Declaration of

Principles on
Environmental
Governance
for the Cordillera Administrative Region
This Declaration of Principles on Environmental Governance
for the Cordillera Administrative Region is the product of
collaboration between the Cordillera Studies Center,
University of the Philippines Baguio and the National
Economic and Development Authority – Cordillera
Administrative Region, as supported and endorsed by the
Regional Development Council – Cordillera Administrative
Region.

Printed in the Republic of the Philippines, 2014

Cover photo credit: “Fieldwork in Pasdong and Naguey,”

Marie Joy Lumiwes, 2013.
 Table of Contents

Message i

Foreword ii

Acknowledgement iii

Declaration of Principles on
Environmental Governance for the
Cordillera Administrative Region 1

Executive Summary 4

A. Principles of Environmental Governance 4

B. Guide for Policy Directions 9
C. Recommendations for the
Regional Development Council 19

RDC-CAR Resolution No. 61 21

CAR Development Vision 23

 MESSAGE

The Declaration of Principles on Environmental Governance

(DPEG) for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) embodies the
aspirations of the Cordillera people to attain regional development while
protecting the integrity of the environment. It contains principles and
policies borne out of the Cordilleran’s respect for nature and the belief
that the fullness of life is more than material wealth but prosperity in a
clean, secure and beautiful environment. Recognizing the Cordillera’s
traditional values and culture of communal responsibility, participative
decision-making and democratic governance, the DPEG is envisioned to
provide direction in the effective and sound management of the region’s
natural resources.

As stewards of CAR’s rich endowments, it is our responsibility to

ensure their judicious use even as we face the challenges of climate
change and the competing demands for sustainable development.

To push for a progressive Cordillera that contributes to national

development and global welfare, the Cordillera Regional Development
Council encourages all government entities including the local
government units as well as development partners at the national and
international realm to uphold these principles in designing and
implementing programs that affect our environment. May these principles
translate to sustained benefits to our communities and environmental
services for the rest of society.

EUSTAQUIO P. BERSAMIN
RDC CAR Chairman
(Governor, Province of Abra)

i
 FOREWORD

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), favored by abundant

natural resources, has always been challenged by the choice between
hastening development and sustaining the capacities of the environment.
This is so even as the Updated Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2014-
2016 identifies sustained economic growth and the preservation of
environmental quality as among the region’s development goals to attain
inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

It is for this purpose that the Declaration of Principles on

Environmental Governance (DPEG) for the Cordillera Administrative Region
was crafted to serve as a guide and to set policy directions in environmental
management. The document synthesizes the workshop outputs of provincial
and regional stakeholder-consultations, and incorporates the review and
analysis of pertinent data, laws and regulations on the environment and
natural resources. The principles are framed within the context of sustainable
development, the region’s fragile environment and diverse indigenous culture
that values nature as a source of life. The document also identifies thematic
issues besetting the environment sector and proposes actions to address
these concerns in consonance with the guiding principles and policies. In
highlighting the unique conditions in the Cordillera, the DPEG promotes
rights-based environmental governance that advocates greater local
ownership and control over the utilization of the region’s resource wealth.

We appreciate the inputs from all stakeholders in the preparation and

validation of this document. It is hoped that these guidelines be considered in
the planning and implementation of development interventions to attain a
better quality of life for the present and future generations. Ultimately, the
application of these principles and the benefits to communities would be
altogether a proclamation that the Cordillera Region is capable of responsible
governance to manage its resources sustainably.

MILAGROS A. RIMANDO
RDC CAR Vice-Chairperson
(Regional Director, NEDA CAR)
ii
 Acknowledgement

The Regional Development Council (RDC) – CAR would like to

thank all stakeholders who participated in the provincial and regional
consultations and provided inputs to the preparation of this document,
“Declaration of Principles on Environmental Governance for the
Cordillera Administrative Region.” We advocate these principles to
promote sound environmental management for the equitable and
sustainable development of the Cordillera.

iii
!

iv
 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL –
CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE FOR THE

CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

We, the members of the Regional Development Council of the Cordillera

Administrative Region,

Reaffirming our commitments to Philippine Agenda 21 to pursue

Sustainable Development for poverty reduction and a better
quality of life for all Filipinos;

Acknowledging that respect for the environment is intricately

linked to the well-being, beliefs and culture of the Cordillera
people;

Recognizing the role of the Cordillera as the Watershed Cradle of

Northern Philippines and its potential as a model of a sustainable
ecosystem,

Hereby proclaim these Principles for Environmental Governance:

1. Strong institutions for environmental governance.

Effective, sound and responsive environmental governance
requires appropriate and strong institutions, i.e., institutional
arrangements that get things done.

!
 2. Planning processes that are sensitive to local
conditions and guided by sound management
principles. Effective environmental governance requires
that state policies and laws are adapted to the unique
conditions of the Cordillera region and the genuine needs of
its people.

3. Quality and meaningful citizen participation. Adherence

to democratic ideals and active citizenship are essential to
effective environmental governance. Policy-making in the
region should be guided by transparency and accountability.

4. Rights-based approach to environmental governance.

Responsive environmental governance values human rights,
including the right to a healthy environment, and respect for
indigenous peoples’ rights.

2" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 3!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES ON ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE:
GUIDE FOR POLICY MAKERS AND STAKEHOLDERS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2012, the Regional Development Council-Cordillera Administrative

Region (RDC-CAR), commissioned a study to formulate principles and
policy guides on environmental governance in the region for sustainable
development and poverty reduction. This document presents, in summary
form, 1 those principles of environmental governance and many of the
policy options available for various stakeholders. Figure 1 in the previous
page offers a visual presentation of these principles.

A. PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE

1. Strong institutions for environmental governance. The need

for strong institutions in the region can be considered as an
overarching principle from whence other governance principles
may be derived. The strength of institutions may be gauged
according to the ability of those institutions to actually get things
done by enforcing rules that will improve the state of the
environment in the region.

To establish strong institutions for environmental governance in

the region, the adoption of the following policy options, whether
separately or in conjunction with others, is recommended:

! Enforce existing environmental policies strictly;

exercise political will;

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1!For!a!more!detailed!discussion,!read!the!DPEG%Terminal%Report,!2014.!

!
4" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 ! Upgrade and strengthen the management capabilities
of CAR institutions including Regional Line Agencies
(RLAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), the Regional
Development Council (RDC) and other public bodies;

! Promote transparency and accountability of

institutions in environmental management, particularly
in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of
programs and projects;

! Improve inter-institutional, inter-agency, inter-LGU

coordination when addressing environmental issues,
particularly those that go beyond the boundaries of a
local government unit or an ancestral domain; and

! Consider pursuing regional autonomy for more

effective control and management of the region’s
natural resources.

2. Planning processes that are sensitive to local conditions in

the Cordillera and that conform to sound management
practices. Planning processes must be adapted to the unique
local conditions in the region and the peculiar needs of its people.
Given the unique characteristics of the CAR vis-à-vis other regions
in the country, the following should be pursued:

! The adoption of Ancestral Domain Planning as an

Integrated Area Planning Approach in the CAR. The
ancestral domain must be considered as a
development planning unit in the region, especially
when formulating local and sectoral development
plans.

! Knowledge-sharing on data and research outputs. The

formulation of plans that are responsive to local
conditions, the monitoring of policy and program
implementation, and resource accounting require the
gathering and sharing of reliable site-specific
information.

DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 5!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 Planning processes must also be guided by sound
management practices which include:

! Formulation of good environmental plans. A good

plan has clear outcomes and a clear time frame for
their realization.

! Formulation of a shared vision of a sustainable

community in the not-so-distant future.
Environmentally-relevant plans and policies for the
region must be based on a vision, reached through
consensus, of a sustainably managed environment
and community in the next ten or twenty years. Clear
indicators of success or progress must characterize
this vision.

! Localization and local “ownership” of environmental

plans. Plans must meet and take into account local
needs and unique local conditions. Communities
need to regard environmental plans as their own to
ensure their commitment to the success of such plans.

! Periodic accounting and assessment of the state of

the environment. Planning for a sustainable future
requires useful data, among them reliable baseline
information, which would allow the tracking of some
evidence or indicators of change in the state of the
environment across time.

! Regular monitoring and evaluation of the

implementation of environmental policies. The
government’s performance in protecting the
environment needs to be monitored and assessed
regularly to ensure effective implementation.

3. Quality and meaningful citizen participation. The establishment

of stronger institutions for environmental governance in CAR must
go hand in hand with quality and meaningful citizen participation.
Citizen participation is essential to effective environmental

6" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 governance. With this in mind, the following are strongly
recommended:

! Broadening the areas of engagement for civil society

organizations (CSOs), indigenous peoples (IPs) and
indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) in all aspects
of environmental governance.

! Creating an enabling environment for meaningful

citizen participation, promoting, in the process,
transparency, accountability, and public scrutiny of
governmental performance in implementing
environmental policies. Government gains the active
support and participation of communities in
implementing environmental projects when the latter
are included in the planning processes.

! Creating an enabling environment for information

sharing between government and CSOs. Effective
governance requires transparency and the sharing of
information on relevant environmental concerns.

4. Rights-based environmental governance. Effective governance

recognizes that people are bearers of rights and that it is the duty of
government institutions to uphold those rights. Apart from promoting
the right of people to a “balanced and healthy” environment, a rights-
based approach to environmental governance recognizes the rights of
IPs to the ownership and management of natural resources in their
ancestral domains, including land, mineral and water resources as
provided for in the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997.

In line with the recognition of IP ownership and management rights in

the Cordillera, the adoption of the following policies is proposed:

! Securing compensation for environmental services. The

IPRA recognizes that it is the duty of IPs to maintain
ecological balance in their ancestral domains.
Nevertheless, sound environmental governance

DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 7!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 suggests that providers of environmental services must
derive benefits such as incentives for the protection and
sustainable management of land, forest, air, and water
resources.

The promotion of indigenous knowledge systems and

practices (IKSPs) in areas where they are applicable,
appropriate, and accepted by the local community,
coupled with the recognition of the rights of IPs to own,
control, and manage natural resources within their
ancestral domain, are essential to the sustainable
management of natural resources.

! Amending laws or policies that are prejudicial to security

of land tenure and management of natural resources in
CAR. Notwithstanding the IPRA’s provisions on the
issuance of Certificates of Ancestral Land Titles (CALTs)
and Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADTs),
security of land tenure in the region is prejudiced with the
provision of Presidential Decree No. 705 which prohibits
the alienation of lands with 18% slope and above. While
Section 12 of the IPRA allows the issuance of Free
Patent over ancestral lands regardless of slope, this
option has not been availed of by indigenous peoples
because of the absence of implementing rules and
regulations to implement the said provision.

Among the policies that are also prejudicial to local

resource use are those requiring the approval of water
use rights permits, People’s Small Scale Mining Areas
and tree cutting permits at the head or central offices of
the concerned agencies. These laws and policies need
to be amended for more equitable resource use in
recognition of the rights-based approach to
environmental management.

In addition, among the strategies that may be considered in

enhancing IP rights are
! Facilitating and improving the Free, Prior and Informed
Consent (FPIC) process; and

8" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 ! Enhancing the Ancestral Domain Sustainable
Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP).

B. GUIDE FOR POLICY DIRECTIONS

This section identifies the primary environmental governance issues

associated with mining, upland agriculture, water resources, urban
growth and tourism in the CAR. It also discusses, in condensed form,
the policy options available to stakeholders.

1. Mining

Mining is an extractive activity that directly impacts the environment.

There is still a need to forge a consensus between the national and
local governments as well as affected communities on the regulation
and management of mining activities.

Policy Options vis-à-vis Mining

For local governments and stakeholders in general:

! Make full use of safeguard mechanisms currently provided for in
existing laws to assert their position on issues concerning mining.

For local governments and line agencies:

! Establish environmental baseline data on the impact of mining on
host communities and other affected areas to allow tracking of
changes in the state of the environment;

! Clarify what is meant by “responsible mining”; and

! Ensure the security and welfare (i.e., health, safety, and rights) of
mine workers in both small-scale and large-scale mining;

o Enforce strict adherence to safety practices as stipulated in

the Philippine Mine Safety Rules and Regulations;
DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 9!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 o Ensure comprehensive risk assessment as a requirement
for issuing an environmental compliance certificate (ECC);

o Inform employees and adjacent communities about the

risks and consequences of mine accidents and prepare
contingency plans;

o Identify and control potential hazards to mine workers; and

o Conduct strict mine safety and health monitoring and audit.

For local governments:

! Declare local protected areas and meet local targets by 2016 in
line with the Regional Development Plan (RDP). To put the ideas
of “conservation” or “protected areas” into action, the local
governments, ancestral domain managers and other stakeholders
can identify target areas in their localities (provinces,
municipalities, ancestral domains or barangays). In areas where
forest degradation is attributed to mining, a hard choice may have
to be made in serious consideration of “responsible mining;”

! Allocate material and human resources proportionate to the

desired outcome of protected areas by 2016.

For government agencies:

! Assist in clarifying mandates and capacitating local governments
including:

o completing their land use plans and the adoption of

ordinances on land use zoning, identifying areas for
watersheds, mining, and other uses [agriculture,
ecotourism, settlements and geo-hazardous areas];

o strengthening the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board

(PMRB);

10" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 o generating data for planning, program identification and
monitoring of environmental impacts;

o implementing revenue-generating activities such as

ecotourism or public-private partnerships for environmental
programs; and

! Ensure transparency in the granting of Environmental Compliance

Certificates (ECC) and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)

For research institutions:

! Provide scientific data needed by planners and implementing
agencies to address mining issues.

2. Upland Agriculture

Human activities such as timber poaching and forestland conversion to

agricultural use, among others, threaten the region’s biodiversity
resources. Conversion of forestland for agricultural use is one major
cause of watershed denudation in the region.

Policy Options vis-à-vis Upland Agriculture

For local governments and stakeholders in general:

! Stop encroachment on forestlands and enforce regulations on
land conversion. Put regulatory mechanisms in place to prevent
encroachment on forestlands.

For local governments and line agencies:

! Provide incentives for farmers to adopt new technologies and
improve production:

o Adopt economic or financial instruments such as taxes,

subsidies, and fines to contain excessive resource
extraction;

DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 11!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 o Study possibility of providing tenurial security (alongside
economic and non-economic approaches) as an incentive
for upland farmers to engage in sustainable resource
management;

o Study ways of attracting private sector investments to

reward or encourage sustainable resource management;
and

o Combine economic and non-economic policy instruments

to promote sustainable resource management at the
local level.

For local governments:

! Formulate and implement a local agricultural program; and

! Upgrade the Farmers Information and Technological Services

(FITS) as an information resource center.

For government agencies:

! Capacitate LGUs and local communities on

o establishing watershed protection mechanisms, e.g., local

anti-illegal logging task forces or watershed management
councils;

o encouraging community-based biodiversity monitoring;

o preparing local development plans or Ancestral Domain

Sustainable Development and Protection Plans
(ADSDPPs);

o promoting organic farming;

o processing of agricultural products for added value;

o determining additional areas for reforestation or steps to

be taken to maintain existing forests based on the existing
forest cover;
12" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 o identifying the specific strategies that will be adopted to
address the “causes” of degradation to ensure that the
target of increasing forest cover by 2016 will be attained.

! Strive for the convergence of assistance to farmers, in cooperation

with state universities and colleges (SUCs) and CSOs to increase
agricultural productivity while ensuring sustainable farming.

For research institutions:

! Provide scientific data to address issues in upland agriculture.

3. Water Resources

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) serves as the watershed

cradle for Northern Luzon, nurturing the headwaters of thirteen major river
basins that provide water for irrigation, industrial and domestic use.
However, due to urbanization and changing land uses, several issues
now beset the water resources of CAR, foremost among them are
watershed degradation, water scarcity and pollution.

Policy Options vis-à-vis Water Resources

For local governments:

! Complete and implement Comprehensive Land Use Plans
(CLUPs) considering land delineation and zoning based on
sustainable land use. The CLUPs clarify zoning for the
communities, delineating areas for watershed or forest,
agricultural, commercial, or residential use; and

! Rehabilitate watersheds and river systems:

o Address the causes of watershed deterioration;

o Reforest denuded areas and protect or preserve existing

areas; and

o Prevent the pollution of water sources and the disposal

of wastes in river systems.
DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 13!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
For local government and line agencies:
! Share common baseline data to assess the status of watersheds;
and

! Specify relevant targets such as targets for increasing forest

cover, access to safe water supply and sanitary toilet facilities.

For government agencies:

! Operationalize a structure of compensation and the provision of
benefits or incentives for environmental services;

! Support legislation for compensation of environmental services:

o broaden the definition of host communities to include

upstream communities and LGUs protecting watersheds
as co-hosts of hydropower-generating facilities and multi-
purpose dams; and

o increase the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of LGUs that

host watersheds to fund their watershed rehabilitation,
protection and conservation programs; and

! In cooperation with LGUs, implement:

o natural resources accounting to include the inventory of

resource stocks and pricing (water, timber);

o the establishment of water quality management areas

(WQMA); and

o River Basin Planning and the establishment of River

Basin Management Councils.

For research institutions:

! Conduct research to address issues in water resource use; and

! Share research findings with other stakeholders especially

government institutions to address issues in water management.

14" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
4. Urban Growth and the Environment

Cities are generally considered to be major drivers of economic growth.

Urbanization, however, can potentially breed a host of economic, social
and environmental problems. Increased population growth often
associated with urbanization challenges the ability of LGUs to address the
population’s need for food, housing, employment, services, energy and
other necessities without impairing the capacity of the environment to
provide for the needs of future generations.

Policy Options vis-à-vis Urban Growth

For local governments and line agencies:

! Agree on and implement a plan for spatial and population
diffusion:

o As indicated in the Regional Development Plan, explore

ways to spread out investment, education and employment
opportunities in other areas of CAR and reduce the
tendency of people to migrate to Baguio City for
employment, education and other services.

For local governments:

! Address pressures on land resources through effective zoning:

o Clarify prioritization of interests such as land for housing,

commercial activities, protected areas, open spaces or
parks, agricultural and other uses; and

o Study the appropriate types of settlements to be

encouraged, and the types and levels of public
infrastructure and services needed in an area.

! Address problems in air quality:

o Work in close collaboration with the Department of

Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR to

DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 15!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 consistently enforce sanctions against motor vehicles
causing air pollution; and

o Set targets to reduce air pollution and maintain air quality

in five, ten and twenty years’ time in coordination with the
urban transport sector and EMB.

! Establish a functioning disaster response mechanism:

o Assess the functionality of LGU disaster response systems

by looking at the following: sound analysis of disaster risk;
contingency plans; stockpiling of equipment and supplies;
arrangements for coordination, evacuation, and
information dissemination; and the establishment of Early
Warning Systems (EWS) that ensure hazard detection and
facilitate community response.

For government agencies:

! Assist LGUs in improving air quality with the implementation of RA

8749, the Philippine Clean Air Act 1999;

! Assist LGUs in improving water quality with the implementation of

RA 9275, the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004;

! Assist LGUs in improving solid waste management with the

implementation of RA 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000;
! Assist LGUS in strengthening local DRRM Councils with the
updating of local DRRM Plans to include mapping of hazardous
areas and preparation of contingency and disaster response
plans; and

! Sustain monitoring activities on the state of the environment and

share the resulting data on urban environmental indicators with
LGUs.

16" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
For research institutions:
! Share research data with stakeholders to address problems in
urban development.

5. Tourism, Culture and the Environment

There are issues with regard to the perceived effects of tourism on host
communities and the carrying capacity of local resources. Among the
perceived negative impacts of tourism are overcrowding, traffic, air and
water pollution, water scarcity, and increased volume of garbage. Tourism
may also pose a challenge to indigenous communities with the
“commercialization” of festivals and indigenous culture.

Policy Options for Stakeholders vis-à-vis Tourism

For local governments and stakeholders in general:

! Agree on tourism activities that strike a balance between the
benefits derived from tourism and maintaining environmental and
cultural integrity.

For local governments and government agencies:

! Establish baseline data on current tourism practices. For
ecotourism to be a sustainable strategy, decision-makers and
local stakeholders must decide on the limits or extent of the
industry’s development;

! Clarify the concept and standards of “ecotourism;”

! Explore the possibility of incorporating an appreciation and

understanding of indigenous culture in tourism courses at the
tertiary level; and

! Establish or strengthen local tourism councils.

DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 17!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
For local governments and communities:
! Plan programs for cultural appreciation and tourism education;

! Identify tourism products and services that promote cultural

heritage;

! Set limits to tourist traffic in heritage sites, forests and other

environmentally sensitive areas.

For communities:
! Achieve consensus as to the areas, the specific rituals and
ceremonies that will be shared and opened to the public, and what
types of behavior by tourists will be allowed or discouraged when
they visit tourism sites.

For research institutions:

! Share information regarding the implications of tourism on culture
and development. Research institutions in the region, specifically
those conducting anthropological studies, have insights to share
with local governments and line agencies regarding the challenge
of balancing tourism as a tool for economic development while
protecting cultural integrity.

18" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL (RDC)

1. Advocate policies or legislation improving the land tenure situation

in the Cordillera;

2. Advocate laws and policies that support payment for

environmental services;

3. Sustain the debate on regional autonomy for improved

environmental governance;

4. Advocate the revival or adoption of Indigenous Knowledge,

Systems and Practices (IKSPs) in the management of natural
resources where applicable, when appropriate, and as accepted
by the community;

5. Address the issues in establishing Minahang Bayan or People’s

Small-scale Mining Areas; and

6. Advocate the decentralization of natural resources management

such as allowing at the regional level the approval of water use
permits, tree cutting permits and establishment of Minahang
Bayan.!

DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE" 19!
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
 !

20" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE"FOR"THE"
CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION"
!
22" DECLARATION"OF"PRINCIPLES"ON"ENVIRONMENTAL"GOVERNANCE""""""""""""""""""""
FOR"THE"CORDILLERA"ADMINISTRATIVE"REGION!
!
 CAR Development Vision

We, the people of the Cordillera, proud of our

culture and heritage rooted in spirituality, shall
have a truly autonomous region of a unified,
enlightened and empowered citizenry who shall
pursue sustainable development where
responsibilities and benefits are shared by all.
!