Post-lecture discussion by Maria Kristina Alinsunurin https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL After the lecture, reflect on the challenges or dilemmas that arise when managing natural resources or common goods across borders. What are examples from your own context? en-us 2023-04-19 10:02:02 UTC 2026-01-24 21:07:15 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2563785289 Managing natural resources and common goods across borders poses several challenges and dilemmas, including conflicts over resource use, difficulty in coordinating and enforcing regulations, and the potential for unequal distribution of benefits and costs.

In the Philippines, one example of a longstanding issue arising from managing natural resources is the management of forest resource. It has been a challenge due to issues such as illegal logging, land conversion, and unclear land tenure rights. These issues have resulted in deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and degradation of ecosystem services, which have negative impacts on local communities and the environment.

To tackle this challenge, i think effective policies and institutions are required, particularly within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources agency and its line and staff bureaus, that can facilitate cooperation, coordination, and collaboration among various stakeholders. This necessitates enhancing governance frameworks, boosting the capacity of local communities and institutions, and promoting the sustainable and equitable utilization of natural resources.

-Chelle Hennessy R. Batallones
UPLB DMG Student]]> 2023-04-22 03:33:14 UTC https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2563785289 https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2563795980 In the Philippines, according to Verbrugge (2105), the Local Government Code 1991, conflicted with the 1995 Mining Act, and then the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991, and then also the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.

Even with all of these codes, it is still the local overlords who had the decision on which mining licenses got approved.  Some of my associates are trying get the license to mine some sand from a mountain in Batangas for the purpose of reclamation in Manila Bay.  You will not believe how many local government officials, from city hall and various government departments, we had to get “permission” from. 

The extraction of resources are all in the hands of the elite, and approval of mining is simply a scramble amongst themselves.  The powerbrokers want the money, and who cares that the government gets only a small share? The national government knows it is a quagmire but there is no urgency to fix the mess because the power brokers are content with the status quo as long as everyone that matters gets a share of the revenue.  They might even never fix it.
- Victor Esguerra, UPLB DMG Student
]]> 2023-04-22 04:14:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2563795980 https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2563802828 The Philippines is known for its rich mineral resources such as gold, iron, lead, copper, salt, marble and sulfur. Most of the aforementioned metallic minerals came from islands of Luzon and Mindanao and non-metallic minerals from Visayas region. But the mining activities contributes to minimal portion of the GDP. 
 
Sadly, many factories are licenses of foreign companies or act as subcontractors for foreign firms, turning out finished products for export from imported semi finished goods. 
One step should do is prioritizing the local miners and companies to increase employment, revenue and alleviate poverty in rural areas.  
 
-Frida Abad, UPLB DMG Student
]]> 2023-04-22 04:46:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2563802828 https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2564649083 The challenges that stakeholders of natural resources need to confront are fundamentally geopolitical. The lecture has shed light to some sources of conflicts when it comes to interests and territorial claims among nations, which are all part and parcel of how humanity deals with the limited resources.

The nations that are economic powerhouses clearly demonstrate control of available natural resources while the more dependent economies rely on how development goes about and then make adjustments accordingly.

It is also interesting to note how the international politics play important duties in ensuring checks and balances among nations with conflicting interests. The UN is an important entity to strengthen in order to push forward proper and fair global resource management.

In the Philippines, the West Philippine Sea issue has been left in the open for quite a few years now. Despite winning the case in the international court, the country can only assert as much ownership as its economic capacity and measure of influence. Up until today, local fishermen still suffer abuse and intimidation from the Chinese vessels and coastguards encroaching within our EEZ.

The struggle for natural resources and territory is directly influenced by the economic capacity of involved nations. The powerful ones get the first and biggest chunks while the weaker ones settle for what could be left, regardless of who owns which.

- IJ Largo, UPLB DMG]]> 2023-04-23 14:42:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2564649083 Value of Ukraine’s discovered mineral natural resources https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2568657551 Is estimated to be 15 trillion USD, 70% of them are located in three regions, Donetsk, Luhansks and Dnipro. Plus unproved shall gas reserves, 128 trillion cubic feet, 3rd largest in Europe, concentrated in Donetsk coal basin and Olesska gas field in Lviv Oblast and Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, moreover, Black Sea shelf gas reserves.]]> 2023-04-26 11:35:43 UTC https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2568657551 https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2570500802 The Philippines is one of the mineral-rich countries which still has a lot of underground treasures that need to be extracted. However, as we discussed in class, and pointed out by many students that mining laws have been crucial. One of the major issues with current mining in The Philippines is long-term social and environmental damage that is subject to the government`s attention and policies to minimize damage and efficiently draw more economic benefits. 

This reminds me of a similar issue that I learned previously about Laguna De Bay near Metro Manila, where there is a constant need for the filtration of water in order to make it usable. One of the issues with Laguna De Bay was also the lack of government policies which resulted in constant damage to the area and the residents living around Laguna De Bay for example, constant flooding during rainy seasons, pollution, and loss of drinkable water sources.
 
Therefore, in order to counter these environmental and social issues, I believe government policies are essential. Although the SDGs and global resource management actors play an important role, there is still a need for domestic policies in order to revive the local economy and help the locals of the country both socially and environmentally.

-Nehal Khan, Doshisha
]]> 2023-04-27 14:43:49 UTC https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2570500802 https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2571876995 In the 1st Quarter 2023 Quezon Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) Meeting held on January 16, 2023, one mayor raised an issue about the presence of illegal fishing or more commonly known here in the province "Buli-Buli Fishing" or "Danish Seine". This method of fishing catches a lot of fish but it destroys the coral reefs and marine life. 

After a long discussion between the concerned Mayors and the Philippine Maritime of the areas circling the sea where the incidents usually happened one factor that they are unable to prevent and control this issue is the lack of water assets such as speed boats etc. 

The question is why are they not prioritizing funds for that matter?]]> 2023-04-28 14:28:58 UTC https://padlet.com/mgalinsunurin/post_lecture_COIL/wish/2571876995