The Mindanao State University - Maguindanao Development Program to ReSTORE Aquasilviculture Farms and Mangroves

The restoration of aquasilviculture farms and mangroves in Maguindanao Province is jointly undertaken by MSU-Maguindanao and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in the Autonomous Region of Muslim in Mindanao (BFAR-ARMM) in the Philippines. This is a component of the Philippine National Aquasilviculture Program (PNAP) to address severe exploitations of mangroves, and dilapidations of aquasilviculture farms, low productivity and massive poverty among fisherfolks. The program envisioned to restore aquasilviculture farms and mangrove to increase productivity and conserve resources towards a resilient and conserved environment. This is in accordance with the 1998 Philippine Fisheries Code. This also supports the 1997 Higher Education Modernization Act that authorizes the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to develop linkages with other institutions and agencies. Sixteen units of aquasilviculture farms and 110 hectares of mangrove areas were restored in the six (6) municipalities of the Province and 1 Multi-Species Community-Based Hatchery was constructed through the College of Fisheries and Extension Offices of MSU-Maguindanao. Community organizing, meetings, site visitation and identification, and implementation were done by a Project Management Team.  Monitoring activities were conducted by BFAR-ARMM Team. The management of the program is anchored on the basic scientific management, behavioral management and the social management theories. Highlights of the management strategies, significant experiences and problems encountered in the implementation of the programs are discussed in this paper.