Methodology

Data flow diagram approach

This study made use of the data flow diagram (DFD) approach following the three most important components of data and information management for the environment and natural resources (ENR) – processes, files and flow (see Figure 1). Processes show what systems do. Each process has one or more data inputs and produces one or more outputs. Each process has a unique name and number (Hawryszkiewycz 1994). On the other hand, a file is a repository and contains data that are retained in the system. It refers to a data store and each file contains important data that are transported accordingly between processes and external entities. “Flows” model the passage of data in the system between processes, between a data store and a process, from a source to a sink, or from a process to a sink.

Processes reside within the system boundaries. Those that are outside its boundaries, but are important to the functioning of the system, are called external entities. These are usually beyond the control of the system but are referred to as either sources or sinks. Sources are external entities that supply data to the system while sinks are those that use the data. Processes and files are visualized using a DFD. A DFD shows how data flow within a system.

DFDs may be established at different levels of an organization; depending on the requirements of the task, more details can be added to the diagram. For example, a contextual DFD may appear as shown in Figure 1. As mentioned earlier, DFDs may be drawn in more detail depending on the requirements of the analysis. Figure 2 shows that an Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) system may be sub-divided further into its component sub-systems. These components may refer to the following processes: species-site identification, ground validation, IFMA preparation and proposal, monitoring and evaluation. The input and output files are shown by the corresponding arrows which also indicate the flow of data.

Figure 1. Contextualized DFD for a DENR Forest Management System (after FMB 1998)

Figure 2. DFD for an IFMA system (after FMB 1998)

Primary data gathering through field visits

A combination of primary and secondary data was used in the analysis. Primary data were gathered using an interview schedule that had the following components (see Appendix 1 – Survey Guide Questionnaire ):

Interviews were conducted with officials concerned at the different levels of the organization. Those interviewed at the study sites had a wide range of responsibilities and positions – especially the community, provincial and regional ENR officers; they included planning officers and staff from different units such as the timber management unit, the forest protection unit, the reforestation unit, community-based forest management (CBFM), and the protected areas and wildlife service (PAWS) unit. Planning officers at the different offices, including the central office, were also interviewed. A list of those interviewed and their assignments and positions is given in Appendix 2 .

Primary data gathering via a workshop

Initial results from field visits and interviews were analyzed at a three-day workshop attended by representatives from six regions and the central office (see Appendix 2). The number of workshop participants was restricted to maximize discussions and interaction. The participants represented various levels of the decision-making hierarchy – regional, provincial and community ENR officers, and planning officers, including the director of the Forest Management Bureau (FMB).

The workshop was designed to elicit current practices in terms of data gathering and reporting procedures. The workshop was divided into three modules representing processes, files and flow. For each module, guiding questions were distributed and a plenary session was conducted for presentations. Some of the guiding issues or questions that were tackled during the workshop are listed below.

Module 1: Processes

This referred to the DENR policy and implementing rules and regulations on forest and natural resources. Guidin g questions included:

The DENR  divides the country administratively into 16 regions consistent with the political sub-divisions of the country. Each region is further sub-divided into districts, provinces, municipalities, barangays (villages) and sitios (hamlets). Two regions namely Cagayan Valley and Caraga were chosen as sample sites. The primary considerations in the choice of the study sites were relative abundance of forest cover, socio-economic setting and accessibility. 

The first study site is located in the northern part of the country while the second is in the south. Both sites are accessible by land and air. Table 2 shows the forest cover for all regions of the country based on estimates from SPOT imageries by the National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA). On a regional basis, Caraga Region ranks first in terms of forest cover followed by Cagayan Valley.

Table 2.  Comparative analysis of forest cover by region

                 ¹Cordillera Administrative Region

                 ²Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao

                 ³National Capital Region

The determination of candidate study sites (or data collection points) was also based on socio-economic parameters such as household size and number, growth rate and population density (Table 3).

Table 3. Total population, number of households, average household size, population growth rate and population density by region as of 1 May 2000

Region/province	Total population1	Number of households	Average household size	Annual growth rate			Population density
				1990–1995	1995–2000	1990–2000
NCR	9 932 560	2 132 989	4.62	3.3	1.06	2.25	15 617
CAR	1 365 220	263 816	5.15	1.71	1.82	1.76	95
Cagayan Valley	2 813 159	554 004	5.07	1.51	2.25	1.85	105
Caraga	2 095 367	393 362	5.32	1.82	1.63	1.73	111
Eastern Visayas	3 610 355	715 025	5.04	1.84	1.51	1.68	173
Central  Mindanao	2 598 210	501 915	5.16	2.83	2.08	2.48	179
Western Mindanao	3 091 208	595 728	5.18	2.42	2.18	2.31	193
Northern Mindanao	2 747 585	542 075	5.06	2.32	2.19	2.26	196
ARMM	2 412 159	393 269	6.13	1.8	3.86	2.76	211
Southern Tagalog	11 793 655	2 410 972	4.88	3.53	3.72	3.62	251
Southern Mindanao	5 189 335	1 066 199	4.86	2.64	2.6	2.62	263
Bicol	4 674 855	891 541	5.24	1.91	1.68	1.8	265
Western Visayas	6 208 733	1 211 647	5.12	1.3	1.56	1.42	307
Ilocos	4 200 478	831 549	5.05	1.3	2.15	1.69	327
Central Visayas	5 701 064	1 129 317	5.03	1.65	2.79	2.18	381
Central Luzon	8 030 945	1 632 047	4.91	2.12	3.2	2.62	441
Filipinos in Philippine  embassies	2 851
Consulates and         missions abroad

¹In 2000, the population of disputed areas was reported in the next higher geographic level. For example, the population of Barangay A claimed by both Municipality A and Municipality B will be reflected in the province.

Source: National Statistics Office, Philippines (2000)

The study sites are found in the least dense regions of the country with populations exceeding 2.8 million and 2 million in Cagayan Valley and Caraga, respectively. The highest reported population is in Southern Tagalog and the lowest is in the Cordilleras. The average population growth rate from 1990 to 2000 has been steady at 1.73 percent for Caraga and 1.87 percent for Cagayan Valley. Southern Tagalog is the fastest growing region with an average growth rate of 3.62 percent for the same period.

In terms of regional accounts, the combined agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors sustained growth of 3.7 percent in 2001 with the highest amounting to Php35.3 million in Southern Tagalog and the lowest in the Cordillera Administrative Region at Php3.5 million. Cagayan Valley and Caraga posted Php11.7 million and Php5.1 million, respectively. The figures for the study sites were slightly higher than the previous year (2000). The gross regional domestic product for 2001 was 2.7 percent and 1.5 percent for Cagayan Valley and Caraga, respectively. Interestingly, the highest was registered in Northern Mindanao at 5 percent while the lowest was posted in Western Mindanao at 0.6 percent.

Forest cover was the primary consideration in choosing the study sites. The extent of forested area indicates activities related to forestry. Caraga and Cagayan Valley represent the last forest bastions in the Philippines including Southern Tagalog. More recently, these regions have been identified as biodiversity hotspots, both locally and internationally. They are considered vital corridors for biodiversity conservation. The study sites belong to the least densely populated regions of the country. With 26 percent of the population living in the uplands, social forestry in these regions fares better relative to other regions.