the Philippines comprises six
major institutions of higher learning, di-
Fig. 2. Map showing locations of member institutions.
The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program
rectly involving 23 researchers (number of
researchers in brackets; the location of the
institutions are shown in Fig. 2):
1. University of the Philippines
a. Division of Biol. Sciences (UPV) [2]
b. College of Fisheries & Oceanology
(UPV) [1]
c. Marine Science Institute CS (UPD)
[7]
2. De la Salle University (DLSU) [1]
3. Mindanao State University (Naawan)
[1]
4. Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Council (SEAFDEC) [2]
5. University of San Carlos (USC) [1]
6. Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources [8].
The CMS projects and the 15 Principal
Researchers or focal persons are given
below:
• Project 1: Water Circulation & Material
Transport [3 Researchers from University
of the Philippines Marine Science Institute
(UPMSI)]
Dr. Maria Lourdes S. D. McGlone; Dr.
Laura T. David; Dr. Fernando Siringan
• Project 2: Ecology & Oceanography of
Harmful Marine Microalgae (2 Researchers)
Dr. Rhodora V. Azanza, UPMSI; Dr.
Arnulfo Marasigan, College of Fisheries, University of the Philippines
Visayas (UPVCF)
• Project 3: Biodiversity Studies (7 Researchers)
Dr. Miguel D. Fortes, UPMSI (JSPS
National Coordinator); Dr. Marco N. E.
Montano, UPMSI; Dr. Edna G. Fortes,
UPMSI; Dr. Lourdes V. Castillo, UP
Los Baños (deceased); Dr. Enrico
Villoso, College of Fisheries, UPVCF;
Dr. Annabelle del Norte-Campos, UPV
College of Science; Dr. Willy Uy,
Mindanao State University, (MSU)
• Project 4: Pollution of Hazardous Chemicals (POME) (4 Researchers)
Dr. Maricar S. Prudente, De La Salle
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University (DLSU); Ms. Dia Sotto
Alibo, University of San Carlos (USC);
Mr. Felix G. Ayson, Southeast Asian
Fisheries Development Council
(SEAFDEC); Ms. Evelyn de Jesus,
SEAFDEC.
Status and Performance
The Philippine Component of the JSPS
Coastal Marine Science is a “loose” group
of independent institutions and researchers from both public and private sectors,
focusing their activities on the thrusts of
the program. For the first 4 years (2001–
2004), it had moderate gains seen from the
high quality and number of its products,
e.g. publications, fellowships, awareness
materials, and partnerships developed with
both national and regional science institutions.
“Loose” management, lack of funds
and political support remain as the greatest obstacles to program progress. Its greatest assets, on the other hand, are the few
dedicated researchers who persevered
against all odds, even under very discouraging conditions. Functional collaboration
with regional and international institutions
and organizations appears to be the biggest factor helping some program activities (e.g. seagrass, see Fig. 4) meet its objectives, address concerns of users, and
broaden its impact to the region.
Research
In terms of research, studies conducted
by members were of high quality, producing results that contributed to science and
directly, to JSPS goals. These are, however, conducted largely individually, not
reflecting JSPS thrusts in a coherent manner. Thus, when problems occur, there was
practically no way the program could respond collectively in solving the problems.
As a whole, the Philippine Component
comparatively did well. This is viewed in
relation to the substantial number and high
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M. D. F ORTES
quality of products produced despite the
increasingly discouraging prevailing conditions.
The continuance of these products (and
services) that emerged from project activities during the project, however, is at high
risk of being lost or at least is uncertain
from 2010 onwards. This calls for a renewed and more functional coordination
among the members, vigorous campaign
to raise external support, and shift activity focus to those which show more promise in addressing the issues.
One major encouraging outcome which
spawned partly from the CMS is the approval and implementation in March 2010
of the 5-year Philippine-Japan Project, “Integrated Coastal Ecosystems Conservation
and Adaptive Management Under Local
and Global Environmental Threats in the
Philippines” (CECAM). Here, 11 institutions in Japan and 6 institutions in the Philippines are collaborating to fill the gaps in
science and management sorely needed in
marine resource conservation and governance. In addition, two proposals currently
under review have been submitted, one to
the Asia Pacific Network for Climate
Change Research (APN) and another to the
Department of Science and Technology of
the Philippines-Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Joint Research Project
(JRP 2011), both focusing on the capacity
of seagrasses and mangroves to act as
“bioshields” against biodiversity loss and
impacts of environmental uncertainties.
weed/Seagrass Workshop (1) in 2008
2. As participant and host:
a. NaGISA/JSPS-DOST Taxonomy
Workshop - August 2007
b. Joint NCMS-DOST/JSPS-PNSC
Biodiversity Workshop - December 2007
c. UNEP/GEF SCS Project-DOSTJSPS
Echo-Training
Seminars
(Biodiversity)
d. Plankton workshop in Iloilo City,
the Philippines, 13–15 July 2010
3. As participant in new research, assessment and monitoring, capacity development:
a. SeagrassNet (Phase 3) 2008–2009
b. PERSEUS (Coal Spill Assessment
& Monitoring): 2008–2013
c. JST-JICA Bilateral Capacity Building Initiative and Networking: 2008–2013
4. Maintenance & Enhancement of
Herbarium Marinum:
a. 53,000+ collections ca. 2000 species (96% seaweeds, 4% seagrasses)
b. New records of seagrasses
5. Marine biodiversity promotion in
media (Local & Japanese TV channels
(NHK and DAI Enterprises), BBC).
It is deemed urgent that members of
JSPS CMS focus on overall program
progress and sustainability via performance auditing of its components. Hopefully
to be taken up in future, the results of the
audit and evaluation would be the basis of
decisions towards the true direction of the
program.
Accomplishments
Other major activities
There were other major activities that
helped define the core of the Philippine
participation in the JSPS CMS Program.
These include the following:
1. Participation in International Activities:
a. JSPS National Coordinators’ Meetings
b. Project workshops
c. Oceanographic cruises (3) & Sea-
Administrative
In terms of actual financial support to
program activities, a total of PhP
204,167.40 (US$ 4,537.05) has so far been
disbursed by the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) to support workshops and meetings. This amount was substantially augmented by other sources, e.g.
partner institutions through other projects
of the researchers. Most important is the
The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program
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Fig. 3. Publications of the Philippine scientist participants in the JSPS-MCUP Coastal Marine
Science Component (2001–2010). See text for analysis.
encouragement and facilitation of program
activities afforded by DOST to the program. This is also true on the part of the
other member institutions and agencies in
terms of administrative and logistical support.
Scientific
This section gives the highlights of the
accomplishments of the different components of the program, e.g. biodiversity,
physical oceanography, and pollution.
These accomplishments are in the form of
journal publications, chapters in books,
posters, guides, etc. and are directly and/
or indirectly associated with the JSPS activities. For the period 2001–2010, the total number of publications (in journals,
books and proceedings) total 276. This is
distributed as follows: publications in international peer-reviewed journals, 94 or
34.1%; in national journals, 47 or 17.03%,
chapters in books, 54 or 20%; and publications in symposium, or conference proceedings, 81 or 29.3%. Interestingly, these
products generally and clearly showed substantial increases from 2005 till 2010 (Fig.
3). There was, however, as clear and as
substantial a slump in the number of publications in 2004. As interesting is the fact
that publications in international peer-reviewed journals, while having the greatest number, steadily increased in the 10
year period, indicating a push in the generation of higher quality knowledge on the
part of the researchers. Among others, the
significant increase in the number of publications in national journals is indicative
of the impetus the researchers are giving
to their own national source of information.
The accomplishments of specific researchers, with or without collaborators,
could be culled out from the following selected articles (2000–2010). For this period, the initial activities undertaken by the
Philippines Component of the program focused on the following basic studies:
1. Paralytic Shellfish Toxin Concentration and Cell Density changes in
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M. D. F ORTES
Pyrodinium
bahamense-Noctiluca
scintillans Feeding Experiments;
2. Temporal patterns in the abundance
and diet of Acetes erythraeus Nobili 1905
(Crustacea, Decapoda, Sergestidae) in the
nearshore waters of Iligan Bay, northern
Mindanao;
3. Species composition, relative abundance, and fishery of sea cucumbers
(Echinodermata, Holothuroidea) in northwestern Iligan Bay;
4. Measuring larval spillover from a
reserve in Taklong Island;
5. A comparison of fish larval assemblages in the Sulu Sea and South China
Sea, distribution and relative abundance of
calanoid, cyclopoid and harpacticoid
copepods in Tanon Strait;
6. Diel patterns in abundance, distribution and composition of ichthyoplankton
in shallow reef areas in southern Guimaras;
7. Composition, abundance and distribution of chaetognaths along the Pacific
coast and adjacent internal waters of the
country;
8. Biomass, vertical distribution and
community structure of mesozooplankton
and spatial distribution of chaetognaths off
the northern Bicol Shelf;
9. Population biology of the Asian
moon scallop Amusium pleuronectes Linné
(Bivalvia: Pectinidae) and the portunid
crabs Portunus pelagicus and Charybdis
feriatus from Pilar and Capiz Bays, northern Panay;
10. Effects of photoperiod on egg
hatching and growth and survival of larvae fed with different diets in the Asian
catfish, Clarias macrocephalus (Günther)
and the African catfish, C. gariepinus
(Burchell);
11. First documented report on Solieria
robusta (Greville) Kylin (Gigartinales,
Rhodophyceae) in the Philippines;
12. Isolation and classification of
culturable bacteria associated with ice-ice
disease in Kappaphycus and Eucheuma
(Rhodophyta, Solieriaceae);
13. An experimental test of the occurrence of competitive interactions among
SE Asian seagrasses;
14. Implications of the short seed dispersal in the seagrass Enhalus acoroides
(L.f.) Royle;
15. Temporal changes in the abundance, leaf growth and photosynthesis of
three co-occurring Philippine seagrasses;
16. Global climate change: ecological
implications on the seagrass ecosystems of
Southeast Asia;
17. Sediment deposition and production in SE-Asia seagrass meadows;
18. Recolonization dynamics in a
mixed seagrass meadow: The role of clonal
versus sexual processes;
19. Light-dependence of the metabolic
balance of a highly productive Philippine
seagrass community;
20. Ecological changes in seagrass ecosystems in Southeast Asia;
21. Highly skewed tidal circulation
pattern and water quality in Puerto Galera
Bay, Mindoro Island;
22. Effects of seagrass rhizospheres on
sediment redox conditions in SE Asian
coastal ecosystems;
23. Exploring the Potential of Clay in
Mitigating Pyrodinium bahamense var.
compressum and other Harmful Algal Species in the Philippines.
More issue-based (applied) studies
where likewise undertaken in response to
current problems and concerns brought
about by both natural and human-induced
disturbances that occurred during the period. These studies include:
1. An assessment and monitoring of the
impact of the Solar 1 oil spill on benthic
infaunal assemblages and ichthyoplankton
abundance, composition and distribution
in the Taklong Island National Marine
Reserve (TINMAR) and in Southern
Guimaras;
2. Are Pyrodinium blooms in the Southeast Asian region recurring and spreading?
A view at the end of the millennium;
The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program
3. An extensive Cochlodinium bloom
along the western coast of Palawan;
4. Eutrophic waters, algal bloom and
fish kill in fish farming areas in Bolinao,
Pangasinan;
5. Using ichthyoplankton distribution
in selecting sites for an MPA Network in
the Sulu Sea;
6. Vegetative dynamics and sexual reproduction of monospecific Thalassia
hemprichii meadows in the Kalayaan Island Group;
7. Seagrass-fish interaction: A community-based experimental fish farm in
Ulugan Bay;
8. Current progress on the rearing of
the marine finfish striped trumpeter Latris
lineata using copepods as supplementary
live feed;
9. Experimental evaluation of the effects of siltation-derived changes in sediment conditions on the Philippine seagrass
Cymodocea rotundata;
10. Chemical and gelling profile of iceice infected carrageenan from
Kappaphycus striatum (Schmitz) Doty
“sacol” strain (Solieriaceae, Gigartinales,
Rhodophyta);
11. Tissue age as a factor affecting carrageenan quantity and quality in farmed
Kappaphycus striatum (Schmitz) Doty ex
Silva;
12. Impacts of milkfish (Chanos
chanos) aquaculture on carbon and nutrient fluxes in the Bolinao area;
13. Aspects on the reproductive biology of Siganus fuscescens Houttuyn, 1782
(Perciformes, Siganidae) and implications
to fishery management of the species in
Pujada Bay, southeastern Mindanao;
14. The UNEP/GEF Seagrass Demonstration Sites in South China Sea: Milestones in Seagrass Research and
Biodiversity Management in East Asia;
15. Participatory rural appraisal in the
coastal ecosystem of Mt. Malindang,
Misamis Occidental;
16. Biodiversity Research Programme
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(BRP) for Development in Mindanao: Focus on Mt. Malindang and Environs;
17. The status of live corals in Iligan
Bay reefs: an analysis of survey results
since 1983 and implications to integrated
coastal management.
Indirectly related to the JSPS program,
there were more applications of the knowledge generated from the research. Four
examples are given here. Of particular concern on the part of the Philippine Component in the JSPS CMS program was to help
the seaweed industry and in the livelihood
of the coastal dwellers, through characterization of the polysaccharides from
seaweeds. Together with carrageenan,
studies were undertaken to characterize
agars and alginates. An example of the
importance of the research was the discovery that a carrageenophyte that was being
farmed was actually producing iota carrageenan and not kappa carrageenan as assumed. The result was transmitted to the
Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (SIAP) and to the farmers to stop
the farming of such seaweed.
In relation to pollution, previous studies directly and/or indirectly associated
with JSPS CMS were focused on the
legacy POPs like organochlorine compounds
(OCs)
that
includes
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs),
and its metabolites hexachlorocyclohexane
isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds
(CHLs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in
the Philippines’ environment and biota.
These studies revealed apparent PTs contamination particularly of PCBs and
dioxins. Although decrease in PTs contamination may have been observed recently on a global scale, developing countries, such as the Philippines, may act as
potential sources for certain contaminants
in the future. Another group of toxic substances known as butyltins (BTs), which
have been widely used for maritime structures, aquaculture activities, lumber preservatives and slimicides in cooling sys-
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M. D. F ORTES
tem, and as an effective antifouling agent
in paints, were investigated. In view of
these investigations, aquatic pollution by
BTs has been given much attention in many
countries, which eventually led to its restriction, particularly the TBT-based antifouling paints, in most developed nations
since the 1980s. However, in the Philippines, such control is yet to be enforced.
Thus, there is a need to give considerable
attention to the aquatic pollution and toxic
biological effects by BTs.
Considerable pollution by the toxic
brominated flame retardant (BFR) residues
may exist in the Philippines. Therefore,
continuous monitoring studies are needed
particularly on the levels and temporal
trends of BFRs in order to make clear the
extent of environmental contamination and
identify possible sources. More emphasis
should be placed upon the terrestrial environment, including humans, for which limited data is available. In the case of BTs
residues, results indicated that, at present,
usage of BTs in the Philippines is still
minimal. However, considering the unregulated usage of TBT and the possible
increasing demand for TBT-containing
paints in the Philippines, contamination by
BTs in its aquatic environments may become serious in the future. Similar to
BFRs, it is likewise necessary to conduct
continuous BTs residues monitoring in order to prevent the occurrence of possible
adverse effects of BTs on the functional
physiology of aquatic organisms and to
make appropriate decisions on the future
issues of BTs contamination in the aquatic
environments. Local studies on polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) source
identification, which is deemed relevant to
the impacts of PAH accumulation on
aquatic and benthic ecosystems, revealed
that PAHs were widely distributed in the
sediments, with comparatively higher concentrations in urban areas than in rural areas. These results seemingly indicating
large sources of PAHs in urban areas. Sedi-
mentary PAHs from tropical Asian cities
including Manila, the Philippines were
abundant in alkylated PAHs, suggestive of
ubiquitous input of petrogenic PAHs.
Petrogenic contributions to PAH homologs
varied among the sediments from countries
included in the study, wherein sediments
from the Philippines were found to be
mostly petrogenic.
In relation to harmful algal blooms and
directly or indirectly under the support of
JSPS, the hydrodynamics of 9 embayments
around the Philippines where HABs are
being monitored were studied using both
field observations and hydrodynamic
modeling. The embayments vary widely in
their dimensions and hydrodynamic forcing but all have been reported to harbor
Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum
and have been under harvest bans for shellfish at least once in the past. A few sites
have been under continuous ban for several months up to a few years (e.g.
Sorsogon Bay). For each of these bays,
spatially explicit residence times were estimated using vertically integrated tidal
models and a Lagrangian particle-tracking
model. Available records of HAB occurrences and limited field observations of the
presence of Pyrodinium bahamense var.
compressum appear to indicate correlations
with residence times. Detailed documentation of bloom occurrences and decay is
lacking to make reasonable correlations
feasible.
In relation to seagrass, the Seagrass
Reserve in Bolinao, northwestern Philippines, has shown that seaweeds, fishes and
invertebrates of economic importance are
an integral component of the ecosystem.
This emphasizes the need for protection of
the habitat, especially in relation to the
growing number of fish cages and pens that
now is becoming closer to the more pristine parts of the reef. There was a direct
correlation between benthic diversity and
distance from these fishing structures.
The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program
181
Fig. 4. The nature of the institutional linkages demonstrated through the Seagrass Component of the JSPS-MCUP CMS Project. See text for explanation.
Advocacy and community outreach
This aspect of the JSPS program was
not fully realized during the program’s lifetime. This was primarily because the
projects focused more on the science portion, where the scientists and researchers
were more trained to do. But it is a general realization that the results of the program should be shared with the general
public in all partner member states. Hence,
it was a general consensus that there was
a need in the future to undertake activities
at biodiversity hotspots and produce more
“high-impact” products, applying these to
address issues, developing integrated models, and newer concepts and methodologies and demonstrating their usefulness at
few selected sites appear a most logical and
practical future direction for the program.
Linkages
A greater part of the “success” of the
Philippine Component of the program has
been the outcome of functional partner-
ships or linkages established with institutions, and agencies in both national and
foreign neighboring states. These linkages
were a necessity since no funds were available from JSPS to undertake research and
many of the latter activities have been initiated in a number of JSPS CMS program
components, through other funding
sources (e.g. Indonesia, Malaysia, The
Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam are recipients of the 6-year regional South China Sea
Project sponsored by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) and
Global Environment facility (GEF). In
addition, these countries, with Cambodia,
China, have been receiving funding support from many other funding agencies to
undertake research under their development programmes.
The Seagrass Component of the JSPS
CMS Project illustrates this mutualistic
relationship (Fig. 4). The primary contribution of the project is its filling a major
gap in many of the developmental and con-
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M. D. F ORTES
servation or environmental protection activities of countries in the region, e.g. the
more fundamental science as basis for the
actions and decisions. In the case of the
Seagrass Component, data were needed in
taxonomy, ecology, oceanography and environmental science. This is because
among the ecosystems, seagrass meadows
are the least studied. Integrated with existing or available data, data generated
from these sciences are the ingredients in
the region’s better understanding of ocean
biodiversity
and
environmental
sustainability. The scientific data generated
are processed into what people needs or
uses (“goods and services”), usually
through data and information management,
resource or area management, capacity
building, and regional coordination. “Products” in the form of publications, books,
pamphlets, brochures, posters, other information, education and communication
materials, become ingredients that eventually are useful in making decisions on
the part of policy makers. The decisions
are the ones that sustain the “best practices” that, in the ultimate analysis and in
the long term, ensure biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.
In this case study with seagrass, six
organizations (e.g. The World Seagrass
Association (WSA), DIVERSITAS International for the Western Pacific Area
(DIWPA), Man and Biosphere Programme
(MAB) of UNESCO, The JSPS Project
implemented through the Tokyo Institute
of Technology (TIT), UNEP/GEF South
China Sea Project, and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Regional Secretariat for the Western Pacific
(IOC/WESTPAC)) were the primary partners. All the activities were in close collaboration with their offices in eight Southeast Asian countries (Cambodia, China,
Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, The Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam). Hence,
this type of relationship established by the
component of the JSPS Program is “the
way to go”. This is because it knowledgebased, integrated, regional in approach,
partnership-based, and adopts an end-toend approach.
Issues, Concerns and Solutions
Gaps in knowledge and management
In Southeast and East Asia, the future
scenario for biodiversity conservation and
environmental sustainability is uncertain
due to, among others, the lack of proper
and quality of knowledge needed. The
Philippines and the region do not have data
to define rates of change in most relevant
forcing factors. There is also the lack of
quantitative dose-response models that
predict species and community response
to changes in environmental factors. The
predictions, therefore, lose reliability considering also the inherent complexity of
ecosystems and their responses to multiple and integrated changes.
The slow progress in the implementation of the ocean-related programs, pursuant to the objectives of the National Marine Policy, is attributed to the lack of integration of the national ocean planning
process with the overall national development planning. Ocean policies and programs often have concomitant public investment requirements, which if not included in the national planning and programming priorities would likely fail due
to inadequate resource complement
(Garcia 2005). The absence of an ocean
policy framework largely explains most of
the coordination problems that lead to
functional overlaps and duplications
among the relevant agencies.
Perhaps the greatest challenge in Philippine ocean governance is the lack of
constituency for ocean governance reforms. In the absence of a constant advocacy effort for those reforms, the ocean
sector may continue to receive low importance among the national development priorities. This is a challenge to all the na-
The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program
tional agencies with long-standing mandates for ocean management and development to bring agencies with long-standing
mandates for ocean management and development to bring the ocean agenda at the
forefront of national development priorities.
New emerging issues
Present habitat losses are expected to
accelerate in the Philippines, as the rapidly growing human pressure on the coastal
zone grows. This is also where the capacity to implement conservation policies is
extremely limited, particularly in relation
to the impacts of climate change. A key
Coastal Resources Management issue that
needs to be addressed, to address all these
issues, is the inconsistency and conflicts
between plans, programs, and laws within
and between the local and national government.
Sustaining the benefits
Despite all the odds, there is hope in
sustaining the benefits derived from JSPS
and other related projects. The hope is
pinned on the following steps that should
be undertaken—immediately:
1. Identify and develop a higher-level,
well-supported, analytical expertise in
partner institutions;
2. Improve communication and coordination among members, e.g. National
Coordinators and Project Leaders, from
2010 and beyond;
3. Increase number of researchers
through increased funding;
4. Improve collaboration and develop
and sustain partnerships with agencies and
institutions with related concerns in the
region e.g. UNEP, UNESCO-IOC, GEF,
JICA-JST, private donors;
5. Facilitate acquisition of inter-country sampling permits via bilateral or multilateral agreements;
6. Facilitate capacity building in areas
where knowledge is wanting through the
183
use of JSPS products and services;
7. Enhance visibility of JSPS in conservation and development initiatives in
the region e.g. ASEAN, APEC,
WESTPAC, ministries;
8. Undertake “high impact” activities
e.g. planning and design of regional Integrated Coastal Area Management,
transboundary and/or cluster Marine Protected Areas, Marine Biosphere Reserves;
and transborder and/or cluster Marine
World Heritage Sites, conservation of species in the Red Book as these involve migration in JSPS sites in the region, e.g. sea
turtles, dugong;
9. Pursue collaborative publication of
educational materials for critical audiences, e.g. policy makers, tourism managers, industry e.g. natural products from
marine resources.
Synthesis: The Way Forward
As a whole, the JSPS Coastal Marine Science Component in the Philippines comparatively did well in its effort to perform
the responsibilities and tasks assigned to
it by the JSPS-DOST agreement. It’s products and services are presently contributing significantly to national marine science. While problems existed that significantly hampered its operations, these were
obviated by the cooperation and determination of a core group, guided by the national science agency. However, the continuance of its products (and services) is
at high risk of being lost or at least is uncertain in the years beyond 2010. This calls
for a renewed and more functional coordination among the members, with DOST,
vigorous campaign to raise external support, and shift activity focus to those which
show more promise in addressing priority
national issues.
It is clear from the JSPS CMS activities that there are essential elements in
coastal biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability. These ele-
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ments, building on the gains from these
activities, include: collective visioning,
deliberate planning and design of the undertaking, coordinated science generation,
capacity building, promotion of policy and
institutional reforms, creation of an informed public, and mobilization of the
stakeholders or affected communities. The
key steps lie initially with the scientists,
but in the greater end, in the ability of those
in management to understand and optimize
the dynamics of Integrated Coastal Management for timely mobilization of political opportunities, financial resources, intellectual capitals and stakeholders’ support to improve coastal governance. All
these are predicated largely on sound marine science and technology. This is where
the JSPS CMS came in strong!
The key solution for resolving the problems JSPS CMS encountered in its operation and at the same time sustain the benefits it provided, is the formulation of a
comprehensive national coastal management policy to harmonize coastal resource
use laws, enhance coordination of capacity-building programs, and enforcement
activities. It must also provide for the establishment of consultative mechanisms to
enhance local government participation in
policy and decision-making, as well as the
institutionalization of monitoring, evaluation, information-sharing mechanisms,
and reporting on the status of coastal resources and implementation of CRM programs at the different levels of governance.
References
ABARE Research Report 04.1, Philippine Natural Gas Sector (2004) http://www.abareconomics.com/
research/energy/LNG_pdf’s_final/LNG_pdf_Section3/LNG_3_ThePhillipines.pdf
Barut NC, Santos MD, Garces LR (2004) Overview of Philippine Marine Fisheries. In In Turbulent Seas:
The Status of Philippine Marine Fisheries, DA-BFAR (Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources), Coastal Resource Management Project, Cebu City, The Philippines.
Conservation International (2008) Marine Key Biodiversity Areas in the Philippines, available from
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Department of Environment and Natural Resources/United Nations Development Programme/Marine
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Southeast Asia (2002 [cited August 8 2005]); available from http://pdf.wri.org/rrseasia_chap5.pdf
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mtpdp/MTPDP2004-2010/PDF/MTPDP202004-2010.html
The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program
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The Philippine JSPS Coastal Marine Science Program
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