First Danajon Summit: Collaborating Efforts for our Shared Resources. Theme: Atong Kinaiyahan, atong Ampingan (Our Resources, Our Responsibility)

Proponent: Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc. (CCEF)
Amount: 99,000.00
Project Start Date: December 19, 2011
Project End Date: March 19, 2012
Grant Type: Advocacy Grants
Area: Visayas
Grant Status: Past

Project Goals and Objectives

To come up with a draft Danajon Bank Governance Framework
Gathered inputs from different stakeholders for the crafting of the 10-year medium-term implementation plan
A summit manifesto that will demonstrate the over-all support for the Danajon Bank Governance Framework

Outputs and Outcomes

The 3-day summit was successfully conducted last January 18-20 held at Marco Polo Plaza, Cebu City. Over 100 participants have attended the activity mostly from Local government units both provincial and municipal. Below are the highlights of the event:

The active participation from the 19 municipalities, cities and provincial government of the Province of Bohol, Cebu, Leyte and Southern Leyte along with national government agencies (NEDA, BFAR, DENR and DOT), non-government organization, academic institutions have engaged in the discussion and committed for the management of the Danajon Double Barrier Reef.
Presentation of the current situation of Danajon Bank ( biophysical, economic, valuation, socio demographic profile and governance)
The most significant output of the summit is the pledge of commitment entered by the stakeholders of Danajon Bank to take necessary steps to encourage, facilitate and promote cooperation in the areas of governance, fisheries and habitat management, and economic opportunities
A draft Memorandum of Agreement creating the Danajon Double Barrier Reef Management Council for the Management and Conservation of the Danajon Double Barrier Reef

Lessons Learned

The summit is essential to gather stakeholders in a large ecosystem as Danajon Bank for regional governance. Bringing these people far from their areas and belleting them in a good venue is very effective;
Although it’s a very expensive strategy of gathering these people to have a face-to-face discussion, this is highly critical to promote information sharing, garner support and a good opportunity to resource sharing from various funders;
A followthrough activity is very crucial to sustain the gain from this summit particularly the discussion on coordinated and sustainable management of Danajon Bank;
The discussion was facilitated to focus on the resource rather than on political jurisdictions and subdivisions which vital in drwaing the stakeholders to common agenda.