In 1975-1977, the Development
Academy of the Philippines
In his introduction to the report, Prof. Dr. Onofre
D. Corpuz clarified that despite the limitations of future-oriented studies,
probing the future actually makes sense. He said:
“There is not
a single future ahead of us. There are several possible futures, and the
question therefore is: What are the futures in the future? If we can identify
many possible futures, and reduce these to the probable futures, then we can
select our preferred futures” (DAP, UPPI, UPSE: 1980).
In relation to forestry, the
study reported the following:
“Satellite
photographs (LANDSAT) taken in 1976 show that only nine million hectares or 30%
of our total land area are covered by healthy well-stocked forests, while six
million hectares or 20% of our total land area are inadequately stocked. PREPF
studies indicate that by year 2000, all our old-growth forests will have been
harvested to meet the foreign demand for Philippine wood products and to
sustain the national development plan’s targets for construction during the
last two decades of this century” (DAP, UPPI, UPSE: 1980).
The recommendations of the
study included the following, among others:
- Reforestation of 1.5 million hectares of denuded
watershed for protection purposes and 1 million hectares of denuded
forests for development into forest range land
- Establishment of pulp timber plantations in 5.4
million hectares that are under marginal agricultural cultivation to
reduce our dependence on foreign sources of pulpwood
- Selective logging, which ensures natural
regeneration of dipterocarp forests, should be strictly enforced
As regards fisheries, the
study pointed out that:
“Pollution
has spoiled our inland waters, especially our rivers. The chief pollutants are
mine tailings (wastes from various processes of mining), toxic substances from
industries, fertilizers, and pesticides, and domestic wastes. Of 100 major
rivers surveyed, 40 were found polluted in varying degrees. Thus, pollution
control measures should be enforced to keep our inland fisheries productive
(DAP, UPPI, UPSE: 1980).
In 2010, the Philippine
Development Plan 2011-2016, 30 years after the publication of the PREPF report,
the problem that we are facing is getting worse:
“Of
the 15.9 million hectares of forestland, only 6.43 million hectares or 41
percent were still forested in 2003, a significant decline from the 17 million
hectares recorded in the 1930s.
The
quality of land resources has deteriorated steadily because of erosion,
pollution and land conversion.
The
productivity of the country’s coral reefs, mangrove forests, sea grass, and
algal beds and fisheries is declining at an alarming rate.
The
degradation of the environment aggravates the impacts of disasters and climate
change. Deforestation increases the chances of landslides. The risk of drought
and poor availability of water are aggravated by the loss of forest cover. Depleted
mangrove reserves deprive coastal communities of natural protection from storm
surges. Uncontrolled urban growth coupled with poor land use planning results
in encroachment on protected forests or danger zones like riverbanks (NEDA, PDP
2011-2016: 2011).”
So we ask the
questions: What went wrong? Where are we going? What we must do?
This part of the
paper proposes some development strategies through science and technology for
the sustainable management of environment and natural resources.
The first strategy
has something to do with a clear, ambitious, challenging, inspiring,
but-must-be achieved vision. Let me provide context to this point.
The sectoral goal
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is “Sustainable
Management of Environment and Natural Resources” as contribution to the
societal goals, namely: Improved Quality of Life and Sustainable Development.
Under the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016, the three (3) medium-term goals
are:
- Goal 1 - Improved Conservation, Protection and Rehabilitation of
Natural Resources
- Goal 2 - Improved Environmental Quality for a Cleaner and Healthier
Environment
- Goal 3 - Enhanced Resilience of Natural Systems and Improved Adaptive Capacities of Human Communities to Cope with Environmental Hazards Including Climate- Related Risks
In
1977, the Philippine Environmental Policy declares that it is a continuing
policy of the State to:
·Create, develop, maintain, and improve
conditions under which man and nature can thrive in productive and enjoyable harmony
with each other.
·Fulfill the social, economic and other
requirements of present and future generations of Filipino.
·Ensure the attainment of an environmental
quality that is conducive to a life of dignity and well-being.
The 1987 Philippine Constitution is quite clear about
the role of the State in relation to ENR. Article II, Section 16 provides that
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”.
In the case of Oposa vs. Factoran (The Children’s
Case), the Supreme Court of the Philippines
“Nature means
the created world in its entirety. Such rhythm and harmony indispensably
include, inter alia, the judicious disposition, utilization, management,
renewal and conservation of the country’s forest, mineral, land, waters,
fisheries, wildlife, off-shore areas and other natural resources to the end
that their exploration, development and utilization be equitably accessible to the present as well as future
generations (G.R. No. 101083).”
If we measure our performance in terms of the use of
words and phrases, I humbly submit that we are good, but not good enough.
The first strategy, therefore, is to choose our ENR
future, as our PREFP study showed.
Let us go back to the basics. What do we want us
human beings? Productive land, healthy flora and fauna, clean air and clean water.
As Atty. Antonio Oposa Jr. said during his acceptance speech as he received the
Ramon Magsaysay Award, we need CPR for our natural endowments: Conservation,
Protection and Rehabilitation!
But what is our vision as a society? Can we say
at least 54% forest cover by 2050, at least class C inland waters by 2060, 100%
rehabilitated land by 2070?
These goals and targets are difficult, but they are
necessary if we are to build a better Philippines
The second strategy is related to the findings and
recommendations of Robert Watson, Michael Crawford and Sara Farley in a World
Bank Policy Research Working Paper entitled “Strategic Approaches to Science
and Technology in Development”. The main argument of their paper is this:
“…development will increasingly depend on a
country’s ability to understand, interpret, select, adapt, use, transmit,
diffuse, produce and commercialize scientific and technological knowledge in
ways appropriate to its culture, aspirations and level of development.”
In relation to this strategy, let me share with you
our experience at the Academy.
In 1999, we had a partnership with the private
sector, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), and government
agencies like the DENR, DOST, PHILRICE, and DOE to assess the feasibility of
using rice hull as fuel for electricity generation. We selected an off-grid
barangay in Nueva Ecija where a group of farmers were into rice farming. After
our team has studied the characteristics of rice hull, its volume, location,
etc., an entrepreneur visited the project site and offered to buy carbonized
rice hull from the farmers for about PHP25.00 per kilogram. Sensing a good
opportunity to earn income, the farmers asked PHILRICE for help. To assist the
farmers, PHILRICE fabricated a simple technology to produce carbonized rice
hull. Thus, our project had to change course, support the farmers, and explain
to the funding agency what happened.
It took us at DAP another ten years to realize a
waste-to-energy project, specifically using rice hull and waste plastic. This
time, the project is supported by the United Nations Environment
Programme-International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP-IETC). The
development strategy of UNEP is simple: gather data, choose the technology,
pilot it in a community, and learn from it.
The rice mill-cum-water pump uses rice hull, which is
the by-product of the milling process. It is now used by the Bohol Farmers’
Cooperative. To complete the package, we also provided a training program for
the cooperative farmers on how to produce and use biologically indigenous
microorganisms (BIMs), especially for the rapid composting of rice straw.
Another project that UNEP supported using the same
strategy is the waste plastic-to-fuel project. This pilot demonstration project refers to
the use of waste plastics and other biomass to produce refuse-derived fuel
(RDF). RDF is produced by pelletizing waste plastics and other biomass
materials that have high calorific value. The technology that was adopted is
extrusion, with the extruder machine fabricated by a local technology provider.
The project is now operated by the City Government of Cebu.
We proposed three models
to replicate these pilot projects.
Model 1: Public-Private Enterprise
The public-private enterprise strategy is the
partnership of the public sector with entrepreneurs who are committed to
providing alternative but ecological ways of managing solid waste. This model
us supported by the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which provides that
LGUs should include in their plans the specific measures that will promote the
participation of the private sector in the management of solid wastes,
particularly in the generation and development of the essential technologies
for solid waste management. It also encourages the LGUs to provide incentives
for the involvement of the private sector in solid waste management.
Model 2: Public-Private Partnership Model
The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model is an
approach by which the private sector invests in technologies with the clear
intention of recovering the cost of investment and realizing a reasonable
margin. As an economic instrument for solid waste management, LGUs can
purposively formulate local policies that will encourage small-scale rice
millers to use rice hull to run rice mills. As regards the rapid composting of
rice straw, the LGUs can enter into a partnership agreement with the farmers
themselves, whether as individuals, village association, or as cooperatives.
LGUs should also formulate local policies that will discourage or penalize the
burning of rice straw, as well as encourage the farmers or their associations
to use BIMs for rapid composting.
Model 3: Public-Corporate Social Responsibility Model
Local government units (LGUs) can partner with
industrial and commercial establishments, both within or outside their
territorial jurisdictions, to support farmers’ associations and cooperatives to
engage in the use of rice hull for rice milling or water pumping, as well as
the use of BIMs for the rapid composting of rice straw. Under this model, firms
or corporations can provide technical and financial support to farmers
associations or cooperatives that are willing to use the technology. The LGUs
can provide the support mechanism, such as training of the farmers, as well as
technical inputs on organic farming through the local agricultural office.
Another project that we implemented in partnership
with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and various government
agencies, including the DENR, is piloting few models of biodigester for pig
farms. The development strategy is simple: get community partners, construct a
biodigester according to specifications, choose the technology that requires
the least cost, and demonstrate and measure performance. The local partners
that we have engaged in this project are capable of constructing biodigesters
for other organizations or individuals who are interested to reap the benefits
of the technology.
At this time, Buklod-Unlad Cooperative is
constructing biodigesters for its cooperative members. This week, they will
hold a Farmers’ Day, with the Governor of Batangas Province leading the guests
from other partner institutions.
There are some important lessons that we have learned
from the project cases that I have shared with you earlier. These are as
follows:
- Choose your local or community partners well. Our experience with
Buklod-Unlad shows that mature grassroots organizations have better
capability to continue an intervention and maximize the benefits that they
gain from it.
- Make sure that a development intervention will create value to the
partner-beneficiaries. This means that an intervention or scientific study
is responsive to a clear and pressing need of the community.
- Clarity of expected results can lead to success, but ensure that
partners have ownership of such results.
- The technical soundness of an intervention is critical. We should
do things right the first time.
In closing, I wish to recall
what Dr. Corpuz said about the PREFP Report. As a political economist, he saw
the need to include a scenario on the political system. He said:
“…the PREPF
team assumed no important political changes into the year 2000. It is as if the
PREFP scenario projected martial law continuing over the next generation; or
that it assumes politics to have no effect on our future. These assumptions are
not just tenable” (DAP, UPPI, UPSE: 1980).
The character of our political
system will continue to have an influence in our development strategies through
science and technology for the sustainable management of natural resources. In
their book “Why Nations Fail, The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty”,
Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson
argue that:
“Nations fail
economically because of extractive institutions. These institutions keep poor
countries poor and prevent them from embarking on a path to economic growth…the
basis of these institutions is an elite who design economic institutions in
order to enrich themselves and perpetuate their power at the expense of the
vast majority of people in society” (Acemoglu and Robinson: 2013.)
Dr. Ben Malayang, in an
article he wrote for the book “Making Sense of the Millennium Development
Goals, An Alternative Perspective by Civil Society” said:
“Governance,
or the body of decisions and actions that direct human behavior toward a
rational and virtuous use of material and social assets of society, is the
lynchpin of sustainable development. But in the Philippines
The pork barrel funds issue is
a clear example of the effects of political institutions. But I will not
pre-empt what strategies you will use to address the challenge posed by our
political institutions in relation to environment and natural resources
management. As Sixto K. Roxas wrote in the same book:
“All the external
trappings of material progress that has changed the landscape of Metro Manila
and our major cities have been judged empty of substantive benefits for the
majority of the people.
The
overarching purpose is to try and get an awareness of the roots of the problem
so that a genuine “turnaround” can be achieved, and to provide a framework that
serves as an authentic map towards a sustainable development path. We seem to
keep repeating the same mistakes. How can we pull ourselves together so we can
begin to address the roots of our problem? (Philippine Sustainability Watch
Network: 2005)
Much as I am tempted to answer
that question, the topic you have assigned to me today precludes me to give in
to the temptation.
Maraming salamat po.
References
Cited
Acemoglu, Daron and James A.
Robins. Why Nations Fail, The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty.
Crown Business: New York
Oposa et al. v. Fulgencio S. Factoran, Jr. et al (G.R.
No. 101083) available at http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1993/jul1993/gr_101083_1993.html
Philippine
Sustainability Watch Network. Making
Sense of the Millennium Development Goals, An Alternative Perspective by Civil
Society.
2005
Republic of the Philippines Pasig City
Republic of the Philippines
Republic of the Philippines
Robert Watson, Michael Crawford and Sara Farley.
Strategic Approaches to Science and Technology in Development. World Bank
Policy Research Working Paper 3026, April 2003
§ Presented by Alan S. Cajes, vice president
of the Development Academy of the Philippines-Center for Sustainable Human
Development as an Opening Lecture of the workshop participated in by the
officials and staff of the DENR- Research Sector comprised of the Ecosystems
Research and Development Bureau based in Los Banos, Laguna and the Ecosystems
Research and Development Services in 16 regions nationwide. The 4-day workshop,
which aims to review and discuss the RDE thrusts and directions for FY 2014 and
onwards, was held on 17-20 September 2013 at Lima Park Hotel, Malvar, Batangas,
Philippines.
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