A review and evaluation of community-based coastal resource management programs and projects in the Philippines, 1984-1994

There is a growing realization in Southeast Asian of the need for increased participation by resource users in fisheries management and greater localized control over access to the resource. Community-based resource management has re-emerged as a way to involve resource users and to utilize indigenous institutional arrangements and knowledge in coastal fisheries management. In virtually all users, however, the future of community-based resource management seems to lie in a form of co-management, a sharing of responsibility and authority for resource management users of community. The Philippines is a world leader in community-based coastal resource management (CBCRM) between 1984-1994, 43 CBCRM programs and projects with over 105 project units or sites were implemented throughout the 12 regions of the Philippines. This paper will present the results of a review and evaluation of CBCRM programs and projects in the Philippines. Major interventions, Institutions and processes of CBCRM are discussed and general lessons learned are identified