Contract NGOs in Community-Based Forest Management in the Philippines

Stakeholder's roles and responsibilities in the Community-Based Forest Management Program of the Philippines

“…Community groups are potentially the weakest link in the CBFM program, the success of community forestry being heavily dependent on building a community's capacity to develop and manage a collective resource (Bisson et al 1997, Pulhin 1998, Donoghue 1999, La Vina 1999, Guiang 2001a. Many of the communities involved in the CBRMP have low literacy levels, lack financial resources and do not have a history of utilising resources in a collective manner (Donoghue 1999).…”

“…Community organising is expensive and time consuming. The pilot contracts for the CBFM program initially employed community organisers for three years but in 1996 this was reduced to one year with the possibility of renewal (Donoghue 1999). The present contract terms for community organisers are for two years (Estoria 2004).…”

“…One factor that has been identified as restricting the success of CBFMAs and other community forestry programs elsewhere is the failure of many assisting organisations to take account of the diversity of socio-economic circumstances within communities (Raintree 1987, 1991, Bisson et al 1997, Pulhin 1998, Donoghue 1999, Contreras 2000. Pulhin quoted Cernea (1992) as stating:…”

“…Communities received income through contracts to plant areas but they frequently have had to wait long periods for payment. This meant some ended up worse-off than before because they had neglected other farming activities (Donoghue 1999). Communities without access to residual forests have few resources to use for development activities (Guiang 2001b).…”

“…Revision of plans also requires DENR approval (Donoghue 1999). The process to obtain approval for these plans and permits is time consuming and complex, requiring knowledge of how to carry out timber inventories and harvesting plans as well as knowledge about how to deal with bureaucracies and legal commitments that are new to many community members.…”