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The surveys of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau in
1993 and 1996 revealed that some 1,404 inhabitants live inside the Park. The
mapping exercise done by NIPAP in May-June 1999 indicated that around 1,500
people live there.
Park residents are found mostly in the western and
southwestern foot slopes with elevations from 400 to 500 meters above sea
level. Some settlers on the higher slopes have returned to the lowlands.
The average 3.29-hectare lot owned by the residents for
residential and agricultural purposes, total to 8.9% of the Park area.
A Plan International-Bicol program has resettled 27 out of
47 families residing within the Metro Naga Watershed Area to areas outside
the Park. They have been allowed to retain their agricultural fields inside
the area.
The National Commision on Indigenous Peoples 1997 data shows
that 3,994(47%) of the total 8,457 Agta population in Camarines Sur live in
the 23 barangays. They belong to the Agta-Tabangnon and Agta-cmarron
communities. |
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Hired labor is an important alternative to agriculture.
Within the 23 barangays surrounding Mt. Isarog, hired labor accounted for
the primary income of more than 10% of the residents. Small-scale trade,
mainly done by women, brings basic consumer goods to the barangay. Women
also undertake food processing and sale on an individual scale. A number of
craftsmen provide services like blacksmiths mainly on part-time basis. NIPAP,
through its livelihood component, employs 5 Rural Development Officers (RDOs)
in 5 selected barangays. Their task is to organize local residents into
groups (Interest Groups), which would formulate a livelihood plan. NIPAP
offers limited funding counterpart, but provides service and technical
advise. Bee keeping, one of the implemented projects had stimulated a number
of organizations to take part .agribusiness, private and communal
agro-forestry and income generation to farmer organizations, focusing on
residents of the 23 barangays surrounding Mt. Isarog.
CARE works together with other NGOs, notably Haribon
Foundation, Inc., PHILDHRRA, Plan-Bicol and BURDFI. Presently, the program
is the largest coordinated development effort in the 23 barangays
surrounding the Park. Government institutions likewise provide training,
such as the Provincial Livelihood Development Center in Pili. The Camarines
Sur State Agricultural College (CSSAC) also in Pili, provides vocational
training and education on agribusiness.The Metro Naga Water District (MNWD)
gives financial and technical assistance to residents of the Pili watershed
that is being managed on basis of a MoA with DENR. Various livelihood
activities were implemented (banana processing, rabbit and pig raising,
poultry), but were found not successful.
CARE International implemented the SUMMIT (Sustainable
Management of Mt. Isarog Territories) programme in early 1999. The project
provides technical assistance in agriculture, agribusiness, private and
communal agro-forestry and income generation to farmer organizations,
focusing on residents of the 23 barangays surrounding Mt. Isarog. CARE works
together with other NGOs, notably Haribon Foundation, Inc., PHILDHRRA, Plan-Bicol
and BURDFI. Presently, the program is the largest coordinated development
effort in the 23 barangays surrounding the Park.
Government institutions likewise provide training, such as
the Provincial Livelihood Development Center in Pili. The Camarines Sur
State Agricultural College (CSSAC) also in Pili, provides vocational
training and education on agribusiness.
The Metro Naga Water District (MNWD) gives financial and
technical assistance to residents of the Pili watershed that is being
managed on basis of a MoA with DENR. Various livelihood activities were
implemented (banana processing, rabbit and pig raising, poultry), but were
found not successful.
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