Fiscal Gap and Financing Protected Areas in the Philippines

Protected areas in the Philippines continue to be threatened by human exploitation. This is aggravated by government underinvestment in protected areas, which has not been adequately addressed in a more responsive manner. This EEPSEA (Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia) study examined the financing gaps of protected areas across 16 regions of the Philippines using a benchmarking methodology. The study is the work of Alexander D. Anda Jr. and Marlon Atienza of the Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc. Results show that if 2009 national benchmarks are used, it is estimated that there is a shortfall of 1,478 staff and USD 8.4 million in operating expense in the 79 protected areas sites covered by the study. It is recommended that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources pursue the enactment of mandated or enabling laws for each protected area to include the organization and staffing pattern that will be used for the site as well as allow each site to contract out protected area management or to co-manage the area with interested local government units, as well as to upgrade the general entrance fee and other charges, among others.