ABSTRACT
This study examined alternative livelihood options and the willingness to shift from kaingin (slash-and-burn agriculture) among the occupants of the Pan-ay River Watershed Forest Reserve (PRWFR). Using a descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from one hundred (100) respondents through a structured survey questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between alternative livelihood options and the willingness to shift from kaingin, indicating that positive perceptions of alternatives strongly influence behavioral change. However, despite this willingness, kaingin remains prevalent due to persistent barriers such as limited market access, financial risk aversion, inadequate infrastructure, a lack of technical knowledge, and socio-cultural attachments to traditional practices. The study concluded that while alternative livelihood programs are promising, their success depends on strengthening market systems, capacity-building efforts, infrastructure development, and institutional support to ensure sustainable adoption and reduce dependence on environmentally destructive practices.
Keywords: Kaingin, Alternative Livelihood, Willingness to Shift, Protected Area
INTRODUCTION
Established on June 28, 1990, by President Corazon C. Aquino under Presidential Proclamation No. 599, the Pan-ay River Watershed Forest Reserve (PRWFR) was designated as a protected area to safeguard water yields and curb unsustainable land use and forest exploitation. Located in the Municipality of Tapaz, Capiz, on Panay Island, the reserve encompasses approximately 4,350 hectares. Its jurisdiction extends across nine specific barangays: Abangay, Acuña, Aglinab, Daan Norte, Daan Sur, Lahug, Nayawan, Roxas, and Tacayan.
Significant to the proclamation is the mandate to curb inappropriate forest exploitation and disruptive land-use practices. Among these, kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) has been repeatedly identified as one of the most persistent threats to the ecological integrity of the protected area. Findings from the Protected Area Suitability Assessment (PASA) conducted by DENR-CENRO Mambusao personnel in 2017 revealed that around 507.686 hectares approximately 12% of the total land area were already open and cultivated indicating significant forest cover conversion attributed largely to kaingin activities.
Despite explicit legal restrictions under Republic Act 7586 or the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992, amended by Republic Act 11038 or the Expanded NIPAS (ENIPAS) Act of 2018 particularly Section 20, item (i) which prohibits kaingin or, in any manner, causing forest fires inside the protected area, many occupants continue to rely on slash-and-burn farming as their primary means of subsistence. This situation reveals a persistent conflict between environmental protection goals and socioeconomic realities within forest-dependent communities.
The detrimental effects of kaingin extend beyond forest loss, contributing biodiversity decline, soil erosion, watershed degradation and reduced water yield, issues that are becoming increasingly urgent in the context of climate change. As these environmental pressures intensify, the need for sustainable, inclusive solutions that address both ecological and livelihood concerns grows more critical.
In response, government agencies and partners have introduced various alternative livelihood programs aimed at reducing dependency on kaingin. These include agroforestry initiatives, sustainable agricultural practices, livestock production, handicraft enterprises, ecotourism participation and skills-based training. While these programs offer promising pathways for both income generation and conservation, their actual adoption remains varied across communities. Many occupants continue to practice kaingin due to concerns about profitability, labor intensity, cultural norms, market access and the perceived reliability of alternative livelihoods.
A deeper understanding of these factors is essential. Assessing the perspectives of PRWFR occupants can provide valuable insights into the motivators and barriers influencing livelihood choices and their willingness to shift toward sustainable alternatives. The result of this study may guide DENR, the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), Local Government Units (LGUs) and other stakeholders in refining livelihood interventions and strengthening for protected area management.
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