Rationale:

One of the factors that have contributed to the decimation of mangrove areas not only in Alaminos but all throughout the country is the erroneous policy previously implemented by the national government in granting permits and other instruments to various parties concerned in converting vast mangrove areas into saltbed and fishpond development.

Reports from fishermen revealed that for the last decade, a steady decline in the volume offish catch have been noted by the fisherfolks along the Tambac Bay and Lucap Bay, considered as the City's and the Lingayen Gulf most productive fishing grounds. Various studies and researches conducted in the Lingayen Gulf have attributed the following factors that have contributed to the steady decline on the volume of fishcatch namely, deforestation of mangrove forests, siltation corning from the upland areas and the deterioration of the coral reefs among others.

The role of mangrove forest ecosystem in sustaining fishery resources can not be denied. Mangrove serves as the nursery grounds of fishes and other marine lives. Likewise, mangrove also serves to mitigate siltation of our coastal zones brought about by soil erosion.

It is for these reasons that the City of Alaminos deemed it urgent to rehabilitate mangrove areas along its coastal zones. Started in 1999, the City has already started its Mangrove Revegetation Project. As of this date, in collaboration with Barangay Officials, it has now established an aggregate area of about 7 hectares in barangays Baleydaan, Cayucay, Bued and Sabangan. In coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the City hopes to develop all potential areas for mangrove within the next 10 years.

Program Objectives:

Condition of the area before the Project:

Before the implementation of the project, fisherfolks observed that the volume of fish catch dwindled day by day. Even seashells that used to abound in these areas are nowhere to be found.

Condition of the area after the Project:

Barely after two years of project implementation, fishermen now observed that a lot of fishes are now playing and returning back in the established mangrove plantation. Interview from barangay officials revealed that even pupils are now having some sort of source income by picking some seashells that are now gradually increasing their population in the mangrove areas established.

Major Accomplishments of the Program

1. Effectiveness/Efficiency of Program

1.1 Please outline the specific objectives of the program and discuss the qualitative and/or quantitative results per objective based on your program indicators

Specifically, this project hopes to establish an LGU managed mangrove revegatation project in all the coastal zones of the City. The project, being a long gestation one, hopes to increase fishery resources, mitigate siltation, and to become an alternative tourism site of the City of Alaminos.

1.2 Please describe major activities and processess involved in implementing the program from the time the program started up to the present. Kindly include 2 or 3 photos showing the major activities and accomplishments of your program.

Major Activities Undertaken:	Barangay Consultation Plan Preparation Project Execution

1.3 Please show the program structure and the number of staff involved including volunteers?

No. of staff from LGU (fulltime) -	2, plus City Agriculture Office Technicians
No. of staff from the Barangays -	2

1.4 What is the program's total budget? Of the total budget, how much was spent for overhead / administrative expenses and for operations?

For the year 2002, the City Government of Alaminos has earmarked P 50,000 for mangrove project expansion. This will be undertaken on October when mangrove propagules would be in abundance. Likewise, the wages of the 2 Project Caretakers covering the period of 6 months is being shouldered by the City while the other 6 months period is being be shouldered by the barangays

1.5. How manv of the beneficiaries were reached by the program? What percentage of the total targetted beneficiaries were served?

The actual number of beneficiaries could not be quantified at the moment. However, this project will most certainly benefit directly all the fishermen operating in the Lingayen Gulf, thru higher productivity level of fishery resources.

1.6. Please describe briefly your programs' good governance outputs in terms of transparency,accountability and civic participation?

Transparency, accountability and civic participation could be gleaned from the strong participation not only in the barangays but also from civic organizations operating in the city. In particular, the Philippine Association of Family Technician Inc. (Pangasinan Chapter) has donated P 10,000.00 to barangay Bued for this project.

2. Positive socio-economic and/or environmental impact - the ability of the program to significantly reduce poverty in your city.

2.1 Please describe the positive socio-economic and/or environmental impact of your program on your beneficiaries and communities. Show figures, statistics to support your assessment (Example: a)increase in household income.)

The project's socio-economic impact can be measured on the renewed enthusiasm that the barangay council has shown by their strong clamor for the expansion of the project within their area of jurisdiction. This can be attributed from their observation that a marked increase on population of fish, crustaceans and other fishery resources have been observed in the mangrove areas. Based on this scenario, it could be concluded that an increased fish catch, will ultimate translate to a higher income for the fisherfolks.

Full environmental impact of the project on the otherhand could not yet be felt for the time being. But the City government of Alaminos is optimistic that this project will mitigate the effects of siltation brought about by soil erosion from the upland that now besets the Lingayen Gulf Likewise, mangrove area that will be establish will serve as wind barrier that will protect coastal inhabitants specially during typhoons.

3. Transferabilty and Sustainability - the degree to which the program will be continued beyond the current administration and its potential to get the support of the next administration.; the extent to which the benefits of the program will continue to flow to its beneficiaries despite the change in leadership and funding arrangements; the degree to which the program will inspire replication by other cities.

3.1. How did you ensure that your program will continue even beyond the present administration and/ or if external assistance will be discontinued? What were the mechanisms that you have put in place to ensure sustainability?

Since partners for this project also includes barangay officials as well as fishermen associations in the barangays, the City government of Alaminos is optimistic that continues support from the next barangay officials can be attained. As a mechanism, the City would see to it that funds for the development/expansion of this project should be allocated in the barangay development plan.

Subject to the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, an ordinance will be pass making it mandatory for the City government to allocate certain amount from the budget annually for the said project for the next ten years for the next 10 years.

3.1. Please describe the major problem/s encountered during the planning and implementation stages of your program and how these were resolved.

Initially, some barangays officials in the target area were not that enthusiastic with the project considering their negative experiences gained from the same project undertaken by other government agencies. However, with great enthusiasm shown by the Mayor, these reservations were later on replaced with great optimism.

4. Can you truly state that your program has advanced the current thrusts of the League of Cities concerning "Poverty reduction" and/or "Good Governance"? Explain briefly.

Poverty reduction, as an ultimate measure on the impact of the project could not yet be ascertain for the time being. The fact indicates however that with the renewed enthusiasm of the people living in the coastal area, there is no reason why can't the LGU of Alaminos could not attained the goal of this project on poverty reduction. With a projected volume of fish catch, projected increase for toursim activities which will spur economic growth, it is hoped that attacking the poverty besetting the coastal zone could not be sustained.

On the otherhand, good governance can now be possibly viewed on the manner of how the LGU was able to convert the initial indifference and lack of interest exhibited by some barangay officials to participate in this project to a level that they are now clamoring for the expansion of the project.

We certify that, to the best of our knowledge, the information contained in this application is true and accurate.