TY - JOUR
T1 - The effectiveness of decentralisation reforms in the Philippines's forestry sector
AU - Balooni, Kulbhushan
AU - Pulhin, Juan M.
AU - Inoue, Makoto
N1 - Funding Information:
The CBFM project launched in 1995 in Barangay Buenavista, Bayombong Municipality, is managed by the Federation of Vista Hills, Kalongkong, Kakilingan, Upland Farmers Inc. It is considered a successful case, being commended as a ‘Model Sustainable Development Project’ in the upland category by the Regional Development Council in 2003 and 2004. This project is aided by the International Tropical Timber Organisation and also supported by the DENR. Barangay Buenavista comprises five sitios. The federation comprises three people’s organisations of upland sitios – Vista Hills, Kalonkong, and Kakilingan – which are responsible for the overall management of the CBFM project. The other two sitios, which are located in the lowland and traditionally involved in sedentary agriculture, are not direct CBFM stakeholders. The CBFM Agreement awarded to the federation by DENR includes a total of 3000 ha of classified forestland. Half of this forestland is natural second growth Dipterocarp forest and the rest is a mixture of tree plantations, regenerating forest, grassland, and agroforestry farms.
Funding Information:
The Dumayop case is a clear example of decentralisation where views differ between DENR parties, particularly the Regional DENR Office and the CENRO. At project conception, the CENRO wanted to allocate the project area to each of the nine sitios in the hope that this strategy would result in effective management of small areas. Through this strategy, development funds would have been directed to each sitio, but the Regional DENR Office opposed it. They considered the entire project area a watershed, with management under a federation of people’s organisations from all sitios. Likewise, the funding agency, Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan and subsequently JBIC, was also against dividing the project area among sitios. However, the CENRO continued to resist the plans proposed by the Regional DENR Office and persisted in allocating management of the project area by sitio. The CENRO’s stand was well supported by the National Forestation Development Officer with DENR supervising the disbursement of funds/loans.
PY - 2008/11
Y1 - 2008/11
N2 - Decentralisation reforms and political conditions in the Philippines present an ideal environment for forest management by recognising the land entitlements of upland and indigenous communities and promoting the involvement of local government units. By assessing whether current conditions - policies, institutions, and programmes - are conducive to effective decentralisation, this study examines the present state of decentralisation in the forestry sector of the Philippines. By analysing case studies conducted in Nueva Vizcaya Province, it also attempts to answer a broader question: when is decentralisation a success and when is it a failure? A number of uncertainties are revealed, along with various issues that hamper decentralisation, and that are interrelated and reinforce one another in much the same way as they have done over the past decade. The study highlights the need for caution when increasing the involvement of government at different levels, as it affects the pace of decentralisation reforms. It also shows that a mix of site-specific interventions and community endeavours that focus on securing local livelihoods has led to some success. This is a strategy that helps decentralisation reforms.
AB - Decentralisation reforms and political conditions in the Philippines present an ideal environment for forest management by recognising the land entitlements of upland and indigenous communities and promoting the involvement of local government units. By assessing whether current conditions - policies, institutions, and programmes - are conducive to effective decentralisation, this study examines the present state of decentralisation in the forestry sector of the Philippines. By analysing case studies conducted in Nueva Vizcaya Province, it also attempts to answer a broader question: when is decentralisation a success and when is it a failure? A number of uncertainties are revealed, along with various issues that hamper decentralisation, and that are interrelated and reinforce one another in much the same way as they have done over the past decade. The study highlights the need for caution when increasing the involvement of government at different levels, as it affects the pace of decentralisation reforms. It also shows that a mix of site-specific interventions and community endeavours that focus on securing local livelihoods has led to some success. This is a strategy that helps decentralisation reforms.
KW - Community-based forest management
KW - Decentralised forest management
KW - Local government units
KW - Local livelihoods
KW - People's organisations
KW - The Philippines
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U2 - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2008.07.003
DO - 10.1016/j.geoforum.2008.07.003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:56949099998
SN - 0016-7185
VL - 39
SP - 2122
EP - 2131
JO - Geoforum
JF - Geoforum
IS - 6
ER -
