A POLICY ANALYSIS OF ORDINANCES TOWARDS A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY: THE CASE OF BARANGAY ANINGALAN, SAN REMIGIO, ANTIQUE

Rose Anne Sastrillo, Leni Macalacad, DJ Cabangal, Florence Onayan

Rationale

• Policy development is a key governance approach to reducing vulnerabilities and supporting disaster recovery. Ensuring the resilience of the community is vital for its sustainable future (Zhang et al., 2024).

Barangay Aningalan in San Remigio, Antique

• rapidly emerging as a sought-after destination for eco-tourism, offering tourists a chance to enjoy its stunning natural landscapes and peaceful, cool climate (PIA, 2024). • only site in Panay where two Rafflesia species are found to be sympatric
• the forest of Aningalan serves as a biodiversity corridor that links Sibalom Natural Park and the Central Panay Mountain Range, a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) that provides a habitat for numerous, flora and fauna, and endemic and threatened species (UPD Geography Field School San Remigio, Antique, 2024).
• Infrastructure improvements are crucial for the development of tourism in Aningalan. However, challenges remain in ensuring that the local infrastructure supports the growing number of tourists without compromising the area’s environmental integrity (Travel and Tour World, 2020).
• Resilience- a system “bounces back”, i.e. re-establishes the status quo after a disturbance, or that it adapts to changes in an incremental or transformative way (Kochskamper et al., 2023)
• Sustainability- a philosophy, an approach, or practice that guides the use of today’s resources efficiently to ensure that resources are available and sufficient to meet today’s needs and the needs of future generations (Ozili, Peterson K., 2022)

The photos illustrate the changes in Aningalan, San Remigio, over seven year. Effective and aligning policies with
the goals of resilience and sustainability is crucial for the long-term well-being of Aningalan.

Research Objectives

1. To review ordinances from 2009 up to March 2025 that support Aningalan to become a resilient and sustainable community.
2. Review the alignment of the rationale, institutional structure, budget allocation for operations, and fees and penalties in existing ordinances with national laws and policies.
3. Enhance existing ordinances and identify new ones that will support Aningalan to become a resilient and sustainable community.

Key References

1. Republic Act No. 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009
   • Adoption of strategic goals in order to build national and local resilience to climate change local disasters.
2. Republic Act No. 10121 or the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010
   • Effective integration of disaster risk considerations into sustainable development policies, planning and
     programming.
3. Resilient and Sustainable Communities – Bec et al (2018)
   • Understanding how to build resilience and deliver sustainable development is critical as economic declines, rapid
     transformation and negative social and environmental impacts from industrial development can reduce quality of
     life for communities
4. Assessment of Environmental Policies And Ordinances Towards Sustainable Tourism in Sagada, Mt. Province – Falconi, M. (2023)
   • Success of sustainable tourism depends on a clear policy that is effectively implemented by the government.
5. What Role Does Policy Play in Community Resilience? – Sustainability Directory (2025)
   • Good policies can strengthen social bonds, promote economic opportunity, and protect the environment, all of which contribute to a community’s ability to withstand shocks.
6. A Manual for Writing Policy – Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (2015)
   • Suggests crucial concepts or requirements in a policy that should be fully understood by the reader.
7. Tips for Writing Policy Papers – Herman (2023)
   • White papers guide decision makers with expert opinions, recommendations, and analytical research

Summary of Objectives and Methods

Methods of Data Collection and Analysis

1. Content Analysis / Desk Review of Existing Ordinances from 2009 up to March 2025. Reviewed existing ordinances that support community’s resilience and sustainability.
   • Categorized according to emerging themes as follows:
     • Environment
     • Tourism
     • Disaster
2. Desk Review of Alignment of Ordinances with National Laws and Policies
   • Reviewed alignment of ordinances with national laws and policies based on:
     • Rationale / Legal Basis
     • Scope and Definition of terms
     • Provisions and Guidelines
     • Budget allocation / fees for operations
     • Fines and penalties for violators
3. SWOT Analysis by the Researchers on the Ordinances
   • SWOT analysis was used to recognize good practices, identify gaps and threats, and provide ways for management or enhancement of ordinances.
4. Key Informant Interview (KII) and Focus Group Discussion
   • No. of People for KII/FGD: 10
   • Participants: Punong Barangay, Secretary to the Sanggunian, MENRO, Municipal Tourism Officer, LDRRMO, 4 Residents
   • Get direct insights on policy enhancements and recommendations

Existing Ordinances that support resiliency and sustainability in Aningalan

Desk review shows that from 2009 up to the present:

• Total No. of Ordinances Passed: 135
• No. of Ordinances Related to Environmental Protection: 11
• No. of Ordinances Related to Tourism: 2 of the 11
• No. of Ordinances Related to Disaster Prevention: 3 of the 11
• Other ordinances not included in the three categories: creation of plantilla positions in the LGU, establishment and operation of integrated schools, adoption of citizen’s charter, adoption of local revenue code, drug abuse prevention campaign, prohibition on the use of mufflers for motorcycles,etc.

Policy Analysis

CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

• Approved Date: Unknown
  • Ordinance Number 009, S. 2009
  • Ordinance Title: “An Ordinance Enacting the Environmental Code of the Municipality of San Remigio”
• Approved Date: March 16, 2016
  • Ordinance Number: 044, S. 2016,
  • Ordinance Title: “An Ordinance Charging Environmental Fee in the amount P50.00/Person Visiting the Tourist Spots in the Municipality of San Remigio, Antique”
• Approved Date: September 23, 2021
  • Ordinance Number: 098, S. 2021
  • Ordinance Title: “An Ordinance Creating the MENRO and the Position of MENRO I”
• Approved Date: 09/16/2021
  • Ordinance Number: 096, S. 2021 “An Ordinance Restricting the Use of Single-Use Plastic (Cellophane) and Sando Bags as Packaging Materials”
• Approved Date:05/30/2023
  • Ordinance Number: 062, S. 2023 “Resolution Approving the Ten-Year Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan of the Municipality of San Remigio, Antique
• Approved Date: 05/30/20223
  • Ordinance Number: 117, S.2023
  • Ordinance Title: An Ordinance Prescribing Guidelines for the Regulation on the Use of Plastics in the Municipality of San Remigio and Providing Penalties for Violations
• Approved Date:05/30/2023
  • Ordinance Number: 118, s. 2023
  • Ordinance Title: An Ordinance Adopting the Ecological Solid Waste Management Code of San Remigio, Antique
• Approved Date: 11/19/2024
  • Ordinance Number: 137, S. 2024
  • Ordinance Title: An Ordinance Mandating Waste Segregation, Institutionalizing Waste Management Practices, and Providing Penalties for Violations in the Municipality of San Remigio, Antique
• Approved Date:07/04/2023
  • Ordinance Number: 120, s.2023
  • Ordinance Title: An Ordinance Imposing an Environmental Fee for Tourists in Barangay Aningalan

CATEGORY: TOURISM

• Approved Date:05/2018
  • Ordinance Number: 066, S. 2018
  • Ordinance Title: An Ordinance Creating the Tourist Information and Assistance Center or Desk in the Municipality of San Remigio, Antique
• Approved Date:05/, 2018
  • Ordinance Number: 069, S. 2018
  • Ordinance Title: An Ordinance Approving the Creation of the Municipal Tourism Office in the Municipality of San Remigio, Antique

CATEGORT: DISASTER

• Approved Date: September 23, 2021
  • Ordinance Number: 099 s. 2021
  • Ordinance Title: An Ordinance Approving the Creation of “Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer (MDRRMO)
• Approved Date:05/09/2023
  • Ordinance Number: 059, S. 2023
  • Ordinance Title: Resolution Approving the MDRRM Plan for CY 2023-2025 of the Municipality of San Remigio, Antique

Document Production Location, Authorship and Audience

• Only the Ordinance Restricting the Use of Single-Use Plastic (Cellophane) and Sando Bags as Packaging Materials stated the author/sponsor (Hon. Rodolfo V. Medina Jr.). Other ordinances stated “SB in session” as authors.
• Copy of ordinances were retrieved from the SB Office upon request.
• Most ordinances do not contain the audience or to whom they are written for. Only the Ordinance Charging Environmental Fee in the amount P50.00/Person Visiting the Tourist Spots specified tourists as its intended audience.

Policy Context

• Collection of environmental fee of Php50.00/Person visiting the tourist spots
• Creation of required offices and positions (MENRO, MDRRMO, Tourism Officer) including the scope of work, duties and responsibilities.
• Regulations on the use of plastic bags and single-use plastics to reduce plastic wastes.
• Approval of Ten-Year Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan for CY 2023-2033
• Waste segregation, penalties for non-compliance, establishment of a Local Solid Waste Management Board, creation of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)

SWOT ANALYSIS

• S (STRENGTHS):
  • Comprehensive content of existing ordinances including declaration of policy, definition of terms, fees and budget allocation for operations, creation of institutional bodies for implementation, and imposition of penalties and fines for violators.
• W (WEAKNESSES):
  • Most of the ordinances do not specify the audience or for whom they were written.
  • Most of the ordinances on the environment and tourism do not mention the laws and policies where they are aligned or based on.
  • Lacking ordinances on biodiversity (mountains, wetlands, forests, flora and fauna), sustainable tourism practices and disaster prevention
  • Non-utilization of digital platforms (social media and websites) for information dissemination
• O (OPPORTUNITIES):
  • Enhancement of existing ordinances and identification of new ordinances to support resiliency and sustainability in Aningalan
  • Improvement of record system and means of information dissemination of ordinances

KII and FGD

KII and FGD with Municipal Officials, Employees and Barangay Officials suggest enhancement and creation of new ordinances that will strengthen the resilience and sustainability of Aningalan:

1. Enforce alignment of plans of private land owners and business establishments with the development plans of the LGU
2. Enhance waste management practices, such as strict implementation of a schedule for garbage collection, regulating waste from business establishments, and prohibiting tourists from bringing plastics in Aningalan;
3. Requiring all forestland barangays to terrace farm lots;
4. Legislate forest cover for San Remigio;
5. Wastewater management in Aningalan;
6. Strengthen zoning ordinances to prevent the construction of illegal structures in Aningalan;
7. Maintain the integrity of watersheds
8. Color scheme of structures that will blend with the natural environment in Aningalan

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

• The Sangguniang Bayan has passed 135 ordinances from 2009 up to March 2025. Out of these, eleven (11) are related to natural environment, two (2) are related to tourism and three (3) are related to disaster.
• Most of the ordinances related to natural environment and tourism do not mention in the rationale the national laws and policies where they are anchored. Lacks a few important factors to consider regarding alignment with national laws, such as monitoring and evaluation
• Existing ordinances have comprehensive content including the statement of policy, purpose, scope, and responsibilities of institutional bodies, operational guidelines and fees, fines and penalties.
• Lacking ordinances on biodiversity (mountains, wetlands, forests, flora and fauna), sustainable practices of business owners and tourists and disaster prevention practices

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

Enhance Existing Ordinances

• Enhance existing ordinances by stating in the rationale the relevant national laws or policies that served as its basis;
• Indicate the audience or the people for whom the ordinance is intended;
• Existing ordinances can also be improved by reviewing the roles and functions of the institutional bodies and making necessary updates based on current roles undertaken;
• Review administrative fees and budget allocation for operations stated in the ordinances, considering the income reclassification of the municipality from third class to first class starting January 2025.

Formulation of new ordinances that will support resiliency and sustainability in Aningalan

Draft new ordinances to strengthen the resiliency and sustainability of Aningalan, particularly on:

• Biodiversity Protection: Ordinances aimed at protecting the mountains, wetlands, flora and fauna, forests, and air.
• Sustainable Development focusing on sustainable local business operations and strengthened waste management practices.
• c. Institutionalizing the disaster risk reduction and management system in San Remigio and providing funds thereof.

Improve Digital Access to Ordinances

• Upload electronic copies of approved ordinances to a shared drive or folder for easy access.
• Maintain records of approved ordinances using Microsoft Excel or other software applications.
• Create a dedicated social media or website for posting of approved ordinances, ensuring faster information dissemination to the public.

Further studies on zoning ordinance, building code, land use, and Mau-it Tipuluan River Watershed protection.