National Search for Outstanding Coastal Community
I. RATIONALE
The Philippine’s fisheries is one of the most exploited resources in Southeast Asia. Majority of the coastal areas are depleted and most marine habitats are damaged. Marine environmental issues often identified are destruction of sensitive coastal ecosystems i.e. coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves; overexploitation of fishery resources and destructive fishing practices which indirectly affects livelihood of sustenance fisherfolk. These factors have deleterious, and sometimes irreversible, negative impacts on fisheries, and thereby endanger sustainable fisheries resource utilization.
The importance of resource management is more pronounced in developing countries like the Philippines, where fisheries play a dominant role as a source of food, employment and export earnings. Coastal resource management (CRM) is one of the major strategies to address the varied, wide-ranging and often interconnected issues that impact coastal areas. In fisheries, CRM is synonymous to ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM). It is best accomplished in a participatory manner of planning, implementing and monitoring sustainable uses of coastal/marine resources through collective action and sound decision-making. RA 8550: The Fisheries Code of 1998 and RA10654: RA 8550 as Amended are the legal frameworks for such strategy.
There are more than 900 coastal municipalities and cities with varied degrees of coastal resource management efforts. Aware of the challenges in sustainably managing coastal/marine resources in an archipelago such as the Philippines, President Rodrigo R. Duterte through the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) advocates, as one of his banner programs, the Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK). MMK program aims to promote fisheries protection and conservation, centers on the significance of sustainably managing our fisheries and aquatic resources, and promotes stakeholder engagement to the cause of resource protection and conservation.
II. OBJECTIVES
General Objective:
The Search for “Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan” aims to recognize outstanding initiatives and contributions of coastal municipalities/cities to sustainable fisheries development.
Specific Objectives:
To identify coastal municipalities/cities that:
Have exemplary initiatives and accomplishment in the effort against illegal fishing and observance of ecosystem approach to fisheries resource management measures such as off-fishing season and ban on the collection of endangered species, among others;
Have established, formulated and adopted Marine Protected Area (MPA) or
Fisheries Managed Area;
Have kept coastal waters clean of domestic solid and/or liquid wastes, garbage or industrial effluence flowing to the sea as a result of innovative waste management or other programs;
Have a successful mangrove protection and rehabilitation program;
Have accomplished or implemented unique or innovative operational schemes on coastal resource management;
Have initiated programs with LGU-funded budget for coastal/fisheries resource management;
To document the best practices and strategies of these outstanding municipalities/cities and promote their replication or adoption among other LGUs
To encourage other LGUs to:
Adopt best practices and promote awareness on conservation, management and sustainable development of the municipal waters and provide sufficient funds for these endeavors;
Encourage active participation on the implementation of Municipal Fisheries Ordinance, RA 8550 as amended by RA 10654 and other pertinent laws;
Enhance partnership between LGUs, other line agencies and the fishing community in the management of fisheries and coastal resources.
III. COVERAGE
In the first year of project implementation, MMK shall be limited to coastal municipalities and cities. However, in the succeeding years of implementation, the project shall be expanded to include inland ecosystems.
IV. MECHANICS
All coastal municipalities/cities that have relevant programs and projects based on the criteria which have been operational for at least one (1) year may be nominated or participate in the search.
Nomination must be done through or by the Office of the Municipal/City Mayor of the municipal/city government.
Nomination forms shall be distributed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) or can be downloaded from the BFAR’s website.
Duly accomplished nomination forms and documentary requirements shall be submitted to the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for regional technical evaluation. Deadline for submission shall be on or before 29 November 2016.
There shall only be one national winner for outstanding municipality/city that shall bear the title of “Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan”.
The National Technical Search Committee’s (NTSC) decision is final and irrevocable once declared by the National Steering Committee (NSC) and affirmed by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
A national winner can still compete the following year after winning. However, if the same coastal municipality/city consistently bags the 1st prize for three consecutive years, it will be disqualified to join the contest on the fourth year and shall become a Hall of Famer.
Timeline:
Activity
Dates
LGU Submission of Nomination
29 November 2016
Regional Evaluation
1-6 December 2016
1st Level of National Evaluation (desk evaluation)
7-10 December 2016
2nd Level of National Evaluation (field evaluation)
12-16 December 2016
Approval of National Steering Committee
19-21 December 2016
Awarding
27, 28, 29 December 2016
V. SEARCH AND EVALUATION
A. Documentary Requirements
MMK Documentation
The MMK Documentation shall be prepared by the nominated coastal municipality/city to be assisted by the fisheries technician of the Office of the Municipal/City Agriculturist. The Municipal/City Agriculturist shall attest to the veracity and completeness of the information compiled in a scrap book.
The Documentation shall contain the following documents:
Title Page
Certification by the coastal Municipal/City Agriculturist attesting the veracity and completeness of the information contained in the Documentation.
Table of Contents
Municipal Fisheries Profile
Summary of Accomplishments
Discussion of Major Points (Criteria)
Nomination Form (please see Annex I)
Annexes
These documents shall:
Be prepared using A4 size paper, and appropriately bound.
There shall be page numbering, to be reflected in the Table of Contents.
It shall not exceed 100 pages, excluding annexes.
An electronic copy of all contents of the scrapbook must be submitted to the NTSC in a CD.
Regional Technical Search Committee Documents
The Regional Technical Search Committee shall submit the following documents of the regional nominee to the National Technical Search Committee in aid of evaluation:
Audio-visual presentation about the coastal municipality/city and its accomplishments (maximum of 30 minutes, in DVD).
Short video footages of the coastal municipality/city’s operational activities and other features that should be given special focus may be submitted. This should also be in DVD. iii. Evaluation form accomplished and signed by the Chairperson of the Regional Technical Search Committee.
Descriptive evaluation of the regional nominee duly signed by the chairperson of the regional technical search committee.
B. Evaluation Process
The search and evaluation process shall be conducted starting at the Regional Level and ends at the National Level. The Regional Technical Search Committee (RTSC) shall be organized and headed by the BFAR Regional Director. The RTSC shall evaluate the candidates using the criteria and evaluation process set herein. Furthermore, they shall determine and endorse the top regional winner to the National Technical Search Committee.
Chairperson
BFAR Regional Director
Vice Chairperson
DA Regional Executive Director
Members
DENR Regional Representative
DILG Regional Representative
Philippine Coast Guard Regional Representative
BFAR FRMLED
Secretariat
BFAR Regional Staff
The National Technical Search Committee (NTSC) shall be composed of DA-BFAR technical personnel for the purpose.
Chair
Sandra Victoria R. Arcamo, Fisheries Resource Management Division
Members
Melanie Guerra, Fisheries Planning and Economic Division
Nilo S. Katada, Fisheries Resource Protection and Law Enforcement Team
Mildred M. Buazon, Administrative Division
Abigail Javier, National Brackishwater Fisheries Technology Center
Secretariat
Nazario Briguera, Information and Public Relations Group
The NTSC shall conduct two-stage evaluation of the 15 regional nominees: 1.) desk evaluation to determine the shortlist of five (5) finalists, and 2.) field validation to identify the top three (3) finalists. The results of the screening and field validation shall be submitted to the NSC.
Considering the very tight schedule to do the field evaluation, the NTSC shall conduct simultaneous field validation. The field evaluators are as follows:
Team 1
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4
Team 5
Chair
Sandra V.R. Arcamo, FRMD
Mildred M. Buazon, Admin
Melanie Guerra, FPED
Nilo S. Katada, FRFLET
Abigail Javier, NBFTC
Members
Rafael Ramiscal, CFD
Bernadette Soliven, FRMD
Mercedita Tan, FRMD
Renezaldy Porlaje, FRMD
Janice Tuante, FRMD
Elymir AR-J Tunacao, FPED
Ronnie Romero,NFRDI
Efren Hilario, CFD
Marylene Mandreza, CFD
November Romena, CFD
Ohjee Cabilogan
Reli Garcia, FRFLET
Lito Arnuco
Crejay Lacena, FRFLET
Leah Myr Cadapan, IFAD
Francisco Torres Jr., NFRDI
Nasser Briguera, IPRG
Rosarie Arreza, FPED
Ada Corina Togonon, FPED
Marco Perez, NFRDI
Regional DA rep
Regional DA rep
Regional DA rep
Regional DA rep
Regional DA rep
Regional DENR rep
Regional DENR rep
Regional DENR rep
Regional DENR rep
Regional DENR rep
Regional DILG rep
Regional DILG rep
Regional DILG rep
Regional DILG rep
Regional DILG rep
Regional PCG rep
Regional PCG rep
Regional PCG rep
Regional PCG rep
Regional PCG rep
Secretariat
Micah Manalo, IPRG
Robert Roca, FRMD
Glaiza Hernandez, IPRG
Elizabeth Illavera, FRMD
Adrian Mendizabal, IPRG
The National Steering Committee (NSC) is tasked to provide policy guidelines for the search, ensure availability of financial requirements in the implementation of the awards, approve and declare the winners. The composition of the NSC is as follows.
Chairperson
DA Undersecretary for Fisheries
Vice Chairperson
DA Undersecretary for Admin and Fiance and Acting Chief of Staff
Secretariat
Chair: Drusila Esther E. Bayate, BFAR Assistant Director
Members:
Dr. Ulysses Montojo, NFRDI
Florida Dieta, NBFTC
Abraham Perez, BFAR
Julio Casillan, BFAR Consultant
The NSC shall review and concur the results provided by the NTSC and endorse the top three winners to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture for his affirmation.
In each of the levels of evaluation, the scoring system shall be used. Every evaluator shall rate the nominee and give point scores using the set of criteria and point system discussed below. The total score for each nominee is determined by adding the scores garnered in all criteria. The total scores of the evaluators shall then be tallied to identify who among the nominees got the highest score.
The search committee in each level of evaluation will be guided by an internal rules and regulations governing cases that require the committee’s decision (e.g., how to break a tie, cut-off score but not below 85%, etc.); however, these rules and regulations must be determined prior to actual evaluation so as not to impede the objectivity of the search. Only cases not identified prior to actual evaluation shall be resolved in the course of the process or elevated to higher body for resolution.
VI. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION (please see next page and Annex II)
VI. AWARD
The most outstanding MMK winners shall receive the following award in the form of fisheries livelihood projects:
Category
National
Regional
First Prize
Plaque + P 20,000, 000
Plaque + P 2, 000, 000
Second Prize
Plaque + P 5,000, 000
Plaque + P 1, 000, 000
Third Prize
Plaque + P 3,000, 000
Plaque + P 500, 000
Evaluation Criteria
Annex I Evaluation Form
Evaluation Criteria
