LMDA Organizes Training on Sustainable Fisheries Management

By: Gilbert P. Leopoldo
LMDA Admin Staff

The Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA) organized 5-day Training on Sustainable Fisheries Management in the Context of Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries on June 15-19, 2009 at Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, Butuan City. Said training was funded by Department of Agriculture - International Fund for Agricultural Development Northern Mindanao Community Initiatives Resource Management Program (DAR/IFAD-NMCIREMP) through the Sustainable Fishery Program for Lake Mainit Phase II in collaboration with Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) and MSU-Naawan Foundation for Science & Technology Development, Inc. (continue)

Multi Stakeholders in Lake Mainit FOCAS Gathered

Thirty-two representatives from different stakeholders in Lake Mainit FOCAS convened at Kapihan sa Mainit Restaurant, Mainit, Surigao del Norte last May 19, 2009. Among the participating agencies actively involved in the activity includes the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-Caraga, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Surigao del Norte, Surigao Norte College of Agriculture and Technology (SNCAT), Province of Surigao del Norte representing the PPDO, LMDA-TWG especially the action officers/MPDC of the eight municipalities and partner Civil Society Organizations especially representatives from six (6) implementing NGOs and seventeen (17) POs implementing PACAP projects in Lake Mainit. (continue)

PCFMPC Launches its Coco Fiber and Peat Production

Once more the Paco Coconut Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PCFMPC) in Barangay, Paco, Mainit, Surigao del Norte has taken the next steps in modeling a strategy for sustainable upland development through the establishment of a decorticating machine which will help in their solid waste management program and earn incomes for the coop as well. This is a component of the PACAP-assisted project “Increasing Upland Farmers’ Competencies for Sustainable Livelihood” which is implemented by Kasanyangan Rural Development Foundation, Inc. (KRDFI) under the FOCAS Management Committee facilitated by the Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA). This component has a twin target of earning incomes and contributing to the health of the environment by reducing solid wastes. It targets to assist the coop earn P23, 400 per 2-month cycle; and reduce coco husks wastes by 312,000 per 2-month cycle. (continue)

Is Lake Mainit’s Pijanga in Danger?

Pijanga, local name for fresh white goby is the major fish specie in Lake Mainit. However, the latest report shows that pijanga size is reduced. Is Pijanga now under threat?

Based on the latest study on the Sustainable Fisheries Management Program (SFMP) for Lake Mainit conducted by the MSU-Naawan researchers from August to October 2007, it was found out that there were 27 kinds of finfish species of which some might be temporary (migratory or seasonal); 3-5 kinds crustaceans; 8-10 kinds mollusk; and 14 kinds of aquatic plants. And out of 27 kinds of finfish species, the white goby, locally known as pijanga or pedianga is commonly identified from the catches in Lake Mainit area. (more...)

Assessment Workshop of PACAP Assisted Livelihood/Micro-Enterprise and NRM Projects in Lake Mainit FOCAS

A total of 22 participants are actively participating to the Assessment Workshop of PACAP Assisted Livelihood/Micro-Enterprise and NRM Projects in Lake Mainit FOCAS. Said activity was successfully conducted on October 29-30, 2008 held at San Lorenzo Ruiz Formation Center, Ampayon, Butuan City. The main objective of the assessment workshop is to capacitate the FOCAS Management Committee and Project Implementers in undertaking analysis of livelihood and natural resource management projects. (Continue)

LMDA – FOCAS Lakbay Aral 2008

By: Gilbert P. Leopoldo

The FOCAS Management Committee (FMC) team and Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA) Project Management Office team have made a successful Lakbay Aral on Lake Management and Development at the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) in Manila last September 16-19, 2008. The said activity was facilitated and funded by Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP). (click here to continue)

Sustainable Fisheries Management Planning Workshop

By: Gilbert P. Leopoldo

The Lake Mainit Development Alliance successfully conducted a two-day Sustainable Fisheries Management (SFM) Planning Workshop on October 14-15, 2008. This was held at Agricultural Training Center, Mainit, Surigao del Norte. The participants of this training - workshop were the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (MFARMC) Officers, Local Research Person’s (LRP), Municipal Agriculturist (MA), Agricultural Technologist (AT), Academe, LMDA PMO staff and selected Line Agency like NEDA, BFAR, and DA.

The programme was facilitated by the MSU-Naawan Team headed by their Team Leader Dr. Asuncion B. De Guzman. The purpose of the Planning- Workshop is the presentation of Progress Report of MSU-Naawan in their on-going study of the Lake and validation of data by the different stakeholders. The second day of the training was the actual planning-workshop for the formulation of Vision, Mission and Goals of SFM. (click here to continue)

Foundation for the Philippine Environment conducts Strategic Planning for Lake Mainit

Butuan City – The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) successfully conducted a three-day Strategic Planning Workshop Part 1 on August 20-22, 2008 at San Lorenzo Ruiz Pastoral Formation Center, Ampayon, Butuan City. It was actively participated with partners’ local government units in four lakeshore municipalities; eight assisted people’s organizations; Indigenous People; Geographic Rediscovery of Endangered Environment and Natural Resources in Mindanao (GREEN Mindanao) Association, Inc., Caraga Consortium for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development, Inc., and Lake Mainit Development Alliance (LMDA).

Resource Persons from the Mindanao State University facilitated the said activity. Mr. Armando C. Pacudan, the Regional Operations Manager Mindanao Regional Unit explained the main purpose of the activity which is to formulate strategic development plans for Lake Mainit Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation project intervention as main workshop output of the activity.

The activity was highlighted with the workshops on assessing the Lake Mainit Community-Based Biodiversity Conservation project strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities; crafting vision and mission for Lake Mainit; and presentation of the 5-year indicative development plans which focus on organizational strengthening, environmental policy formulation and implementation, tribal empowerment, natural resources management (NRM), alternative livelihood, linkages/networking, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign, access to basic services/resources, and research and development.

The next step is to present the workshop output to the eight assisted community areas for validation and further enhancement for the Part 2 strategic planning. The following are the agreed dates of workshop presentation and validation to eight pilot communities in Lake Mainit:

August 28, 2008 a.m	Cantugas, Mainit, Surigao del Norte
August 31, 2008 a.m	Tagbuyawan, Mainit, Surigao del Norte
August 31, 2008 p.m	Tapian, Mainit, Surigao del Norte
August 29, 2008 a.m	San Juan, Alegria, Surigao del Norte and San Roque, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte
August 29, 2008 p.m	Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte
August 30, 2008 a.m	Bunga, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte
August 30, 2008 p.m	Poblacion, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte

Result of the validation will be presented and discussed on the Part 2 of strategic planning workshop which will be conducted on September 8-9, 2008.

Hopefully, the final strategic plan will be included in the continues project intervention of FPE in Lake Mainit biodiversity conservation, Mr. Pacudan said.
© By Johny S. Natad
Photos by Caraga Consortium for Environmental Protection & Sustainable Development, Inc.