Environmental Sustainability

91 PFT not having both creates a question on its sustainability. The manager has a vision for PFT though there is no business plan and action plan to achieve it. This situation leads to issues in operations and management. PFT has a simple top down organization which makes decision making easy and more flexible. However, developments in operations and management is stagnant.

There have been very few changes in the management and operations since the change in management. These changes include the product pricing, employee salary, and marketing and promotion schemes. There has been low turn of customers due to the customer reach of PFT. The financial model however makes the business sustainable and resilient. Not having to pay for the land and the salary of the employees makes the business going.

92 Since the establishment of PFT, quality and maintenance of the ecosystem haven’t changed.

Maintenance is done through cleaning/ sweeping the grounds and collecting fallen branches and leaves. There are no biodiversity profiling or environmental impact assessment in the PFT. The DENR which is in-charge of overseeing the protected areas conducts biodiversity monitoring in selected areas in Subic which DENR has listed (see appendix 7). The entirety of PFT is not included in the list, however Ms. Mallari, the Sr. Forester Management Specialist in SBMA Ecology Center mentioned that there are small areas in PFT included in the list, a portion of the forest and river. The areas mentioned are evaluated using the biodiversity monitoring report form (see appendix 8) which is issued by the SBMA Ecology Center. In the one page report, the SBMA Ecology Officers conducts site monitoring and takes notes on the basic information on the site (name of the site and evaluation day), physical parameters (weather conditions during the evaluation), flora, fauna, ecological statistics, social issues, and assessment and recommendations.

After evaluation the concerned stakeholders are advised on what actions should be done.

Environmental cost in pricing mechanisms is included in the product fees in PFT as well as other businesses in Subic. This fee is called the Environment and Tourism Administrative Fee or the ETAF. It is only in 2014 that the SBMA created a regulation to pay the ETAF. The regulation stipulates that all tourist facilities in Subic shall pay the ETAF which is either 20php (40¢ USD) per visitor or 10% of the fixed entrance rate of the facility. The ETAF is paid to the SBMA tourism department and according to Ms. Planea, a staff of the SBMA tourism office, ETAF is allocated to the maintenance, protection, and enhancement of the Subic Bay environment.

In businesses such as ecotourism, the environment serves as a very important asset. However, the management team of PFT does not conduct technical and thorough examination of its environment. Nevertheless, a stakeholder, the SBMA Ecology center conducts biodiversity

93 monitoring in certain areas of PFT. Environmental fee in the form of ETAF is incorporated in the product fee and is collected by the SBMA tourism office for the maintenance of the environment in Subic.

Though technical knowledge in environmental quality maintenance is needed there are two reasons why it isn’t done in PFT. The first reason is the lack in technical capacity of the people in PFT. The second reason is the culture of the people. As Tata Kasuy mentioned, the tribe believes that disasters only come if people anger the environment and disturb it. Thus, the tribe have confidence that if the environment is well taken care off, it will take care of them.

Resource Efficiency in Production and Consumption Systems

Members of the community follows certain rules and conduct certain rituals in going and living in the forest as part of their culture. These rules and rituals are only shared to members of the tribe/community. Despite having their own cultural beliefs towards the environment, the community members especially the employees of PFT are well-versed in the national environmental conservation laws specifically in the consumption of resources. The awareness of the community in this area is brought by a stakeholder, the SBMA ecology center. In the entrance of PFT, there is a sign informing their customers about Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Act which states several activities that is said to be unlawful. The activities includes, killing and destruction of wildlife species, damaging the reproductive system of wildlife species, damaging and destruction of critical habitats, introduce, re-introduce or restock wildlife products, wildlife trading, collecting, hunting and possession of wildlife, their by-products, and derivatives, and wildlife transport. In the signage, penalties have also been stated. Not abiding in the law can lead to imprisonment from 6 months to 12 years or payment of 10,000 php (200 USD) to 1,000,000

94 php (20 000 USD). This law enables the community to be aware of wildlife handling and also educates the customers of PFT.

Another law familiar to the community is the limitations of forest products use or Republic Act No. 3571. This law prohibits the destruction, cutting, and injuring of plants in public grounds.

One of the guides, Nana Rosa said that “pwede kaming pumutol ng kahoy pero yung pang amin lamang, halimbawa, sa paggawa ng bahay pero kung mamumutol ka at idedeliber mo sa labas bawal yun,” they can cut trees but for their own consumption, for instance, making their houses but if cutting and delivering outside, it’s prohibited. Nana Rosa also clarified that trees they cut, and use are common trees, not endangered species. Furthermore, the community members inform and ask clearance for cutting trees from the Ecology Center.

The PFT employees are fully aware that it is prohibited to cut down trees, turn it into timber and sell it for profit. Logging, in the view of community members could cause landslides and loss of habitat for wildlife species in PFT such as pythons, deer, lizards, wild boar and monkeys. Tree felling can only be done with the permission of the ecology department and will only be used as materials for building infrastructures in PFT or in Pamulaklakin village.

In relation to the environmental sustainability indicator and resilience, PFT does not practice technical and careful maintenance of the environment including the conduct of environmental impact assessment. However, the quality maintenance of the environment in PFT exists and is based on tribal beliefs of paying respect to the environment. Furthermore, the community believes in minimal development of infrastructure and allowing the environment to grow and develop naturally. Maintaining the environment not only in the PFT but around the community increases resiliency. With a healthy ecosystem, the community can enjoy the provision services and climate

95 regulation services. In addition, the construction of the PFT, according to the SBMA ecology department and the guides lessened poachers and illegal loggers in the area.