Proposed Objectives for the “Batangas Coalition” in 2003

• Form, revive and strengthen community-based organizations in the province of Batangas

• Engage government (local, national) to perform functions and advocate for meaningful policy reform

• Build and strengthen this provincial coalition to serve as a forum for crafting creative solutions in addressing environmental issues in the province of Batangas

Strategies

• Education - to raise awareness, build constituency, promote transparency, and strengthen organizing

• Organizing - to form, strengthen and revive community-based organizations (CBOs)

• Coalition-building - to strengthen, expand membership for political strength

Coordination Mechanism

• Form local secretariats - Taal Lake (3rd District); Western Batangas area (1st District) (2nd? 4th?)

• Lead Convenor: LAECO?

First Meeting

Early Decisions

A. VISION – Isang lalawigan kung saan ang mamayan ay nagtatamana, kumakalinga at nagtatangol sa Sangnilikha ng Diyos.

B. MISSION – Pagpapanatili, pagpapayaman at pagtatanggol ng mga biyaya ng Diyos para sa kapakinabangan ng lahat sa Batangas.

Objectives

a. Establish a forum/resource center for crafting creative solutions in addressing environmental issues.

b. Assist members and communities in confronting their respective issues and strengthening their organizations.

c.Advocate for meaningful policy reform and engage government, whether local or national, and form their mandate

Resource Center Establishment

• Lusong seeks to establish a database of environmental and cultural materials, relevant to Batangas, environment advocacy campaign experience and Batangas data on water, land use, vegetative cover, population, topography, concentration of industry and airshed and others

Direct Community Assistance

• Lusong seeks to provide direct assistance, legal or otherwise, to Batangas communities that face issues of natural resource extraction. The community organizations in need of assistance may give a presentation to the coalition about the background of the community ﾕ s environmental issue, their present activities in answer to the issue and any specific help needed from the Coalition.

Policy Work

• Lusong seeks to advocate for policies that emanate from the information gathered by the Coalition and experiences from direct community actionThe coalition will pursue an agreed upon policy agenda and conduct roundtables with different sectors to validate and bring forward its recommendations.

Outputs

• Calatagan Environment Forum

• BT Corn Statement

• Policy Agenda

Policy Agenda

• NIPAS Act– Taal Lake Protected Landscape

• Status: Proclamation issued 1997• PAMB constituted with Planning Officers,

quarterly meeting– Mt. Malarayat Timber Reserve

• Adopt a Mountain DAO 98-62 program, Bgy. Malitlit

• 15 hectares, Archdiocese to manage, rehab• 10 day survey to be submitted again

– Mt. Lobo-San Juan Mountain (look into quarry issue)

Policy Agenda• Marine Sanctuaries – develop options for

consensus– Dive and Trek– Cathedral– Twin Rocks– Arthur’s Rock– Batalang Bato– 3 Pagapas Bay Sanctuaries– ? self declared sanctuaries inequitable to fishers

• Vistamar• Bagong Silang- calatagan• Rockport (resolved na ng munisipyo)

– San Juan – Hugom

Policy Agenda• Fisheries Code Review

– Ban on Fishcages in Lake• Research on ownership/PGENRO c/o WWF• Seek Alternative livelihood options• Inform re reasons for ban• Zoning hindi naipapatupad• Pressure provincial government

– DAO 17 reissuance, requesting NAMRIA to map• Drafted, but no local gov ratification• NAFC meeting Apr 11-13 DA adoption• LGU shd exercise their powers, proceed

• Implementation of Laws– Ecological Solid Waste Management Act– Clean Air Act– EIA System

Policy Agenda• Local Ordinances

– Integrated Fishery Ordinances• SP proposed unified ordinance on fish cages, moratorium

permit for fishcages but not implemented• Laurel at Cuenca implemented• Currently gathering ordinances• Lusong to participate in workshops, Balayan Bay

– Environmental Ordinances• Forest• Solid Waste Plan/Committee• Urban Environment/Sidewalks

• Government Programs Interventions– Ecotourism– Eco Governance– Industrialization of Region

• Education of local officials/PAMB on policy, environmental law

Where we are now

• PMAP and CCEF are no longer working in Batangas

• Conservation International started work in Verde Island Passage

• Taal PAMB operational and active• KMMLT had three GA’s since• Cases in Calatagan still pending, Bantay

Dagat active and supported by LGU

Where we are now

• New policies:– Environmental Codes and Batangas Envi Strategy– New Rules on Procedure in Environmental Cases– Lipa Headwaters Council– Calatagan Fisheries Code– URRF for Taal Lake– Taal Lake Basin Management Plan– Verde Island Passage Management Plan

Where we are now

• Capacity Building– Institute for Environmental Governance, TK

partnership with BSU

– Several PAMB Lakbay Aral (Davao, Saranggani, Negros Occidental)

• Pusod project in Mt. Malarayat• Partnership with CAS, concept for Batangas

Biodiversity Center• Lipa Organic Food Fairs (2006 and 2007)

Where we are now

• Key Biodiversity Areas have been identified by DENR:

Remaining and Emerging Issues

• Land Distribution in Western Batangas• Solid Waste• Carrying Capacity and Climate Change• Mining and Toxics• Genetically Modified Crops• Planning, Building Code/Permits and

Sewerage• Ternate-Nasugbu Road