ASSESSMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TOWARDS ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT OF MAHAGNAO VOLCANO NATURAL PARK (MVNP)
CHAPTER I
Introduction
Rationale of the study
Our modern society is in organizational society (Clegg and Kornberger, 2008). We are born in organizations, educated in organizations, and most of us spend much of our lives working for organizations. Organizations are closely linked to management. It is one of the functions of management and also referred as a framework of management. It is a human activity and at the same time it is a group of people as a form of structure. It exists because of an objective which is seeks to attain effectively and efficiently.
According to Griffin (2008), organization as a management process is the process of building for any enterprise a structure that will provide for a separation of activities to be performed and for the arrangement of the activities in a framework which indicated their hierarchial importance and functional associations. Organization as a structure is deliberately constructed. It is born out of the process and must afflict the objectives and plans, the centers of the authority, the areas of responsibility relationships, the environment and the quality of available manpower to run it.
Organization then is the structure design for group a number of related activities with respect to their responsibilities and authority for accomplishing an objective. An objective is accomplished by some of members’ efforts and by performing different operations to achieve a common goal. The dynamic feature of the organization is provided by a combination of personal, internal group, and external environment processes.
Management of MVNP
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the primary government agency responsible for the management of the environment and natural resources of the Philippines including the administration and management of the Natural Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). The DENR has the authority in various levels: national, regional, provincial and community levels.
The Regional Executive Director heads the DENR operations of the entire region and serves as the chairperson of the Protected Areas Management Bureau (PAMB). Like in Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park of Burauen, Leyte, the PAMB is the monitoring and policy area of DENR for the system wide management of the protected areas of the park. It is tasked to ensure the implementation of the NIPAS Act and to recommend to the DENR secretary the necessary policies and programs for the conservation and biological diversity. The DENR Secretary is the highest authority in the management hierarchy of the Philippines Protected areas System (DENR Manual).
The members of the PAMB in Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park consist of DENR Officials, LGU’s Officials and other representatives of other agencies. The enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991 gives the LGUs substantive authority and control over previously centralized functions of government. These include some functions related to forest management, like the conservation and management of communal forest, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves and other similar forest development projects.
With the participation with the different Local Government Units, Civil Society and the upland communities, it ensure the remaining biodiversity richness of the forest managed well for the benefit of our children and as a guarantee for their future.
Dalmacio (2005), said that it is not the government’s sole responsibility in conservation field but linkaging and coordination are the vital ingredients required to make this call for conservation and sustainable development work in Leyte Island.
Indeed, the Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park was declared as a National Park by virtue Proclamation No. 184 in August 27, 1937 primarily to preserve its scenic grandeur and natural features.
The management of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park has undergone a series of succession of various offices since its proclamation. It was under the control and administration of Bureau of Forestry which is now under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), by virtue of Proclamation No. 1112 dated February 21, 1973 it was managed by the National Power Corporation (NPC)which set apart a portion of land intended as a geothermal reservation which included the area embracing Mahagnao Natural Park, Ministry of the virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1749 dated December 10, 1980, later it was under the National Resources Conservation Office (NRCO) by virtue of Administrative Order No.47 dated September 14, 1982. It was abolished shortly after the EDSA revolution in 1986 because of the recall of all field personnel due to the military operation in the area because of the peace and order situation. It was resumed in 1991, however, to the present no personnel are based in the area. (MVNP Revised Management Manual,2012)
Presently, it is recommended for inclusion in the national Integrated Protected Area System and is under an interim Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of DENR. In June 1992, the DENR released the budget for the implementation of the restoration plan for Mahagnao Natural Park intended to rehabilitate the 28 hectares of open and denuded areas in order to restore the vegetative cover under the Assisted Natural Regeneration. The scheme is multi cropping of nature endemic species to optimize benefits both for the ecological system and socio-economic welfare.
Because of its outstanding beauty and natural features of national and international significance to scientific, educational and recreational values, its pristine environment with intact forest vegetation is an educational resource and a tourism potential that deserves utmost protection and proper management.
The researcher has the vision to study the management program towards eco-tourism development of Mahagnao Natural Park in order to assess the management status of the institution in order to enhance the accelerating development of the park.
Statement of the Problem
The study will assess the institutional management program towards eco-tourism development of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park.
Specifically, the study seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What is the status of the institutional management program towards ecotourism development in the area of study?
2. To what extent are the proposed management activities conducted?
3. What are the problems encountered by the respondents in the implementation of the management program towards ecotourism development?
4. Based on the findings of the study, what management interventions can be proposed to for the eco-tourism development of the park?
Significance of the Study
Result of the study will be beneficial to the following individuals;
Personnel of Mahagnao Natural Park. Whatever findings this study would bring, it will help them to conduct extensive activities to enhance an effective management.
Respondent (personnel). Result of the study would help them to become more cognizant to the value of their efforts as an employee as it will help them to enhance their knowledge and to uplift their socio-economic condition.
Visitors(Local and foreign). The findings of the study will provide them insights into the actual proof of effective management as it can be seen from the beauty and environment of the park.
Community Result will raise their awareness on the effect and value of the management as seen from its beauty and development.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
The study will assess the status of the institutional management program towards ecotourism development of Mahagnao Volcano natural Park in Burauen, Leyte; for the school year 2017-2018.
Definition of Terms
To understand better the contextual presentation of the study the following terms are defined either conceptually and or operationally.
Assessment. In the study this refers to the evaluation process of judging and documenting usually in measurable terms of knowledge, skills, Attitudes, performance to the institutional management program towards eco-tourism development of Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park.
Institutional Management Program. In this study, the term is defined as organizations that act to institute something whose purpose is to further public welfare, learning which is geared by the laws or rules. (Local Government Code of 1991).
Management Activities. As used in the study, the term is defined as the series of actions performed either social or cultural practices that they carry out the plan effectively.
Management Strategies. It refers to the term as the science, art and application of skills using management theory and techniques to achieve a goal (Martinez, 1983).
Problems Encountered. As used in the study, the term defined as the state or quality of anything as questions, doubts in the management process that offered for solutions or actions.
Program. In this study, the term is defined as a plan or systematic operation to be executed to carry out the objectives successfully (Webster’s Dictionary 2006).
Organization of the Study
Chapter I – Introduction. This chapter contains the rationale of the study, statement of the problem, research question, and significance of the study and the definition of terms.
Chapter 2 – Theoretical Framework. For this chapter, it will have the review of the related literature, theoretical framework and the conceptual framework.
Chapter 3 – Research Methodology. This chapter contains research environment, research respondents, research instruments and research procedures.
Chapter 4 – Presentation, Analysis and Interpretation of data. This chapter contains the findings of the study. It will have the result and discussion based on the research questions.
Chapter 5 – Summary, Findings, Conclusions and Recommendations. The chapter provide the summary of the study, major findings, conclusions and recommendations.
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