Reports from the field (Part 2): Mapping the main biodiversity finance policies in the Philippines

Gretchen Aquino, BIOFIN lead expert on the Political and Institutional Review in Philippines, explains how BIOFIN worked on this report. 

 
What are the main economic sectors that impact biodiversity in the Philippines?

In the BIOFIN-Philippines workshops covering the Policy and Institutional Review, we have identified several sectors which are considered important in driving both positive and negative changes in the country’s biodiversity and ecosystem status and trends. These 11 sectors are: 1) Industrial manufacturing and processing, 2) Forestry and forest-related activities, 3) Agriculture, 4) Tourism and Recreation, 5) Energy, 6) Transportation and Infrastructure, 7) Water Management/Utilization, 8) Fisheries, 9) Mining and extraction of minerals, 10) Human Settlements, and 11) Wildlife Management.

Which policy recommendations did your review suggest for the Philippines?
As a product of the Policy and Institutional Review covering stakeholders’ consultation workshops and desk review of existing biodiversity-related laws and policies in the Philippines, we came up with several policy recommendations in the economic sectors identified to impact biodiversity in the country.  The key policy recommendations include, among others, a) For Forest-related activities, the promotion of indigenous species especially in the country’s National Greening Program to prevent negative biodiversity and improve survival rate of plants/trees planted. b) For Protected Areas, review the lengthy and cumbersome process of Protected Area declaration under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act and streamline overlapping and conflicting agency mandates under the NIPAS Act, Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 and Fisheries Code. c) For the Transportation and Infrastructure sector, the adoption of green technology by, or mainstreaming of biodiversity in, the Department of Public Works and Highways and local governments, to address improper siting of infrastructure in forests, coastal areas and highways. d) For the Water sector, the adoption of standards for regulation of service efficiency and holistic approach to water resources which should include the development of sanitation and sewerage facilities. d) On Access and Benefits Sharing, consider the passage of a comprehensive law on bioprospecting which will allow monitoring and development of a bioprospecting material, and correspondingly, provide a mechanism for the community to benefit from its natural resources. e) Cutting across various sectors, the passage of the National Land Use Act currently pending in Congress to address improper use of land resources.

What are the main financing mechanisms used by Philippines to conserve biodiversity?
There are various financing mechanisms in place used by the government to conserve biodiversity.  In addition to annual budgets, loans, investment incentives, international cooperation, among others, the following are likewise utilized: entrance fees/charges in ecotourism sites, payment for ecosystem services in watersheds, permits and lease fees in forestry and forest-related activities, permits/access fees in fisheries, system of fines/levies and penalties for violation of different environmental laws and regulations.

Despite the foregoing financing mechanisms, there is a huge funding deficit for biodiversity conservation based on the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan requirements as confirmed by the BIOFIN-Philippines Costing Report. Hence, there is a need to increase or adopt new financing mechanisms, or review/streamline existing ones, to ensure that fees properly reflect the cost of biodiversity conservation or restoration, as applicable.

With the outputs from BIOFIN Policy and Institutional Review component, we tried to take its methodology a step further and came up with recommendations for resource mobilization such as tapping the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge, Malampaya funds, Energy Regulation 1-94 on Financial Benefits to Host Communities (where one centavo per kilowatt-hour of electricity sales may be requested by host communities to be set aside to fund environmental projects), among others.

How did the BIOFIN workbook help you to do your work?
The BIOFIN Workbook was of course very helpful and instructive in providing the general framework, direction and guidance for the Policy and Institutional Review component. It provided sufficient background and examples, and the global BIOFIN team provided the necessary support to the national team, as required.  

The BIOFIN national team refined the BIOFIN methodology taking into consideration factors and processes that are relevant for the local setting (e.g., Policy Review on Protection and Restoration which were limited to Protected Areas and Lands, respectively, were expanded to cover ecosystems/themes such as Coastal and Marine, Endangered and Threatened Species, Forests and Caves, Protected Areas and Agrobiodiversity). 

Ultimately, the key results of the Policy and Institutional Review in the Philippines are summarized into: Policies that should be enhanced, improved, amended or modified to achieve positive (and prevent negative) biodiversity and ecosystem status and trends; and Policies/Recommendations for Resource Mobilization.

As the Philippines is a treasure trove of biodiversity, we are glad and proud that the country has been included in the pilot countries chosen to participate in BIOFIN.