2020 RECENT AND UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

Facilitating Public Private Partnership through Co-Management of a Marine Protected Area (MPA)

What’s new?
January to March 2020
DATE ACTIVITY/EVENT OUTPUTS
Objective 1. Forging of partnership among the Institution of Social Order, City of San Fernando, La Union, and other local stakeholders to
establish an integrated MPA network encompassing San Fernando Bay.
Jan. 28, Feb. Partnership Meeting with ISO met its local partners in La Union-project as the new decade has unfolded. It was marked
12 and Mar. City ENRO and other as the first activity that had been conducted in the area which was attended by CENRO, UCC,
13 partners and PPMC but the presence of TESDA and DMMMSU SLUC had not realized due to conflict of
schedule. ISO laid down the 3-year work and financial plan and discuss the content thereof
for possible suggestions and comments. A good point which was noted on the gathering is
the continuing support of partners for the actualization of the project plan. It is implicit that
the project maintain its stronghold between the partners for almost five year however the
new challenges for this year are extending of support to neighboring barangays (other
MPAs) and expanding of ecosystem such as solid-waste management and walking with
youths for project implementation (conduct of fun-run)

To secure commitment from the partners, the body discussed the renewal of MOA which is
to be conducted on 3rd quarter of this year. The content of the MOA was not sophisticatedly
discoursed due to unavailability of the said material but UCC and CENRO gave a sneak peek
or an overview of the content.

Rose Ann Valdez of the City ENRO presented the plan of their office, the annual cash
assistance to each MPA has increased for an additional of 250,000.00 that is intended to
reconcile with the delayed fund and to provide sustainable livelihood to members. Valdez
also requested to help them in mangrove and solid waste management. She mentioned that
 City of San Fernando has 84 hectares of mangrove under timberland and barangays such
Carlatan, Biday, Bangcusay and Dalumpinas Este are the areas of interest. Common
problems which the LGU is currently facing on mangrove conservation are the rampant
cutting of mangroves and rambling claimants.
UCC continues to provide manpower for technical expertise and conducting trainings to
members of PSLA. On the other note, Ms. Lastina of PPMC requested to invite their
President in close door meeting to iron out this matter.
Objective 2. Formation of a self-reliant people’s organization (PO) with members coming from Brgys. Poro, Catbangen, Ilocanos Norte,
Ilocanos Sur and Pagdaraoan.
Jan. 28 PSLA EXECOM MEETING 9 out of 10 officers has been attending its regular EXECOM meetings. Meetings were
Feb. 27 convoked to discuss the following: social enterprise status, membership status, major
incoming activities and deliverables.

It was identified that there are 154 members admitted since its earliest operation. It was
sorted last February meeting that 87 members is considered active, 57 inactive, 3 were
migrated, 2 are working abroad and 3 deceased.

PSLA complied all permits and licenses and filed regular requirements to BIR and SEC.
Objective 3. Deepening the knowledge and skills of the PSLA, PMMC, City-wide MPA Management Council, and City ENRO in coastal
resources management

Objective 4. MPA Operationization and Monitoring

Regular Bantay Dagat Patrolling There had been no report of violations caught in in the Marine Protected Area during the
patrolling of bantay dagat. If there are instances were intruders were spotted crossing the in
the Poro MPA Core zone, the team advices the caught invaders to avoid the restricted zone.
There are 11 members of the patrolling and enforcement team including the team leader
who happened to be Mr. Simplicio Baldemor. Their patrolling starts at 8:00 in the morning
and leaves the premise of Poro MPA watchtower by the time the clock tickles at 5:00 PM. A
new member was hired last February as replacement of Mr. Mario Marcello Cabradilla, he is
Noel Tapere.
 Unfortunately, only 1 marker buoys remains in the MPA which is located in the northern east
of the core zone. 1 went missing since September 2019. This concern was reported in the
City Government of San Fernando and even telecast in a local radio station in San Fernando.
The remaining were retrieved and properly keep in Poro MPA Watchtower.
January 28, Poro MPA Management The Poro MPA Management Council conducted their first monthly meeting of 2020 last
February 27 Council Meeting January 28 2020. It was held in Multi-purpose hall, Fishermen’s Village San Fernando City, La
Union. It was called to discuss and review the 2020 management plan, status of MPA watch
tower, patrolling and enforcement operation and also to resolve existing issues such as
management conflict and irregularities in the enforcement and patrolling operation.

Breakdown of 750,000 Budget of Poro MPA :

ENFORCEMENT INCENTIVES 302,400.00
PATROL BOAT GASOLINE ( 2 UNIT PATROL BOAT) 13,200.00
REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF PATROL BOAT 17,100.00
MOBILE PATROL MAINTENANCE 16,090.00
BICYCLE MAINTENANCE 4,150.00
MAINTENANCE OF WATCHTOWER 1,610.00
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES INCLUDING OFFICERS HONORARIUM 254,000.00
PATROLLING ASSET (Flashlight,
coat binocular) 12,000.00
MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF MPA 62,800.00
LIVELIHOOD 47,500.00
MISCELLANEOUS 19,150.00
TOTAL 750,000.00

February 14, Coastal cleanup drive Poro LGU assigned Poro MPA and PSLA as Coastal Sweeper of Poro starting February 2020.
They have been conducting clean-up drive for at least twice in a week. This activity will
increase awareness and could possibly gain praises so that other community members
would also participate and involve with this kind of advocacy.
 Poro MPA participated in the coastal clean-up that was held in Poro-point baywalk. This
activity was organized by PPMC and participated by the Poro Barangay Council members,
members of PSLA, bantay dagat and community members along the area.
Objective 5. Establishment of sustainable livelihood enterprises for the members of the organization
Jan., Feb and Monitoring of PSLA Social To provide additional income of its members, PSLA established the Luto ti Poro to engage in
March Enterprise catering services. To date, the social enterprise is accredited by the City Government as one
of its catering services providers but the difficulty to win in a bidding was inevitable for the
members of PSLA due to “padrino system’’ inside the GSO.
PSLA also emerged in micro-financing program which they claim to have an average earnings
of 10% return on investment and 100% loan repayment rate due to members. In their tally,
there are 59 individual borrowers who are benefiting from these operation that aid them in
times of through.
Objective 6. Fund Raising Activity
February Fun-run Preparation The project has remarkable achievements through its 5-year existence such as improved live coral
9,11,10 cover, organized Poro Sea lovers Association (PSLA), upscaled the technical and legal capacities of
March 13 local stakeholders, supported in the realization and declaration of City Ordinance 2015-03 or the
commonly known as Poro Marine Protected Area Ordinance, established social enterprise for
people’s organization and formed multi-stakeholder public-private partnership. Proceeding on this
track, the ISO along with its partners decided to conduct a fund raising activity for the continuation of
the project efforts. Last year, ISO identified a fun-run as the activity to generate the tantamount
resources needed to sustain the initiatives and to achieve its objectives for the new phase of the
project.

This run also aims to increase the awareness on what MPAs are. This activity is expected to be
participated by people within and outside the metropolis of San Fernando moreover realizing this
immense activity requires the help of existing and potential partners.

A series of meetings was orchestrated within the period of January to March in able to prepare for
the run and as of March, ISO generated 70,000.000 cash support from Philex Mining and Kahuna
Resort amounting to 50,000.00 and 20,000.00 respectively. ISO is eyeing other corporation exiting in
the area such as San Miguel, Thunderbird and Holcim but still no responses to the letter which the
ISO gave to them.
 A local creative designers was also tap for the creatives of the Run. They composed of local youths
who were once a staff in the City Hall.

Due to recent threats in public health and safety brought about by threatening Covid-19 the body
during the March 13 meeting has decided to postpone the Run.

What’s next?

April – July 2020

Date Activity Output
Specific Objective 1. Forging of partnership among the Institution of Social Order, City of San Fernando, La Union, and other local stakeholders to
establish an integrated MPA network encompassing San Fernando Bay.
May, June, July Partnership Meeting with City ENRO and Minutes of Meeting
other partners

July Joint Management Council Meeting Renewed MOAs

Specific Objective 2. Formation of a self-reliant people’s organization (PO) with members coming from Brgys. Poro, Catbangen, Ilocanos Norte,
Ilocanos Sur and Pagdaraoan.
May, June, July PSLA ExeCom Meetings Execom Meeting condcuted; minutes of meetings
Bi-annual evaluation and planning Eval and Planning WS conducted; review of current plans and formulation
workshops of new plans

July BOD Quarterly Meeting Meetings conducted; minutes of meetings

Membership Expansion/Recruitment Increased membership

PSLA Election 70 members attended. New set of officers to hold the office.
Specific Objective 3. Deepening the knowledge and skills of the PSLA, PMMC, City-wide MPA Management Council, and City ENRO in coastal resources
management
May Bantay Dagat Training 20 bantay dagat members deputized
Specific Objective 4. MPA Operationization and Monitoring
May, June, July Poro MPA Management Council Meeting
July City-wide Integrated Management Council
Meeting
June Construction, Reassessment and Poro MPA monitored the biophysical status
Redeployment of monitoring blocks
June Monitoring of the bio-physical status Bio-physical status of Poro MPA monitored

Specific Objective 5. Establishment of sustainable livelihood enterprises for the members of the organization
May, June, July Monitoring of Social enterprise Prepared financial support
July Skills Development Training 15 PSLA members attended Basic Eco-Tourism Training

Specific Objective 6. Fund Raising Activity

May, June, July Fun-run meetings and coordination Minutes of the meeting, Secured pledges and supports