Zenaida M. Sumalde

Transaction Costs of Community-Based Coastal Resource Management: The Case of San Miguel Bay, Philippines

This study estimates and analyzes the transaction costs (TC) associated with the implementation of a multilevel and multistakeholder program such as a community-based coastal resource management program. Results show that TC accounted for 37% of the total project cost (TPC). The instability of financial support resulted in high TC, which was estimated to be 86% of the TPC during the implementation phase of the coastal resource management projects. The share of the total TC was highest among the peoples organizations (POs) that were the beneficiaries of the program. The number of people involved in the transactions, the number of activities undertaken, and the success index of the POs were among the factors significantly affecting the TC. Analysis also shows that while higher TC led to higher success index of the POs at the initial stage of the project implementation, an increasing level of TC eventually slowed down their performance.

Levels and determinants of vulnerability of two indigenous communities in the Philippines

Purpose – This paper aims to determine and compare the vulnerability of selected indigenous communities in the Philippines using several integrated index development approaches. Better understanding on how negative impacts of climate change could be effectively reduced is the identification of appropriate vulnerability assessment approach that is applicable to the local and cultural contexts. Critical in the case of indigenous communities is the analyses of determinants of vulnerability by and with themselves. Design/methodology/approach – Using the survey data of combined 169 households, vulnerability scores of two adjacent Alangan Mangyan indigenous communities were quantified utilizing a set of 31 indicators that were systematically combined via the balanced-weighted (composite index) and unbalanced-weighted (principal component analysis) approaches. Findings – The computed vulnerability scores of the Alangan Mangyan communities using several approaches yielded varying results. In both study sites, the...

Productivity Effects of Water Pollution Due to Excessive Aquaculture Structures and Overstocking

This study was conducted to assess the effects of excessive aquaculture structures and stocking density on water quality and aquaculture production given the policies in place in Bolinao, which is one of the major aquaculture producing municipalities in the Philippines. Results of the study showed that the average stocking density of the aquaculture operation fell within the optimal value, but there were operators whose stocking densities were more than double than that of the optimum. The aquaculture production analysis showed that stocking density affects production. Beyond a certain level, further increases in stocks result in decreasing productivity. Excessive number of fish pens and cages with overstocking may lead to fish kills due to deteriorating water quality and other associated damages that are detrimental to the aquaculture industry and to the greater community. The study suggests that several policy implications and better regulation of coastal aquaculture operation are needed.