Keynote Speech of Secretary RONALDO V. PUNO
at the Welcome ReceptionI Dinner,
First Conference of Coastal Municipalities
May 26, 1999 at 6:30 p.m.,
Manila Midtown Hotel

GREETINGS.

THE INVITATION HANDED TO ME SAYS THAT YOUR LEAGUE WOULD LIKE ME TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON THE DILG's AGENDA ON EMPOWERING MUNICIPALITIES RELATIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - IN PARTICULAR, IN MANAGING AND PROTECTING COASTAL RESOURCES, ADDRESSING THE CONTINUING ASSAULT ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND FOR THAT MATTER OUR COASTAL RESOURCES, IS CENTRAL TO THE CONCERNS OF POLICY REFORMS AND PROGRAM INTERVENTIONS.

WE IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR, IN ACTIVE COLLABORATION WITH THE OTHER SECTORS OF SOCIETY, HAVE TO DO OUR SHARE TO ENSURE THE RATIONAL EXPLOITATION OF OUR COASTAL RESOURCES, TO SEE TO IT THAT POVERTY WOULD NOT BE AN EXCUSE TO INFLICT FURTHER DAMAGE ON THE ALREADY PRECARIOUS STATE OF OUR COASTAL ECOSYSTEM AND THAT DWINDLING RESOURCES IN THE COASTAL ZONE WOULD NOT, IN TURN, FURTHER INCAPACITATE THE MARGINAL IN OUR MIDST TO FREE THEMSELVES FROM HOPELESSNESS AND DESPAIR.

THERE IS, INDEED, AN EVER INCREASING GLOBAL RECOGNITION OF THE NEED FOR CONCERTED EFFORTS TOWARDS A MORE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT. AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN PARTICULAR, CONCERN FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES.

IN OUR COUNTRY, OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS MANIFESTED THROUGH SECTION 16, ARTICLE 11 OF THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH PROVIDES THAT, AND I QOUTE: "THE STATE SHALL PROTECT AND ADVANCE THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO A BALANCED AND HEALTHFUL ECOLOGY IN ACCORD WITH THE RHYTHM AND HARMONY OF NATURE". ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 PROVIDES THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN MEANINGFUL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES. THIS IS CLEAR UNDER THE GENERAL WELFARE CLAUSE.

MUNICIPALITIES ARE EMPOWERED TO MANAGE THEIR FISHERY RESOURCES AND REGULATE THE UTILIZATION OF AQUATIC RESOURCES WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION. IT IS THE DUTY OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN TO PROTECT THE AQUATIC RESOURCE BASE THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF APPROPRIATE ORDINANCES. MOREOVER, OUR PHILIPPINE FISHERIES CODE PROVIDES THE BROAD POLICY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF WATER BODIES, EXTENDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION WITHIN THE TEN POINT ONE (10.1) TO 15 KILOMETER AREA OFF THE COASTLINE. THESE LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS ARE RATHER INSTRUCTIVE OF THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN HELPING MANAGE AND PROTECT COASTAL RESOURCES. HOWEVER, THESE CONSTITUTIONAL-LEGAL PROVISIONS MEAN NOTHING UNLESS ALL OF US, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, START TRANSLATING THESE PROVISIONS OF LAW INTO CONCRETE AND SUSTAINED ACTIONS.

ALLOW ME AT THIS POINT TO HELP YOU RECALL SOME STATISTICS, WHICH MAY PROVIDE US CLUES ON THE MAGNITUDE OF THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US.

AS QUOTED FROM A REPORT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION FOR THE INTEGRATED CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SULU AND CELEBES SEAS, OUR COASTLINE IS MORE THAN 17,000 KMS LONG. IN ADDITION TO THE 267,000 SQ. KMS. OF COASTAL WATERS, THE PHILIPPINE COASTAL ZONE ALSO COVERS A TOTAL LAND AREA OF ABOUT 11,000 SQ. KMS. WITHIN THIS AREA RESIDES ABOUT 59% OF OUR POPULATION, INDICATING THE CLOSE LINKAGE OF MOST FILIPINOS WITH THE SEA. OF THE 25 CITIES WITH POPULATIONS IN EXCESS OF 100,000, 17 ARE LOCATED ALONG THE COAST. ABOUT 70% OF OUR 1,525 MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING 10 OF THE LARGEST CITIES, ARE LOCATED IN THE COASTAL ZONE. RELATED LAND USE ACTIVITIES WITHIN OR NEAR THIS ZONE INCLUDE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, LOWLAND AGRICULTURE, TOURISM AND RECREATION, LAND RECLAMATION AND WASTE DISPOSAL.

OUR COASTAL RESOURCES ARE VARIED AND DIVERSE, PROVIDING FOOD AND EMPLOYMENT FOR A MAJORITY OF THE POPULACE, PRIMARILY THROUGH FISHERIES AND TOURISM. THEIR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITIES HAVE GREAT ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE AND MUST, THEREFORE, BE CONSERVED AND SUSTAINABLY DEVELOPED. HOWEVER, POLLUTION AND OVEREXPLOITATION, AMONG OTHERS, INCREASINGLY THREATEN THESE IMPORTANT MARINE RESOURCES. SPECIFICALLY, POPULATION PRESSURE, SEDIMENTATION CAUSED BY DEFORESTATION, NUTRIENT RUN-OFF FROM AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, POLLUTION FROM INDUSTRIAL DISCHARGES, DESTRUCTIVE FISHING TECHNIQUES AND UNCONTROLLED TOURISM ACTIVITIES ARE BUT SOME OF THE CAUSES OF COASTAL ZONE DEGRADATION.

FOR A LONG TIME IN OUR CONTEMPORARY HISTORY, WE SEEM TO HAVE SIMPLY FAILED TO APPRECIATE HOW NATURE BY ITSELF WORKS AS A SYSTEM. OR WE SIMPLY IGNORED OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROTECT WHAT NATURE HAS BESTOWED UPON US, CONTENTED WITH THE HERE AND NOW, FORGETTING THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNREGULATED RESOURCE USE THAT MAY DAWN UPON US AND THE FUTURE.

THE MANDATE OF LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY IS CLEAR. AS I UNDERSCORED EARLIER, MUNICIPALITIES ARE TO SEE TO THE PROPER MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THEIR COASTAL RESOURCES. THIS IMPLIES THAT THE LOCAL INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITY IS AT A LEVEL THAT ALLOWS THIS MANDATE TO BE PERFORMED. BEYOND THE LEVEL OF LOCAL PUBLIC POLICY, THIS MANDATE DEMANDS HOLISTIC, PROPER AND PARTICIPATORY PLANNING. THE PLAN BY WHATEVER NAME IT MAY BE CALLED HAS TO ADDRESS THE REQUIREMENTS OF EFFECTIVE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT WITHOUT FORGETTING ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SURROUNDING ECOSYSTEMS SUCH AS THE FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEM, AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEM, URBAN ECOSYSTEM, WATERSHED ECOSYSTEM AND THE LIKE. BUT AS ALL OF US ALSO KNOW, A PLAN BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED IS OF NO USE UNLESS THIS IS TRANSLATED INTO ACTION, FUNDED, IMPLEMENTED, SUSTAINED AND PERFORMANCE IS MONITORED AND EVALUATED. LIKEWISE PERTINENT REGULATIONS ARE ENFORCED. SIMPLY STATED, WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT WE WANT -- A VISION, GOAL OR OBJECTIVE --BELIEVE IN IT AND TAKE THE FIRST STEP. WE ARE NOW IN THE ERA OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. FOR THIS REASON, WE HAVE EVOLVED OUR VISION AND AGENDA FOR THE NEXT CENTURY - THE PHILIPPINE AGENDA 21. WHATEVER WE DO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN PURSUIT OF DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE PLANNNED AND IMPLEMENTED IN THE CONTEXT OF THAT AGENDA. THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE.

YOU CAN START BANNING DESTRUCTIVE FISHING METHODS AND OTHER MALPRACTICES LIKE THE DUMPING OF WASTE, DECLARING A MORATORIUM ON CERTAIN FISHING GROUNDS, DECLARING SANCTUARIES IN THE COASTAL OR MARINE ECOSYSTEM, REHABILITATING CORAL REEFS AND MANGROVE AREAS, SEAGRASS BEDS AND COASTAL SWAMPLANDS, INCLUDING THE REPLANTING OF THE WATERSHED SYSTEM SINCE WE KNOW THAT SILTATION IS LARGELY CAUSED BY FOREST DENUDATION. AND THAT SILTATION AFFECTS THE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM. PROTECTING AND MANAGING OUR COASTAL RESOURCES SHOULD BE A WAY OF LIFE FOR EVERY CONCERNED FILIPINO.

AT THIS POINT, LET ME DWELL ON WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN AND SHOULD DO FOR YOU. AT THE OUTSET LET ME BE EMPHATIC ABOUT IT. YOUR DEPARTMENT CHAMPIONS YOUR INTEREST. IT MEDIATES FOR YOU, TO SEE TO IT THAT AS PARTNERS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, YOU GET YOUR FAIR SHARE IN THE WHOLE SCHEME OF THINGS SO THAT EVENTUALLY YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO OPTIMALLY PERFORM YOUR ROLE IN OVERALL DEVELOPMENT.

BEYOND CAPACITY-BUILDING, IN THE SENSE OF HELPING YOU TO HELP YOURSELVES ADDRESS THE PRESSURES SPAWNED BY THE IMPERATIVES OF PROPER COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT IN CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OTHER CONCERNS OF GOVERNANCE THAT BEAR UPON IT, I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY LOOKING FOR WAYS AND MEANS TO IMPROVE YOUR FINANCIAL CAPABILITIES. I TRUST, THOUGH, THAT GIVEN YOUR BROADENED TAXING POWERS, YOUR REVENUE RESOURCE BASE WOULD ALSO BE MAXIMIZED TO THE HILT. I THINK THAT IS A REASONABLE PROPOSITION. ANOTHER AREA THAT IS WORTH EXPLORING IS THE APPLICATION OF THE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM. TRADITIONALLY, IT HAS BEEN LIMITED TO LAND USE PLANNING. BUT RECENT DEVELOPMENTS POINT TO THE EXPANSION OF SYSTEM APPLICATION IN MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC SERVICES. THIS CAN BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF TWO OR MORE SIMILARLY-SITUATED MUNICIPALITIES.

WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM. LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT THIS EFFORT LOOKS AT THE SUFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR RICE, CORN AND FISH SUPPLIES. CLOSELY RELATED IS THE POVERTY ERADICATION AGENDA. ON OUR PART, WE SHALL SEE TO IT THAT YOUR OBLIGATIONS ARE ACCORDINGLY SUPPORTED. IF WE HAVE TO LOBBY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WE WILL DO IT. BUT YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART IN THE FOOD SECURITY AND POVERTY ERADICATION PLANS.

IT MIGHT ALSO INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AWARDS PROGRAM LIKE THE GALING POOK AND THE CLEAN AND GREEN. IN BOTH UNDERTAKINGS, BEST PRACTICES IN COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ARE ACKNOWLEDGED AND GIVEN DUE RECOGNITION.

VERY SOON, WE WILL BE LAUNCHING THE LOCAL DEVWATCH INITIATIVE. THIS EFFORT WILL BE ABLE TO TELL US THE STATE OF DEVELOPMENT OF A PROVINCE, CITY OR MUNICIPALITY. THE STATE OF DEVELOPMENT I AM TALKING ABOUT REFERS TO THE SOCIAL WELL-BEING, ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AND ECOSYSTEM WELL-BEING OF A PARTICLAR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT. WE CAN EVEN ANALYZE THE DEVLOPMENT TREND - WHICH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS PROGRESSING AND WHICH ONE IS NOT. THE RESULTS OF THE LOCAL DEVWATCH WOULD BE USEFUL IN RESOURCE PLANNING AND ALLOCATION, INVESTMENTS AND THE LIKE. WE WOULD BE BETTER EQUIPPED WITH DATA AND INFORMATION AS WE WOULD TAKE THE CUDGELS FOR YOU AND BE SURE THAT YOUR INCREASING RESPONSBILITIES ARE APPRECIATED, UNDERSTOOD AND FIRMLY SUPPORTED BY ALL.

IN CLOSING, LET ME FURTHER EMPHASIZE THAT WE ARE PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT. AS PARTNERS, WE SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES AND SUCCESS. THANK YOU, AND GOOD EVENING!