MINUTES OF THE CONSULTATIVE MEETING FOR THE PROPOSED

ESTABLISHMENT OF SASMUAN-MACABEBE AS CRITIAL HABITAT AND

ECOTOURISM AREA

Great Waves, Sto. Tomas, Sasmuan, Pampanga

June 6, 2014

The Consultative Meeting started at 9:00 o’clock in the morning attended by the Local Officials of Brgy.
Batang 2nd and adjacent barangays, Municipal Officials/department heads and employees from the Municipal
Agriculture and Fisheries, Tourism, MPDO, FARMC, Bantay Dagat, PNP, DSWD and SB. (See attached
attendance sheet)

EMS II Tessie A. Rigor of CENRO Bacolor and Ms. Katrina Apaya of Manila Bay, BMB Central Office acted
as the facilitator. Mr. Dads Dela Cruz, Executive Assistant to the Mayor rendered his welcome address and
thanks DENR for the proposed establishment of Sasmuan as Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.

Mr. Dela Cruz said that the municipality is concentrated on

the resources of the river system since 90% of area of
Sasmuan is water ecosystem. He also added that the
remaining three (3) year leadership of the present
administration will be focusing on how to uplift the socio
economic condition of the “Sasmuaneño. He cited that the
only resources that they have is the river hence, he encourage
the participants to capitalized on what they have, the river and
challenge them on how to make use of the water resources and work hand in hand in the conservation and
protection of the river system for the benefits of the next generations.

DENR Regional Office Chief, PAWD Minerva J. Martinez in her

inspirational message thank the participants and encourage them to
listen to the lectures of the resource speakers so that they can
contribute something during the open forum for the desired documents
needed in the establishment of Critical Habitat. The output of the
consultative meeting is the issuance o from the f an ordinance from the
LGU of Sasmuan.

CENRO Romel M. Santiago thanks the presence and support of

BMB Central office , PAWD Chief and the participants and he
encouraged them to open their voice to the identified issues and
concerns during the allotted time for the open forum. He also
added that the required resolution or ordinance is an important
document for the declaration of the area as Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism Area. He also reminded the Barangay Captains on
the Cadastral Survey conducted by the contractors that all
concerns regarding their contract should already be accomplished.
CENRO Santiago advised them to visit his office if they have queries prior to signing of their respective
survey cadastral contract.
 For II Revelina Timbang presented the participants and
acknowledged them by different department of the municipality,
barangays and other sectors like Bantay Dagat and FARMC with
a total of Fifty Five (55) participants.

EMS II Anson Dagdag of Biodiversity Management Service (BMB),

Wildlife Management Division thanks the participants and said that the
consultation was one of the best consultation he had attended because
it is attended by officials and leaders of the communities. He
introduced the new named of the former Protected Areas and Wildlife
Bureau (PAWB) to the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB)
headed by the Director Theresa Mundita Lim.

He started the lecture by defining the Critical Habitat, areas that were being protected giving example to Mt.
Arayat National Park as a sole Protected Area of Pampanga and the nearby province of Bataan, the Bataan
Natural Park. He added that areas outside Protected Area can also be identified as Critical Habitat to protect
the wildlife like the congregatory birds of Sasmuan and Macabebe. He mentioned that the whole Manila Bay
is a congregatory site to include the areas of Cavite, Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan. He added that
there were several considerations in the establishment of Critical Habitat and explained one by one as follows:

 Presence of threatened species listed in DAO 2004-15 (Establishing the List of Terrestrial Threatened
Species and their Categories, and List of Other Wildlife Species pursuant to RA 9147

 Areas used as a breeding, nesting, roosting, wintering, foraging and other activities by a natural
population/individuals of a threatened species listed or not yet listed but are posing extinction

 Presence of man-made pressures/threats such as but not hated to logging, quarrying, mining,
squatting/informal settling, and mineral exploration;

 Priority areas for conservation identified by the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting
Program and other key biodiversity areas;

 Presence of other natural resources that has economic and social impacts on the area.

Mr. Anson elaborated that the establishment should be identified by the DENR like CENRO, Pampanga.
He added that in the case of Sasmuan it was already proven that there were numerous birds base on report
submitted by the DENR and wildbird enthusiast during the conduct of Annual Waterbirds Census. He
explained that after the Public Consultation the next document needed is the issuance of Municipal Ordinance
endorsing the wetland areas of Sasmuan as Critical Habitat and then the DENR will endorse to BMB Central
Office and to the Secretary for approval of the DENR Administrative Order.

Mr. Dagdag clarified why there is a need to elevate the project to the Secretary, he said that it is
beneficial since the project can be reconsider to all planning on national level to get support like technical and
financial assistance including that from the RAMSAR as part of the partnership to East Asia Australiasaian
Flyway. After the declaration of the area as Critical Habitat the Secretary will issue administrative order with
instruction for ground truthing. The DENR Regional/Field Office shall initially delineate on the ground the
boundaries using the natural topographic features of the area and/or vegetative cover as boundary monuments.
 Mr. Dagdag tackled also on related topic of Network site for migratory birds. He gave information that
the Philippines is one of the identified flyway of migratory birds as East Asia Australiasian Flyway and
Sasmuan was recorded as the highest count for the last 2 years with a total of 41,000 birds for 2014. He also
added that conservation International is encouraging the LGU’s to recognize their respective areas flyway
network site for promotion. If the area was recognized internationally the site has a big chance for fund
sourcing from international network site thru Global Share Resources Program. Moreover, he also mentioned
that access to Capacity Development opportunity or giving training for environmental manager to enhance the
ability on how to manage the coastal habitat is one of the benefits from the network.

The lecture ended on the powerpoint presentation for Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and
Ecotourism Area to encourage and inspired the people of Sasmuan in pursuing the proposed project.

Mr. Jason Salenga, Municipal Tourism

Officer of Sasmuan gave detail on the ecotourism
plan of municipality. He cited the goal and
objectives of Sasmuan and the importance of
mangrove, aquaculture industry, ecological function
and economic benefits.

He enumerated the activities that were accomplished

and on-going development and conservation
program of the municipality. He said that the land area of 9,175 hectares of which 60% is in water resource
industry.

Mr. Salenga said that Aquaculture industry is the main source of livelihood in the municipality and
majority is dependent in fishing. But because of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo fish catch decline due to
siltation. Some of the reasons affecting fishing industry enumerated by the speaker were the following;
 Depleted mangrove forest
 Pollution
 Growing population
He added that based on their observations, Brgy. Batang 2 nd has the biggest fish catch due to the mangrove
stands along the river system and mudflats. He also inspired the participants to restore the wetlands especially
the bank of the rivers wherein tourist/visitors are passing through and encourage them to beautify by planting
mangroves and other related species, join the clean-up drive project and maintain the cleanliness of the
municipality for recognition and promotion of Ecotourism industry.

EMS II Tessie A. Rigor

presented the Site Assessment of the
Proposed Sasmuan-Macabebe.
Through google map showing the
area identified for Sasmuan and
Macabebe with a total area of FIVE
HUNDRED THIRTY ONE
(531.0) hectares.

Mrs. Rigor identified the parameters in

identifying the area as Critical Habitat as Brgy. Batang 2nd

follows;
 Presence of Migratory Birds such as
Great, Intermediate and little Egret,

Mangrove Area
aaaaaA
 Terns, Gulls, Sand Piper, Heron, Stilt, Plover etc.

 Presence of Coastal Flora and herbs such as Bakauan - Rhizophora spp., Dampalit - Sesuvium
portulacastrum, Water Hyacinth - Eichornia crassipes and etc.

 Presence of abundance shorebird foods such as worms, shrimps, shellfish, snails etc.

Treats

Open Forum

Ms. Katrina Apaya called Mr. Anson and Ms. Martinez to answer all the queries and issues and concerns
to be raised by the participants.

Q # 1. Ms Pia of MWSD said that she appreciated the initial activities for the assessment of Critical habitat
however, she asked if there will be a timeframe for the establishment and how long will it take?

A#1. Mr. Anson said that the DENR is just waiting for the endorsement of the LGU of Sasmuan and
Macabebe if submitted the DENR will endorse it to the office of the DENR Secretary. He also added
that the time frame for the approval of the Secretary is not within their control but based on
experience it takes 2 to 3 months. He encourage them however, that while waiting we can already
start with the preparation of the management plan.

He said that the management plan can be short term, medium term and long term plan depending on
the decision of the council to be created.

Ms. Martinez added that that there was already initial preparation for Batang 2 nd during the
preparation of the Candaba Management Planning Workshop. At this point the office is just waiting
for the ordinance to continue the management plan. The DENR and the LGU, Tourism Officer will
work hand in hand for the Critical Habitat that eventually can be developed as an ecotourism area
through business planning. But this can be possible by addressing all the identified threats that was
discussed earlier by the CENRO.
She also added that the Regional office is planning to call the Municipal Tourism Officers of
Canderlaria, Paitan, Cabiao and Batang 2nd because they have similar situations. We will plan were
this wetlands/water is the product and come up with ecotourism destination but while dreaming for
the beautifications we have to address all the treats identified in the area.

Q # 2. Mr. Velasco, Municipal Administrator said that long time ago the municipality has a plenty of fish
catch and there’s nothing wrong in dreaming but do we have a fund for this program?

Ms. Martinez said that we’re talking on portion of Sasmuan –Macabebe, the boardwalk area,
mangrove and the mudflats. This was proposed by DENR for the establishment of Critical Habitat for
Migratory Birds. She further added that the BFAR have a separate program for fishponds operators
and other areas for small scale fishing industry. Consider the land use plan of the municipality. The
DENR will manage the Critical Area such as the mangroves to bring back the habitat of marine life,
more mangrove more fishcatch.

Q # 3. Mr. Edwin said that they are aware of the Candaba Bird Sanctuary, but as a fourth class Municipality
like Sasmuan with limited funds they can also allot minimal funds for this project so he asked on how
to avail of the international assistance that the speakers is mentioning on their lectures.