Harnessing Community Power

In June 1997, the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) of Calabanga, Camarines Sur was organized pursuant to Executive Order 240 (EO 240). Said EO establishes the major role of fisherfolks in the governance over the rehabilitation, conservation, utilization, and preservation of the remaining marine resources on a sustainable basis. It also calls or the adoption of a participative strategy of community-based coastal resources management program.

Since 1997, a series of FARMC orientation was conducted in the 11 coastal barangays of the municipality which led to the formation of the Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (BFARMCs) and the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) at the barangay and municipal levels respectively. These sessions were participated in by the Barangay and Municipal Councils, NGOs, POs, private institutions, women and youth, and the local fisherfolks.

Using New Resources to Build on Previous Efforts

The community is currently one of the municipalities included in the Fisheries Resource Management Project of the Department of Agriculture. As such, it takes advantage of whatever technical support the project can offer to further its efforts in coastal resources management. As part of this program, the municipality has replanted about 16 hectares of mangrove areas (about 81,500 propagules) in Barangay Sabang, Sogod, Salvacion,-Baybay, Cagsao, Belen, Bonot, Balatasan, Punta-Tarawal.

Calabanga has also established a marine reserves and a fish sanctuary in Barangay Cagsao, Manguiring, Sibobo, Belen, and Bonot. These were both established through Municipal Ordinance 97-09.

Income Diversification

The municipality has embarked on income diversification schemes to reduce pressure on the coastal resources and at the same time ensure food security in the community. To date, it has established a marine culture fish cage demo project stocked with 3,000 pieces Tilapia, 5,000 pieces bangus, 1,630 kg seaweeds ( 630 kg Eucheuma sp. and 1,000 kg Gracilaria heteroclada). Additionally, it has dispersed 10,000 pieces Tilapia fingerlings to six (6) communal bodies of water. Sixty (60) units of bottom set gill nets were also distributed.

Capacity Building

The FARMC has facilitated the conduct of capacity building activities such as the following:

• Formation of Young Environmentalists
• Symposia/Training Courses:

• Value of Quality Control in Fishery Operations
• Mangrove Management Training
• Basic Paralegal Training
• Skills Training in fish Processing
• Basic Marine Ecology and Management Training
• Training Needs Assessment to BIAKUS operators
• Information Campaign on Capiz Fishery Operation

Law Enforcement ( Bantay Dagat )

Calabanga has a very active citizenry when it comes to protecting their coastal patrimony. The 10-member municipal Bantay Dagat headed by Mr. Pablo Librero are known to have done several citizens arrest of coastal law violators. To aid the Bantay Dagat in its mission, the municipality has acquired a 45 HP patrol boat in addition to the motorized boats being used.