Case Study on Coaco Beach

DESCRIPTION
Coaco Beach was a popular beach destination among the locals here in Davao City. In terms of
landscape, the coastal zones can be described as almost even with a slope ranges from 0%-3%. Of the
total 212 hectare land area of the baranagay is fringed with flat land elevation description. As of 2015
actual population count, Sasa area, where Barangay Hizon is situated is inhabited by 52, 386 locals, who
are highly conversant in Filipino, English and native dialects. The community in Coaco Beach is composed
of mostly homegrown Davaenoes. They speak the language ‘Bisaya’, and a few Tagalog for local renters.
Their political organization follows a basic structure of which a purok leader represents the entire
community – one which is assigned and majority voted for. Walking or riding tricycles can get you to
Coaco Beach. Before arriving on spot, you’ll pass by corporation plants like San Miguel’s.

Physically, Coaco beach is far less developed than the beaches we see in IGACOS. Needless to
say, of course, it’s because those beaches have already been commercialized. Looking at the perimeter
and sizing up the potential infrastructure that can be built in the area, Coaco beach is a great place to
situate yet another resort. Right now, the tables, chairs and roofing are made up of
unfurnished wood and coco lumber – it’s getting brittle by prolonged water contact. The sand is neither
grand nor exceptional, but nonetheless warm and cozy with its grey hue and fine texture. A number of
trees are visible within the area, enough to shade one or two spots when it gets really hot. Right now,
they also have a potential function hall, where they stage performances during events like Flores de
Mayo and Christmas parties. The electricity usage of the community is quite limited – occasionally, they
still use lamplights fueled with gas to light their evenings. Most people travel from the highway to the
beach either by foot or motorcycle, especially during the night.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC STANDPOINT

Social organization, which is demonstrated in the way human beings shape social relations in their
community. The said community is practicing a system wherein the community is lead by a leader which
was elected in the spirit of democracy. A group is also formed solely for fishermen in order to
systematize the daily schedule for fishing. Coastal anthropology focuses on the socio-cultural aspects of
aquatic ecosystems. The survival of the environment and the preservation of its natural resources
depend much on how people perceive and behave towards the environment. There seem to be a link in
the social relationships in coastal societies and the socialization process that individual members of
these societies go through.

Like all coastal communities in the Philippines, Coaco Beach is also experiencing its own set of
coastal problems – like the matter of water quality degradation and lack of proper cleanliness
monitoring in both land and water. In the case of the chosen community, everyone is entitled to a
responsibility called for by what they contribute in respect to their occupation or image in the
community. To cite, the purok leader is placed in such position to serve as the voice of the community
and thus has the responsibility to represent the people of its community in seminars, government
legalities that concerns the community, and the issues that circulates among its people. Fishermen, on
the other hand, are expected to fish for food, to be sold in nearby subdivisions. Local store owners stock
necessities for locals to have nearer access to toiletries, drinks, and food.

As its people play certain roles in its community, it is now necessary to put this sense of
accountability to its optimum purpose – to make the coastal community healthier, cleaner, and better. A
developmental plan should be created to provide countermeasures to existing problems – to name,
strict implementation of protocols and proper monitoring. An expansion of help from the local
government or nongovernment organizations can also help the community in projects that they may
formulate as a product of monthly meetings which shall be set by the purok leader – another system to
promote and impose importance on the political facet of the community.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND HOW IT AFFECT FISHERIES

Most of the residents in Caoco Beach are used to how things work in the vicinity – humble
livelihood with enough earnings. As fishing is their livelihood, fathers teach their sons how to fish too.
This adds to the workforce or manpower of the community. Still so, a lot can still be done to improve the
way things work in this community. The coastal area is, for a fact, exposed to occasional oil spills from
nearby shipping docks. Not to mention the addition of daily wastes and garbage the community deals
with on a daily basis.

Insufficient cleaning protocols and follow-ups point a huge arrowhead to the social facet of the
community. The normalization of the inexplicably waste dumping due to the physical set-up of the
coastal community and the somehow lack of coastal and land cleaning protocols calls for the community
to raise awareness among its people. For a well-managed fishery there needs to be at least one-third to
two-thirds of all the types of fish left over each year to spawn, reproduce and produce enough juveniles
for the next year. To function properly, the marine ecosystem requires a mix of fish of various species,
sizes and age. These complex natural and biological parameters set limits on the capacity of a fishery
resource to replenish itself.

Years before, Coaco beach has catered families who wish to experience the seawaters at a
cheap price, if not for free. However though, due to the residential community that is situated there, the
waters are deemed unclean because of daily wastes that somehow pollute the area. As observations like
this are shared by many, Coaco beach is less visited by the public more and more. Coaco beach, as of
today, is considered as a squatter’s area. The community that stayed within the parameters of the
coast has built expansions of their homes, like stores, basic grillers, and fishing docks to appeal to
remaining visitors and make a living out of it. However, though these expansions contribute to the daily
earnings of the people in the community, fishing remains to be their main livelihood. Depending on their
catch, shall be the amount of fish they can sell – if unfortunate to catch only a dozen or less, it may only
be enough to feed their families.

When it comes to improvements and developments, the utilization of updated facilities is observed
in the target community. Technology, which is shown in the way human beings use their skills and
knowledge to extract the energy potentials of the environment, like food, in order to survive. When it
terms of electrical utilization, the community in Coaco beach are yet to maximize their resources. This,
for the reason that the community still use fluorescent light bulbs instead of LED lights. To add, the
physical set-up of the community is yet to be developed, evident in that the housings are made up of
nipa, wood and a mix of concrete.

The rapid growth of the fishing industry coincided with the rapid advances in fishing technology.
New artificial fibers made cheaper and stronger nets, new and modified fishing gears evolved to
increase efficiency, and electronic sonar and navigation equipment were developed, along with power
blocks and other mechanized systems designed to increase fish catch. These developments, alongside
improved fish port and canning facilities, all translated to faster delivery of fishery products to a wider
market, while ensuring a longer shelf-life for these products.

There are three phases of resource management that was and is still being practiced by the
community, namely, (1) Community organization, (2) Community education, (3) Resource management
of the community. These phases are important to steer an organized system of mobility in the
community. As to how these are managed and monitored, however, is still a matter that lacks further
evidence to support sufficiency and efficiency.

Policymakers and implementers would do well to realize that coastal communities are viable
development partners and that the answers to most of the problems for coastal and fisheries
management are available within the area. Lack of enforcement of the fisheries laws and poor
monitoring and regulation of commercial fishing sector have meant municipal fishers are not enjoying
their legal preferential rights to municipal waters.

FISHING MANAGEMENT

Coaco Beach has its own set of regulations regarding fishing schedules. The community has
already reported and abides with the Fishery Code of the Philippines. They have specific time to fish, like
5 to 7 in the morning and 5 to 7 in the evening. Any time in between or after 7pm, fishermen are
restricted to venture the coastal waters already. The purok leader makes sure that no fisherman will go
against this protocol, for the consequence shall be suspension to fish in the area for a number of weeks.

Given the problem mentioned on the prior page, by improving coastal water quality, catch and
income of fishing families in the community will increase, incidence of contracting infections and
water-borne illnesses and diseases will be decreased and threat to the riverine ecosystem is reduced –
targeting both environmental and physical health of the coastal community. Furthermore, the
community will appeal more for investors. These ends are reached by the means proposed above,
namely, (1) reducing the wastes dumped on coastal shores, thus controlling polluters with the aid of
authority by a responsive local government, (2) shipping docks are constantly monitored for probable
spills via agreement between the community and local operators of the docks, and (3) Pollution
management shall be given priority through establishing educational seminars and programs, and
tightening clean-up protocols of the community and nearby supporting villages.

Here are other available courses of action as to how to deal with the issues of the community
and its fisheries – (1) apply the city-wide conservation design framework presented in the plan above
for future development and redevelopment. Work with existing property owners to retrofit coastal
water management, (2) coordinate the implementation of coastal clean-ups to local governments and
create partnership with near barangay, (3) create a method of providing incentives for development
projects that achieve goals presented in the charts above., (4) establish a Clean Water Act
Non-degradation compliance program to include the established goals for each aquatic resource, the
timetable for resource monitoring schedule, and reporting program, (5) plan for necessary new or
expanded public facilities through an annual capital improvement program, and (6) consider response
time for emergency providers and accessibility to community facilities when conducting development
reviews and making other planning decisions.

The probable challenges that will be faced when implementing such programs are (1) financial
constraint, as the community is not independent enough to house and cater such major move or action
although it is feasible, (2) manpower and coordination, as the community calls for constant reminder
and awareness regarding their role as coastal guardians whom will promote responsible fishing activities
and protocols. With proper management and religious adherence to the plan formulated in achieving
the primary goal set for the community, coastal water quality will rest assured be improved. Constant
effort and specifications on the community action plan is needed to sustain such goal. Nonetheless, it is
achievable in communities where a sense of ‘bayanihan’ is evident. And Coaco beach community is one
of these communities.

References:
1. ADB (Asian Development Bank). 2001. Policy on fisheries, the context: Fisheries in the Asian and
Pacific region. The recommended strategy for the bank. Asian Development Bank, Mandaluyong City,
Philippines. 19 p.
2. Alcala, A.C. and G.R. Russ. 2002. Status of Philippine coral reef fisheries. Asian Fish. Sci. 15: 177-192.
3. Philippine Fisheries in Crisis 1-84 p.
4. Hancock, J. 1995. Our seas, our lives. Voluntary Service Overseas, UK. 110 p.