Green Village and PEACE Program as ESD Strategies in Bohol, Central Philippines

1. Green Village and PEACE Program as ESD Strategies in Bohol, Central Philippines ELPIDIO T. MAGANTE, CE, Ed.D. Presenter

2. Rationale Sustainable Development (SD) is development in the environment, society and economy. SD rests on the mutual relationship of these aspects so that one cannot speak of SD with, say, development of society only at the expense of the other two. A functional measure that links these three pillars of Sustainable Development is Education. It is education that could ensure the coordinated, integral and mutual relationship for development of these three pillars; thus the term Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

3. Rationale continued… One specific ESD strategy could be realized in a community where local residents plan and participate in the realization of a Sustainable Society. It is through its Green Village and PEACE Program that RCE-Bohol implements SD through ESD in the upland and coastal areas in Bohol Region.

4. Project site Lagiwliw, Zamora, Bilar Interior part of Bohol Province Agricultural Community Profile of residents 34 households; 46 families 47% tenants, 47% landless, 6% landowners

5. Collaborating Organizations The Regional Climate Change Center of Bohol Island State University (RCCC-BISU) The Provincial Agriculturist Office of Bohol (PAO) The Local Government Unit of Bilar (LGU-Bilar) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) The Barangay Unit of Zamora

6. Project Description Green Village is a collaborative project that promotes livelihood, local economy and environmental protection respectively addressed as areas of concern of the Regional Climate Change Center (RCCC) of Bohol Island State University (BISU) and the Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAO), the Local Government Unit of the Municipality of Bilar (LGU-Bilar) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

7. Project Description continued… On the part of the RCCC of BISU, PAO and DENR, Green Village is a strategy to equip the local community to better manage their livelihood given the global challenges of poverty, climate change, food insecurity and lack of alternative livelihood. The entry project is a community-based conservation gardening where Bahay-Kubo concept is adopted and the genetic conservation of traditional rootcrops for climate change adaptation and the promotion of “Clean and Green” in support to Solid Waste Management Program of the government.

8. Project Description continued… On the part of LGU-Bilar, Green Village is a community where Green Economy is pursued to protect and preserve the environment including its natural resources to realize social justice and to vitalize local economy. Green Village is served by “green economy” where citizens live healthy and secured lives regardless of age, gender, disability, religion and political affiliation.

9. Contribution to ESD Implementation ESD is realized in the Green Village project through the active participation of the local residents of the community of Lagiwliw from the planning until the launching of the project and the operation of the community-based conservation gardening. Dialogue and consultation transpired among the stakeholders with the local residents informing the latter of the objectives and proposed course of project implementation. They were also involved in the conduct of survey for baseline data.

10. Contribution to ESD continued… Residents were also consulted of the site of the community garden which they rendered voluntary service for its continued cultivation. Before the formal launching, local government officials and other community representatives were invited to a pre-MOA conference where they were given the chance to suggest additions and omission to the MOA draft. Finally, together with the representatives of the project stakeholders, the local residents of the Lagiwliw were invited during the launching of the Green Village Project.

11. Pictures

12. Pictures…

13. Program Description Productivity and Environmental Awareness for Community Empowerment or PEACE Program is an overarching program designed to effect development in the three aspects of environment, society and economy. Program Site The project site is Bool District, a coastal barangay in the City of Tagbilaran

14. Collaborating Organizations Bohol Island State University (BISU), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Institute for Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation- Japan (ERECON) Association of Environmental and Rural Development- Thailand (AERD), City Government of Tagbilaran, Barangay Local Government Unit (LGU) Bool District, Bool Elementary School The People’s Organization of Bool.

15. Component Project 1 Mangrove Planting. There are presently 9000 live mangroves thriving in a 3-hectare are in Bool shores. These were jointly planted by the local residents and the students of Bohol Island State University (BISU). The growth of the mangroves is continuously monitored by the office of the Barangay Captain of Bool District and the RCE-Bohol Office in BISU. Plans are well underway to supplement tourism activity in the area by constructing a board walk amidst the growing mangrove. The project will not only function to educate tourist about coastal management but will also provide additional source of income for local residents.

16. Component Project 2 Mudcrab culture is another project that is fully operational in Bool District. With available space amidst the mangroves and other endemic trees that thrive in Bool shore, a 200 meter square enclosure was constructed for mudcrab culture. Materials for the enclosure were provided by BFAR and DENR while the labor for the construction was jointly provided by BISU students and personnel and the local residents of Bool district.

17. Component Project 2 continued… An initial capital of fifty two thousand pesos (Php 52,000.00) was given by BFAR for the purchase of small crabs for fattening and its feeds. After 15 days of operation, the local residents have already harvested the crabs which were competitively valued in the local market. This has yielded better income for the local residents who were actually involved in the operation of the mudcrab culture.

18. Contribution to ESD Implementation The local residents of Bool District were involved from the conceptualization, to the MOU signing and the continued operation of the two component projects of the PEACE program. ESD is seen at work in the mangrove project not only because the whole local community is involved in the planting and the growth monitoring but also because the site has functioned to educate school children and tourists alike about environmental protection and conservation.

19. Contribution to ESD continued… Mudcrab culture for its part has not only provided alternative livelihood for local residents as they co-manage and co-operate the project and benefit financially from the sale of the fattened crabs. It has also made them realize that protection of the environment by preserving mangroves and other endemic trees in the area could come together with economic and social development.

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21. Pictures continued…

22. Conclusion Both the Green Village and the PEACE Program and its component projects are still on going. They are not only ESD strategies for the local residents of site communities but are also potential ESD strategies for the region. Though they generally function for the moment as demonstration measures benefitting local communities, they will eventually be replicated in other areas in the region as soon as their success is ensured.

23. Thank you for listening! -End of presentation-