Brief Profile of Bulan, Sorsogon

I.

Table of Key Facts

City/Municipality
Province
Region
Land area (has.)
Municipal waters (has.)
Coastline length
Number of barangays
Major bays
Major rivers

Waterfalls
Mountains
Income classification

Bulan
Sorsogon
Region 5
20,094 has.
Est: 25,600 has. (not yet delineated)
33.2km
63, 20 are coastal
Butag Bay
Banuang Daan, Fabrica, Pawic, Bawarang,
Togbongon, Sabang, Jamorawon, Inararam,
Managa-Naga, Butag
Banban, Ubo, Inlubluban, San Ramon
Mt. Sujac, Mt. Calomutan, Mt. Mulangbug, Gate
Mountain, Mt. Matarais, Mt. Vintacan, Maroroque
1st class

Total Population (latest, include year)

Major Industries

93,943 (2010)
Rice, coconut, fish

II. Coastal management profile

A. Institutional Arrangements
The Municipal ICRM Program is coordinated under the office of the MENRO which was created in 2008
through a municipal resolution. 1 MENRO, 1 AT for fisheries, the MAO and the SB Councilor for Fisheries all help
in implementing ICRM-related programs and activities. An MFARM Council acts as the policy-recommending
body on fisheries-related concerns and meets on a regular basis. Peoples' organizations and cooperatives in the
barangays assist in CRM program implementation as well.
A draft ICRM plan is targeted to be adopted in 2013. Prior to the drafting of the ICRM plan, the
municipality was guided by a Fisheries Plan and an MFARMC Plan. According to key informants, they used to
program and implement strategies by trouble-shooting, based on concerns that arise. But they all appreciate
the importance of environmental bases for their activities. The MLGU, with the help of different partners such
as DENR, BFAR, UP-Marine Science Institute, NGOs (i.e. FEED the Children) has conducted participatory coastal
resource assessments, vulnerability assessment, mangrove and MPA assessments.
The MLGU has appropriated over P3M in 2012 and 2013 for programs of Bantay-Dagat, CRM , SWM,
Clean and Green and Agro-Fishery Development. The MLGU invests in capacity- building activities such as
Lakbay-Aral/study tour on CRM for barangay captains and MLGU personnel and IEC for barangays and providing
honoraria for BFARMC chairmen for select barangays.
Bulan has been a recipient of various recognitions and awards, including a DILG-GOFAR award in 2008,
an LMP recognition for the Local Chief Executive in 2008, Region 5-Saranggayan Recognition in 2007 and 2012

for Implementation of Environmental Programs and a Civil Service Recognition in 2010 for the municipality's
ECOPARK.

B. Coastal Zoning
The estimated municipal water area of 25,600 hectares has not been delineated due to
unresolved issues with adjacent municipalities.
For land use, an ordinance on Comprehensive Zoning showing different zone classifications including
built-up zone, agriculture zone, strategic agriculture and fishery development zone, industrial zone, tourism
zone, institutional zone and residential zone, commercial zone, socialized housing zone, parks and recreation
zone has been adopted.
C. Fisheries Management
A Strategic Fishery Development Plan and various fishery-related legislation have been adopted to
regulate fisheries capture and develop the fishery sector of the municipality. Some of the programs
implemented by the MLGU are the Palit Hikot Program (exchange of confiscated nets), site validation/seminar
for sea weeds & sea cucumber culture in coordination with the BFAR-Regional Fishermen Training Center, Ad
measurement of Motorized Bancas/Registration, provision of Livelihood Assistance(Seaweeds Culture) to
fisherfolks, consultations on illegal fishing activities, inspection/apprehension of dynamited fish at the Bulan
Fishport, aquasilviculture of mudcrab, provision of fish attractants to i llegal fishers, provision of squid traps as
alternative livelihood for illegal fishers, fingerlings dispersal in dams, rivers and lakes and installation of artificial
reefs in select zones.
D. Marine Protected Area (MPA) Management
The Butag Marine Sanctuary established in 1999 through a municipal ordinance covers an area
of 350 hectares or 1.37% of their estimated municipal waters. MPA biophysical assessments are conducted but
not on a yearly basis. Community observations report of increasing violators (e.g. commercial fishers, dynamite
fishers, spear fishers) within the area, which they say indicates the improving conditions of the fisheries and
habitats. Currently, the MLGU is targeting stepping-up of their IEC program and strengthening the POs as MPA
managers.
There is an estimated 1,467.76 hectares of mangrove areas. Mangrove reforestation is one of
the activities outlined in their ICRM Plan.
E. Natural and Man-Made Hazard Prevention and Management
Floods, typhoons and volcanic eruptions are some of the potential hazards identified in the
municipality. IEC activities relating to DRR and drills for fire and earthquake incidences have been conducted
but not in all barangays. Early warning systems have been set-up and equipment such as flood gauges and flood
meters have been procured.
The MLGU targets to implement the Disaster Preparedness Plan, reactivate the Municipal Disaster
Coordinating Council and conduct more information drives as outlined in their ICRM Plan.
F. Climate Change Adaptation
(see Natural and Man-Made Hazard Prevention and Management)

G. Threatened Species
Marine turtles have been sighted in the municipal waters. The MLGU set-up an incentive system
granting rewards to fishers who turn-over endangered/threatened marine species. Rewards have been given to
those who have turned over marine turtles. The turtles were tagged before they were let loose in the municipal
waters.
H. Water Use and Supply Management
An inventory of water sources has been conducted. The watershed area, identified as a source of
potable water, is located at the foot of Mt. Vintacan which has been tapped by the Bulan Water District for
commercial purposes.
I. Pollution Reduction and Waste Management
Numerous ordinances and resolutions relating to SWM have been adopted by the MLGU. Among these
are ordinances regulating/prohibiting/reducing the use of plastic and styrofoam, regulating liquid waste
disposal and declaring a coastal clean-up day. An ordinance on Ecological SWM adopted in 2005 provides for
the creation of a MSWM Board and support mechanisms such as a municipal SWM-TWG, barangay SWM
councils, eco-police and eco-boys and outlining the roles of the MAO, RHU, Sangguniang Bayan.
The adopted SWM plan, which reiterates the provisions in the ESWM Ordinance, includes the practice
of waste segregation at source and the MLGU reports a 90% compliance on waste segregation though only in
40% of the barangays are the wastes collected.
The MLGU assists in the conduct of SWM planning in coastal areas and weekly shoreline clean -up
activities. The Municipal SWM Program has been awarded recognition by the DENR National Office .
J. Compliance and Enforcement
The municipality has a legally-deputized and trained law enforcement team equipped with patrol boats,
regular fuel allocation, and law enforcement paraphernalia. Law enforcement/Bantay-dagat has a regular
budget allocation from the MLGU's general fund. The team conducts regular patrols and has a reporting system.
Arrests are adequately sanctioned.
Some of the regular activities for law enforcement apart from the surveillance and patrols are bantaydagat planning, consultative meetings and regular reporting of bantay-dagat teams.
K. Monitoring
Monitoring and reporting of the progress of ICRM programs and activities are done annually through
the annual accomplishment reporting of MLGU offices/departments and through the State of Local Governance
Report and LGPM System of the DILG. .
III. Detailed ICM Profiling Score sheet (see attached)
IV. Information Sources
1. Lawrence Quintana, DA-Bulan
2. Marivic Galsan, DA-Bulan
3. Maritess Mellanta, DA-Bulan

4.
5.
6.
7.

Kelly Tan, MENRO-Bulan

Marietta Bayoca, MA-LGU
May-Ann Lautro, MENRO Staff
Andy Geograba, MENRO Staff