Community Based Livelihood Program as Support to Tourism in El NidoIntroductionAbstractThe study is about the economic predicament of El Nido such as inflation, the lack of economic growth and poverty despite the boom of the tourism industry. El Nido, a land blessed with pristine beaches, fertile land and skilled people, has been left behind dramatically. Importance of the TopicEl Nido has been a tourist hotspot for a couple of decades, and is continually flooded by numerous tourist and several business establishments. However, there was no significant improvement in terms of life style of the communities, residing specifically, in the rural areas. Out of 7,426 total households in the municipality, there are 5,014 households having an income that is below the poverty threshold. Poverty Incidence in the municipality stood at 67.52% during the 2011 CBMS survey in the area and upped by 0.76% compared to the 2008 CBMS survey result. The municipality poverty incidence rate of 67.52% is way higher compared to the 2011 provincial and national average of 57.95% and 22.30% respectively.Despite the fact that El Nido has become a remarkable tourist destination which paved way to business establishments, the mode of lifestyle of the people are substandard. In other words the development was centralized and condensed in Poblacion, El Nido and those communities which have a remarkable distance are deprived of such development. As a result of such economic transition, the inflation rate skyrocketed which led the prices of basic commodities to be burdensome for the residents as well as the tourists.Thus, in order to provide remedy, there must be a sustainable livelihood in which would create a bond of mutual cooperation between the rural communities and the tourist hotspots. Aqua-Tourism and Agri-Tourism seems to be the most befitting solution to the problem.

Definition of TermsAqua Tourism Aquatic livelihood ranging from aquatic recreational activities to aquatic farming which co-exists and collaborates with tourism as a means to an end.Agritourism Involves any agriculturally based operation or activity that brings visitors to a farm or ranch.Agriculture The practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops and raising livestock and varying degrees of preparation and marketing of the resulting products.Aqua Culture also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.Community Based Livelihood Is the mode of livelihood reliant on cooperation and hard work of the community.Niche Tourism is the small scale and community based tourism.Economic Growth an increase in the amount of goods and services produced per head of the population over a period of time.Inflation a continual increase in the price of goods and service.

Key Stake HoldersStake Holders Analysis

The main benefactors of the community based livelihood in El Nido are residents of the said municipality since they are the ones who are directly affected by the economic structure of El Nido. Their lifestyle may dramatically upgraded by the success of the proposed contract. Also in the success of the said community based livelihood, the dramatic increase ofThe key stake holders are the Government agencies with direct relation such as the Office of the Municipal Government of El Nido and the Provincial Government of Palawan since they are the ones who have the power to implement policies and make decisions in the economic policies affecting El Nido. The Agri/Aqua based business investors are one of the key players in the fulfillment of the proposed policy for they will serve as the back bone in financing the livelihood program through the government.Key Policy AreasThere are key policy areas that need to be analyzed and resolved. The aforementioned are as follows: First, the prices of commodities in El Nido is significantly higher than the commodities in found in Puerto princesa, which is burdensome on the part of the residents and tourists. It also discourages the local tourists from going to El Nido and making them choose a cheaper alternative which indirectly lessens the opportunities in increasing the profits from tourism. Second, there is lack of economic growth despite the increase of business establishments and various tourists. One of the things to be dealt with in this policy proposal is the existing livelihood in El Nido. According to the Community Based Monitoring System, 47.37 percent of households engage in forestry as an entrepreneurial activity and only a roughly 30 percent participate in farming, poultry and livestock. Furthermore, the agricultural produce in El Nido comprises of rice, cashew, coconut, and mango production. With limited varieties of crop produced, El Nido imports agricultural product from other places.In terms of employment out of 21,392 persons in the productive age (15 years old and over), only 11,820 are in the labor force and majority of them (10,804) were either employed or self-employed. This 2011 figure of 10,804 indicates a significant employment proportion rate of 91.40%. This 2011 employment rate was slightly lower than the provincial and national employment averages of 92.36% and 93.00% respectively.With regards to the role of the government, there is a need for synergetic cooperation between the aforementioned and the community of El Nido. The government ought to act as a catalyst in upgrading the lifestyle of the constituents, thus there must be close and active participation between the two. The government is not solidary responsible for feeding the people, but it is responsible for mobilizing and paving a pathway towards development. There must be vigilance and zeal on the part of the legislators in pursuing the interest of society, as for the executive department, there must be a steadfast and practical implementation on its part. Another key policy area that needs to be dealt with would pertain to the role of the investors and business enterprise in relation to the pursuit of the best interest for the communities in El Nido. The investors are the key players in order to render the efficacy of the proposed policy of integrating a community based livelihood as support to tourism in the Municipality of El Nido. It would be in the best interest of the community of El Nido to maximize the use of investors and would result to a win-win situation. The community is satisfied with their means for living, on the other hand, the investors are satisfied with the profit that they receive on their end. Albeit, it is up to the government to entice the said investors and mobilize the communities.As for the environment, it must be insured that the means and result of the policy would cause no or minimal the harm to the environment. Palawan was branded as the last frontier and is widely known for its greenery, wildlife and most importantly paradisiac beaches. Beneath the aesthetic value of the environment, whats also to be protected is the right of the people to a healthful ecology as provided by the 1987 Philippine Constitution. OverviewEl Nido is one of the municipalities of the Province of Palawan. It is located at the northernmost part of the province rich with natural resources. It is famous for its towering marble cliffs, white beaches, crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life. Despite its exquisite beauty, it has many struggles with its journey towards economic development.One of which is inflation or the abnormal increase of the price commodities. The price of basic commodities is twice or thrice as higher than that which came from other municipalities and Puerto Princesa City. Also, the fact that El Nido imports majority of its supply from other cities such as Puerto Princesa City, Iloilo and Manila is contributory for the increase of said prices.Furthermore, the economic activities are heavily centralized and limited to tourism related activities, exclusively in Poblacion. Consequently, the small and distant communities are deprived of opportunities in pursuing economic growth.In order to provide a remedy for such predicament, a suitable plan would be to create a community based livelihood as support to tourism in El Nido, particularly a livelihood based on agricultural and aqua tourism. Both Agri and Aqua Tourism are branches of niche tourism, the type of tourism which focuses on small scale community based activities and caters to a smaller audience as distinguished from mass tourism. Unlike fancy hotels and theme parks as afforded by mass tourism, niche tourism provides a more specific approach which seeks to mobilize the community. Also, mass tourism is often cited to have negative impacts in relation to environmental degradation and socio-cultural disturbance, which is contrary to what niche tourism offers. The niche tourism approach appear to offer great opportunities and a tourism that is more sustainable and damaging. (Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006)As for Agri-tourism, it is a commercial enterprise at a working farm, ranch, or agricultural plant conducted for the enjoyment of visitors that generates supplemental income for the owner. Agritourism is a subset of a larger industry called rural tourism that includes resorts, off-site farmers' markets, non-profit agricultural tours, and other leisure and hospitality businesses that attract visitors to the countryside. Aside from the fact that there is agricultural products being generated for the market, there is also a market advantage arising from the tourists that would find such enterprise to be appealing. The targeted consumers are vaster due to the implications brought by tourism, which would equate to more profit. In Negros Occidental there has been a boost of agricultural tourism in 2009, and has the highest number of agri-tourists. A total of 78 agri-tours to various organic farms were coordinated by the Farmers Information and Technology Services (FITS) Center of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) Negros Occidental, accounting for 1,027 visitors including farmers, students, academicians, local officials, and entrepreneurs listed in the OPA FITS logbook.In addition, the influx of agritourists grows year by year. Agri-tourism is one industry that could rake in big revenues to the province according to Tabianan.Organic farming initiatives in Negros have become popular since a memorandum of agreement was signed between governors Joseph Maraon of Negros Occidental and George Arnaiz of Negros Oriental in 2005. The partnership has been geared toward sustainable agriculture and rural development while seeking to make Negros Island theOrganic Food Basket of Asia. (WESVARRDEC, 2010)As for Aqua-tourism and Aqua Culture, it is understood to mean the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants that would eventually be used as sustainable livelihood in support to tourism. (FAO 2011)Aquaculture might provide one avenue to mitigate the threats to the worlds fisheries by taking at least some of the pressure off wild fish stocks while supporting livelihoods and food production. Indeed, aquaculture production has increased tremendously over the past few decades and today accounts for almost a third of global production by weight while production from wild fisheries has largely slowed or stagnated. Over 80 percent of aquaculture is taking place in developing countries, highlighting the sectors growing importance as a source of revenue and food security.At the same, serious environmental concerns have been raised related to aquaculture production, such as water pollution, increased salinity and destruction of mangrove forests. Critics have also pointed to the sectors continued reliance on fish meal as feed produced from wild-caught fish, which is feared to further contribute to the depletion of fish stocks. Others have highlighted potential socio-economic implications, resulting for instance from increased market concentration at the expense of small-scale aquaculture producers and processors. (Fahmida Khatun, Frank Asche 2006)

Existing PoliciesSo far, as the Municipality of El Nido is concerned, there has yet to be extensive research with regards to existing policies which are correlated to said proposals. But as for the existing policies of the Philippine Government, it has been a State policy as afforded by Section 9 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution: The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. The State also encourages private enterprise as stated in Article II, Section 20 which states that: The State recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector, encourages private enterprise, and provides incentives to needed investments.

Key IssuesThere is are several underlying assumptions that must be dealt with. First, there is a premise that the resources are being mismanaged. El Nido has been blessed with pristine beaches, stable weather and fertile land but so much as so, there has been economic stagnation due to the said mismanagement. Vast lands being uncultivated, seas unutilized and communities immobilized. Thus the full potential is yet to be harnessed. Second, the existing livelihood in the communities are ineffective in terms of giving a decent mode of living. The basis for that is the 2011 data pertaining to the employment rate and the poverty incidence in El Nido. Out of 21,392 persons in the productive age (15 years old and over), only 11,820 are in the labor force and majority of them (10,804) were either employed or self-employed. But despite the fact that there is an employment rate of 91.40% in 2011, out of 7,426 total households in the municipality, there are 5,014 households having an income that is below the poverty threshold. Poverty Incidence in the municipality stood at 67.52% during the 2011 CBMS survey in the area and upped by 0.76% compared to the 2008 CBMS survey result.The municipality poverty incidence rate of 67.52% is way higher compared to the 2011 provincial and national average of 57.95% and 22.30% respectively.In conclusion, the problem lies not within the available resources but within the method by which the resources are being utilized. That is why there is a dire need for a program which would provide remedy for the problems stipulated.As to the effects on the roles of the key stake holders, they are divided respectively according to the influence and interest that they will have pertaining to the proposed policy at hand. The ones with the high interest but have low influence are the residents and the small scale business owners of El Nido. It is in their best interest that the policy be actualized since it directly affects their mode of living, as well as their prospect with regards. They must be mobilized to their full extent in order to protect such interest in line with the efficacy of the proposed policy. There must also be a special initiative on their part as well as major involvement in the process of the implementation of the policy.The key stake holders with low interest and low influence are the residents and small scale business owners from the nearby municipalities outside of El Nido. They may have involvement with regards to the implementation of the policy but have the least priority. They may also participate by being part of the broadening of the target market consumers of the Agricultural and Aqua based livelihood. The neighboring municipalities may serve as additional consumers and distributors of the products in the expansion of such program.The stake holders with the high interest and high influence are the Local Government agencies with direct relation to either the Municipality of El Nido or the Department of Tourism. The government agencies are the ones that play an important role of using legislative and executory powers in implementing the said program. They will be the one dealing with the legal and formal aspect of the livelihood programs. Also, the government will have the power to mitigate the flow of the said livelihood program and serve as a vanguard of the interest of the people. In reeling the Aqua and Agriculture based investors, the government play the role and responsibility.As for the Aqua and Agriculture based investors, who also form part of the high interest high influence stake holders group, they play a key role of being the means by which the livelihood program runs on, they provide majority the funding which the implementing government cannot. The said investors have pecuniary interest in terms of business prospects arising from El Nido. It would be beneficial to take advantage of the economic interest and convert it into an agreement with the provincial and municipal government of El Nido.The stake holders with low interest but have high influence, are the Local Government Units that have no relation to the Municipal Government of El Nido and the tourism industry. They must be kept satisfied and ensure that there would be no conflict between the implementing bodies of the said proposal. If conflict would arise from the aforementioned, then various complications would occur due to the influence brought by them. An example would be, if the proposed livelihood program would cause harm to the environment, then an environmental agency such as Department of Environment and Natural Resource may uphold its power to intervene. Thus it would be most beneficial for the said program to not act in excess of its respective jurisdiction and must perform all the necessary compliance therewith.The same applies with the other investors which are not Agri and Aqua based. They may not be the key with regards to the fulfillment but its best to steer clear at the moment and in the long run, they may be of use. If the proposed policy succeeds, other investors would be drawn, thus it would result to the establishment of business enterprises, which would result to an increase of economic activity. Eventually, in the long run, it would create an effect that would not only result in the deflation of prices but also upgrades the lives of every individual whether itd be direct or indirect.Although, there are conflicts that may arise or may have already been existinng between the key stake holders that sought to be avoided. As a result there are proper precautions and remedy to be enforced. But first, those conflicts must be identified. One of those is the lack of coordination between the Municipal Government and the normal individual. The government of El Nido for the past decades have been focusing on its ministerial functions, such as the operation of its day to day activity that which is required to any government agency, rather than their discretionary function such as the formulation of governmental schemes or policy which would be used to enhance the mode of living of the residents. As a result people are not being utilized which in the long run created a gap between the government and the residents which the former serves.Another conflict would be the skepticism of the large scale investors regarding the existing bureaucratic system. Because of the bad reputation of the government pertaining to the slow, ineffective and tedious system of bureaucratic implementation, there would be difficulty in reeling other investors and trust may be an issue. Also, the interest of the investors would be heavily focused in the pecuniary benefit that may be accrued, and a noble and moral interest is more often than not, incidental to the business venture. While the government on the other hand would seek the possibility of closing a deal with the bidder which cost less on the part of the government.There is also the conflicts as to the utilization of the natural resources in El Nido. First off, the business sector, as much as possible, would maximize the exploitation of the said resources for income generating purposes on their part. The government on the other hand has the responsibility of monitoring and drawing the limit with regards to the exploitation of such resources. The government then tries its best to make sure the business sectors would not go out of bounds and while the latter grabs every opportunity to maximize what may be taken advantage of.As a result of the roles and conflicts, there are the implications as a result. First, the economic inflation of prices, due to the importation of basic commodities which are not found in El Nido, which is a result of an inexistent livelihood program burdened with the boom of the tourism industry. Instead of serving as a leverage towards economic growth, expansion of tourism industry in El Nido has become a burden that the rural communities must carry.In addition, economic growth has been centralized and Poblacion has been the primary focus of it. Majority of economic activities take place in Poblacion due to the influx of tourists and their demand for services. Thus many residents grab the opportunity to take advantage of the growth of tourism, in exchange other economic enterprises are being neglected althogether.There is also lack of diversity in terms of agricultural produce since the crops are only limited to rice, cashew, coconut and mango plantations. The aforementioned crops are insufficient to sustain the consumers, which by the way are not only the residents but also the tourists who temporarily sojourn the municipality of El Nido.As a result, there is economic stagnation despite the increase of tourists and business establishments such as resorts. Instead of upgrading as a society and meeting the demands of the tourist influx, the misguided municipality is taken aback.In addition poverty and low standards of living remain rampant and continues to be an unresolved predicament. A predicament by which, if went unsettled, would turn into a social cancer that is worsened through time.

Conclusion and RecommendationsThe befitting solution to such quandary would be a community based livelihood that would result to a sustainable development. The focus of the said community based livelihood would be in the agricultural and aquatic utilization. In order to minimize the importation of basic commodities, there must be an identification of what can be made available and sold locally. For example, instead of importing vegetables that may easily grow in El Nido, farmers in El Nido should produce those crops in particular instead. Instead of purchasing livestock like chicken all the way from Iloilo, the communities in cooperation with investors should raise the livestock themselves and have the whole municipality as their targeted consumers.In order for that to happen there must be a unified participation and meeting of minds between the government, the business investors and the residents of El Nido which must be spearheaded by the government itself.In line with the implementation of the first solution, the tourism industry must be amplified in order to broaden the target market, to the extent that tourism will turn into a means to an end.

RationaleThe main reason for such recommendations is to empower the community. Abraham Lincoln stated Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth and that is being conformed to by most democratic countries, in which our country in not an exemption. Also we adhere to the Latin maxim of Salus populi suprema lex esto which means that the welfare of people is the supreme law. Thus it is the welfare of the community is of primary concern.Also, a community based agriculture and aquatic livelihood would lead to a sustainable development since it provides remedy to one of the primordial concern and that is the food supply as one of the most basic necessity. Once theres sustainable source of food the deflation of prices happens as a result and there will be an expansion of the tourism industry.As for the natural resources, the untilled land would not go to waste as well as the potential of the skilled individual whose abilities remain unused due to the lack of initiative of the government as an intervener between the gap of the private sectors and the private individual.Implication and Possible OutcomesThe result of the success of such program would tantamount to economic growth in which would create a domino effect of upgrading the life style of the individual as well as multiple increase of opportunities given not only to residents but also potential migrants. The resources would also maximized to its optimum use rather than being unmanaged which would also in effect create progress, which of course is subject to regulation.Also due to the decentralization of economic activity, there will also be proper distribution of monetary revenue, in which the rural communities are currently deprived of. Furthermore, there would be the lowering of prices of basic commodities which will accommodate more tourist, not only the ones who can afford the expensive mode of travel but also the local tourist who are in pursuit of cheap accommodation. In conclusion, there would be plenty of benefits accrued through the fulfillment of proposed policy. Not only is it a win-win situation for the rural communities, tourists and the business sector, but also gives a huge leap for the Provincial Government of Palawan and Municipal Government of El Nido.

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