Zanjera Danum indigenous irrigation system, Dingras municipality, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from A Sitio in Zanjera Danum is water for irrigation. This irrigation system contains a network of laterals and ditches which deliver water from a main canal to a sitio in Zanjera Danum.

SCREENER:

Case: A Sitio in Zanjera Danum, Philippines

The information regarding the following common-pool resource system was taken from empirical evidence from a field setting. Data on the system was extracted from a journal article. Currently, there are no additional documents to cite which may provide further information about this common-pool resource.

These documents describe one resource in detail. The primary resource is the A Sitio in Zanjera Danum, situated in The Municipality of Dingras of Philippines. More generally, it is located in Orient. The system's sector is that of water. Relatively good information has been collected about the stakes of participants who appropriate from A Sitio in Zanjera Danum. The condition of this resource is well understood. Complete information is available regarding the strategies used by key groups interacting with the system. There is thorough documentation of the operational rules for this resource. This is the result of a high level of confidence that the authors who recorded the features of A Sitio in Zanjera Danum have a complete knowledge of its particulars. Furthermore, the authors have provided sufficient data to formulate a structured coding process.

There are less than 25 total appropriator teams appropriating from the resource . Appropriator teams for the resource are always formally organized.

Coward discusses organizational arrangements of Zanjera Danum, an indigenous irrigation system in the Philippines. The irrigation system is divided into 32 subunits called "sitios". Each sitio has its own leaders. Above the sitio level, there are two levels of organization -- the canal branches and the entire system. The author argues that the social organization of the irrigation system provides patterned solutions to the fundamental problems of system maintenance, water allocation, and conflict management. These patterns are built on important concepts, such as membership shares, allow for the combination and recombination of both water users and land areas, and place authority roles at several important levels of the association.

CITATION(S):

Coward, E. Walter, Jr. (1979) "Principles of Social Organization in an Indigenous Irrigation System." HUMAN ORGANIZATION 38(Spring): 28-36.*

RESOURCE INFO:

The resource appropriated from A Sitio in Zanjera Danum is water for irrigation. It is produced physically and is a renewable moving (fugitive) unit. This irrigation system contains a network of laterals and ditches which deliver water from a main canal to a sitio in Zanjera Danum.

The boundary of this resource has natural/constructed and institutional arrangements which do not limit entry. The boundaries of this resource are smaller than the location, and exist in one country, and are not divided among multiple general purpose local jurisdictions at a single level. The boundaries of this resource are independent of a development project designed by non-residents.

There are not distinct and stable micro-environmental or ecological zones within this resource (educated guess).

There are strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the Water for irrigation can be controlled (inferred). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation over space in the availability of Water for irrigation within the resource (inferred). There is considerable, and mildly predictable variation in the flow of Water for irrigation within a single year (inferred). The case study did not include information regarding whether or not there is considerable variation in the flow of Water for irrigation from year to year.

The topography of the resource or the land immediately around the resource was not included in the study.

The boundaries of the production resource are totally seperated from the boundaries of the appropriation resource (highly confident). The boundaries of the production resource have a relationship to the boundaries of the location that was not indicated in this case study. The boundaries of the distribution resource are not identical to the boundaries of the appropriation resource. The distribution resource is a facility connected to the appropriation resource (highly confident). The boundaries of the production resource are not equivalent to the boundaries of the distribution resource. The production resource is a facility connected to the distribution resource (highly confident).

The headworks (production resource) are operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource, but the agency(s) or the group(s) of people are not the sole operator(s) of the headworks (highly confident). The irrigators being served by this production organization participate in the selection of the officials of the production agency through special direct elections by irrigators (highly confident). The distribution system is operated by the same agency(s) or the groups(s) of people as the appropriation system, but the distribution system is not solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource (highly confident). The irrigators being served by this production organization participate in the selection of the officials of the distribution agency through special direct elections by irrigators (highly confident). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the headworks of the system (highly confident).

LOCATION:

The appropriation resources are situated in the municipality of Dingras. The boundaries of the location are a municipality. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of 32 sitios which altogether constitute the Zanjera Danum. Regarding the use of the irrigation system, there were conflictual effects throughout the entire period in the relationships among appropriation processes.

The system is located within one country. Within this country, the system's location is divided among several general purpose local jurisdictions at the same level. A permanent population lives year round in this location . There is frequent contact and communication between people in this location and officials in a nearby administrative center (inferred).

The latitude of this location is 18.07'N, and its longitude is 120.39'E. The elevation of this location is 4 meters. The highest elevation is 0. The lowest elevation of this location is 0. The region's average annual rainfall is 2430 milimeters. The region's average annual evapotranspiration is 1274 milimeters. The distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration per month is as follows:

January precipitation: 4, evapotraspiration: 51

February precipitation: 6, evapotraspiration: 40

March precipitation: 6, evapotraspiration: 40

April precipitation: 10, evapotraspiration: 33

May precipitation: 191, evapotraspiration: 170

June precipitation: 299, evapotraspiration: 161

July precipitation: 595, evapotraspiration: 159

August precipitation: 650, evapotraspiration: 153

September precipitation: 416, evapotraspiration: 143

October precipitation: 193, evapotraspiration: 138

November precipitation: 44, evapotraspiration: 110

December precipitation: 16, evapotraspiration: 76

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from A Sitio in Zanjera Danum is water for irrigation. This irrigation system contains a network of laterals and ditches which deliver water from a main canal to a sitio in Zanjera Danum.

OPERATIONAL LEVEL:

TYPE OF SITUATION

The processes described in the related documents are primarily related to appropriation, distribution, and production. The formal owner(s) of the resource discussed in this study are local appropriators. The set of individuals who have rights to withdraw from this resource is well-defined. As of the beginning of this period, the owners are not indicated as either attempting, or failing to attempt to exercise access to this resource. Since the beginning of this period, the appropriators may be exercising or attempting to exercise closed access to this resource, however this information was not included in the study.

EVENTS MARKING THE BEGINNING ACTION SITUATION

It is estimated that the operational level coded on this form ended in 1977. The estimated duration of the patterns that are described in this form is 26 to 50 years. Throughout the duration there was no indication in this study as to whether or not there are major changes in operational, collective, or consititutional rules. There was no information provided in this study to indicate whether or not there are any changes in the size and/or structure of the resource. There was no indication in this study which indicated whether or not new technology was introduced to the resource during the time of coding. There was no information included in the study to indicate whether or not there was a substantial external change in the value of the units appropriated. The quantity of units available did not have documentation regarding changes due to the appropriation patterns of other appropriators' withdrawals from the same production or distribution resource. There was no information in this study indicating whether or not there were any new groups starting to withdraw units from the appropriation resource. There was no information included in the study to indicate whether or not there was a recorded change to one or more variables internal to the operational level. The variables that changed were -2. The author begins the description of this case at this point in history.

CONDITIONS AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF PERIOD COVERED BY THIS FORM*

For biological resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was not included in the case information. For biological resources at the end of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available was apparently balanced (educated guess). For physical resources at the beginning of this period, the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units was not included in the case information. For physical resources at the end of the period the balance between the quantity of units withdrawn and the quantity of units needed, given the usual patterns of use for these units, was apparently balanced (educated guess).

The following includes the available statistics on the use of this resource at the beginning of the time period, followed by the end of the time period:

Square meters of fields irrigated at the end of the period: 450000 (educated guess)

*In fisheries and other biological systems, this is the maximum sustainable number of units. In irrigation, this refers to the optimal water requirements of the crops in the established fields served by this system.

At the beginning of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.

At the end of the period, the units were predominantly used to produce other units.

As of the beginning of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was not included in the study. As of the end of the period, the quality of the units being withdrawn from the resource was passable (educated guess). At the beginning of the period of the study, there was no information provided regarding whether or not there are problems of pollution in this or other resources, due to the way units are being appropriated. At the end of the period of the study, there were no problems of pollution in this or other resources due to the way units are being appropriated (inferred). As of the beginning of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was not indicated. As of the end of the period, the extent of technical externalities resulting from the appropriation activities of participants from this resource was relatively low (educated guess). At the beginning of this study, the interference between the appropriation technology for this resource and the appropriation processes for other resources in this location was not recorded in the case information. At the end of this study, the interference between the appropriation technology for this resource and the appropriation processes for other resources in this location was moderate (educated guess). At the beginning of this study the appropriation resource was being maintained at a level that was not recorded in the case information. At the end of this study the appropriation resource was moderately well maintained, and in good working order (educated guess). At the beginning of this period the appropriators shared levels of trust that are not indicated in the case study. At the end of the period the appropriators shared moderate to high levels of mutual trust (e.g. oral promises given high credence) (inferred). ## Unknown markup: Start ##By the end of this period no change had occurred in the property rights regime related to the appropriation resource. At the end of this period the owners were exercising, or attempting to exercise, de jure and effective closed access to this resource (inferred). At the end of the period the appropriators were exercising, or attempting to exercise, de jure and effective closed access to this resource (inferred).

INFORMATION LEVELS

There is no information in the study to indicate the availability of maps or charts of the appropration resource for use by the appropriators. Maps and/or charts of the production and distribution resources are not documented as being available, or unavailable in this case study. The appropriators of this resource can be seen by each other while withdrawing units from the resource (educated guess). No appropriators are in radio communication with each other while appropriating from the resource (educated guess). There are actions being taken, by appropriators or officials, to generate information about the condition of the resource (inferred). There are always records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way (educated guess). There was no information in the study about whether or not there are records of the physical factors which directly affected the resource kept in a systematic way. There was no information in the study about whether or not there are records of the appropriators' contributions to monitoring of the resource kept in a systematic way. There are always records of the appropriators' contribution to the maintenance of the resource kept in a systematic way (educated guess). There is no information in the study to indicate whether or not records are kept in a language accessible to most of the appropriators. The keepers of these records are not indicated as being "officials" or "non-officials" in this case study. The case study did not indicate whether or not these records are available for inspection by appropriators. There are arenas being used for the exchange of information about conditions of the resource (inferred). Appropriators get together to discuss mutual problems of the resource at a frequency which was not included in the case study. The appropriators have an intimate knowledge of the characteristics of this resource (inferred).

POTENTIAL ACTIONS AND LEVELS OF CONTROL

There are no specialized staff or workers to undertake maintenance (inferred). The quality or quantity of the units available to the appropriators are not adversely affected by the strategies of prior appropriators (educated guess). There are not problems of pollution resulting from activities of others who are not appropriators of this resource or inhabitants of this location (e.g. acid rain, sewage disposal) (educated guess). The study does not indicate whether or not there was an insurance mechanism available to the appropriators related to variability of income from the resource.

PATTERNS OF INTERACTION

Differences between subgroups relating to gender identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to ethnic identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to clan identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to racial identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to caste identification does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to religious identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Differences between subgroups relating to languages spoken does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to general cultural views of the resource system and its use does not exist (inferred). Differences between subgroups relating to any problems that affect communication does not exist (inferred).

The general manner in which appropriators related to one another during this study is a relatively positive, reciprocal manner -- the presumption was made that long-term relationships are involved and positive actions are undertaken without a specific expectation of return (educated guess).

POSITIONS AND PARTICIPANTS

At the end of the period studied there was no information coded to indicate whether or not the position of non-appropriator (individuals prevented from using the resource) existed. At the beginning of the period there was a general estimate of some undocumented number appropriators. There was a general estimate of Less than 25 appropriators at the end of the period (inferred). The "official" position of monitor (apart from the willingness of all appropriators to monitor) does exist, and appropriators (not necessarily all) rotated into this position (educated guess).

The general estimate for the number of official monitors on duty at one time during peak hours was 1-5 (inferred). None of the monitors were full-time (educated guess).

NUMBER AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG SUBGROUPS

There will be 1 subgroup form(s) completed in relation to this operational level form. The ID number(s) of the subgroup(s) coded are as follows: 44.1 - 0 - 0 - 0

EVALUATION OF RESULTS

There are no appropriators who were consistently disadvantaged in this period (inferred). The relatively worst off appropriators have not been cut out of their benefits from this resource or substantially harmed (educated guess). By the end of the period studied the distance between those who were the least advantaged and those who were the most advantaged could be characterized as remaining relatively constant over time (educated guess).

AUTHOR'S EVALUATION AND CAUSAL ASSUMPTIONS

In this coding form the author focuses on the readers' concept of results and the evaluation of results (inferred).

The appropriators do well in system maintenance, water allocation, and conflict management. The assignment of rights and responsibilities, as well as organizational arrangements likely contribute to the success.

SUBGROUP:

Participants:

The criteria for who is a member is well defined (highly confident). . This group ended with a membership of 23 (inferred).

The following statements characterize the composition of this subgroup's population with respect to variables that may affect the capacity to communicate effectively:

The difference in composition with regard to gender identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Difference in composition with regard to ethnic or cultural identification does not affect communication (educated guess). The difference in composition with regard to clan identification does not affect communication (educated guess). The difference in composition with regard to racial identification does not affect communication (educated guess). Caste identification causes no difference in composition (inferred). The difference in composition with regard to religious identification does not affect communication (educated guess). There is no difference in composition with regard to languages spoken (inferred).

.

Legal Rights:

Members of this subgroup have de jure rights of access (inferred). The right to withdraw is held by this subgroup de jure (inferred). Rights to participate in management of this resource is held de jure (inferred). Exclusion from use of the entire resource is exercised de jure (inferred). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is held de jure by this subgroup (inferred). The separable rights to exercise transfer to shares of this appropriation resource, or closely related production and/or distribution resources are neither held de jure nor de facto (educated guess). Transferring shares of major appropriation equipment which are necessary to engage in appropriation is not exercised either je jure nor de facto## Unknown column: EQUIPSHAR ##.

Stakes and Resources:

The length of time this subgroup has regularly appropriated from this resource is 101 through 200 years (educated guess). Around 91%-100% of members reside in or adjacent to this resource (educated guess). Most people in this subgroup are very dependent (i.e. most of the family income) on this resource (inferred). Less than 10% of this subgroup work a substantial amount of time in activities not associated with appropriation from this resource (inferred). The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is less than 10% (inferred). Given the economy of the location, the average annual family income (including all non-monetary forms of income) is considered average (educated guess). The variance of the average annual family income across families is moderate (educated guess). Over time the variance in average annual family income is low (inferred). Capital is owned by less than 10% of this subgroup (inferred). No real alternatives for the supply unit are available (educated guess).

Potential Actions and Levels of Control:

A noticeable impact on the balance of the quantity of units withdrawn and the number of units available in this resource would occur in a drastic reduction of this subgroup's appropriation activities (inferred). Keeping in mind the physically available levels of withdrawal that are possible from this resource, the following shows the extent to which rules concerning different aspects of withdrawal constrain appropriation: technological rules lightly constrain (educated guess), time limits which limit the range of choice lightly constrain (educated guess), quantity limits which limit the range of choice moderately constrain (educated guess), and marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a moderate value immediate return (educated guess).

Technology:

The appropriative power of the technology used threatens the balance between units withdrawn and units available even if no new users are added (inferred).

Strategies Adopted:

At the end of the period the rate of unit withdrawals was constant (educated guess). In irrigation, the appropriation resources (at the end of the period) produce mainly paddy rice, and also non-tree fruits and vegetables, and coffee, teas, cocoa, tabacco, spices, or d. During this time period members have invested resources, such as their own labor, in maintaining or improving the structure of the appropriation resource (highly confident). Investment into constructing or improving production or distribution works for maintaining or improving their resource has been made by members (highly confident). Resources have been expended (including time) to avoid actions that would harm the structure of the appropriation resource (inferred). The maintenance or improvement work is either dependent or contingent on the quantity of units appropriated (highly confident). Members do not have access to an alternative source of supply (educated guess). At least one member has assumed entrepreneurial activity in trying to achieve coordinated strategies in relationship to both withdrawal and investment (highly confident). In characterizing the usual behavior of the members of this subgroup with respect to local operation level rules-in-use (other than in extreme shortage), it can be said that almost all of the members follow the rules set in place (inferred). The level of infraction of members who are not rule followers is generally small (inferred).

Subgroup Results:

This subgroup appropriates 91%-100% of its total appropriated units at the end of this period (highly confident). By the end of this time period the appropriates from this resource have remained approximately constant (highly confident). The absolute quantity of appropriation units obtained by this group has remained constant (inferred).

RESOURCE:

The resource appropriated from A Sitio in Zanjera Danum is water for irrigation. This irrigation system contains a network of laterals and ditches which deliver water from a main canal to a sitio in Zanjera Danum.

OPERATIONAL RULES:

Concerning national collective choice relating to the resource, there is a national level of government, but it does not exercise jurisdiction in relation to the type of resource appropriated by this subgroup. Concerning regional collective choice, there is a regional level of government, but it does not exercise jurisdiction in relation to the type of resource appropriated by this subgroup.

With regard to local collective choice, a level of government or organization of appropriators exists at the location and the author provides a few detailed references about operational level rules as devised by collective choice mechanisms which have been coded below.

Boundary Rules

The following rules define the requirements that must be met before individuals are eligible to harvest or withdraw units from the appropriation resource.

The national and regional level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.

A rule exists requiring ownership or leasing of rights to a certain proportion of the flow. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

A rule exists requiring ownership or leasing of land in the location of the resource. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s).

Entry rights may be transmitted to anyone designated by the original owner.

Within one generation of potential resource appropriators, entry rights can be given, leased, rented, sold or transferred to others.

When transfer on a temporary or permanent basis is allowed, the person who makes the transfer determines to whom such rights can be transferred.

Authority and Scope Rules

The default conditions for both authority and scope rules do not apply.

The following paragraphs include information on rules of 2 cycle(s).

Authority Rules:

The national and regional level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.

There is a rule requiring withdrawal up to a fixed percentage of the total units available during a period, based on the ownership or leasing rights to a certain proportion of the flow. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules. The rule is in effect when demand for water is great (October, November) or when water is in short supply.

There is a rule requiring withdrawal up to a fixed percentage of the total units available during a period, based on the ownership or leasing rights to a certain proportion of the flow. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of a less restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules. The rule is in effect during any period other than when demand is high or supply short.

There is a rule requiring withdrawal in a fixed order, based on location. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules. The rule is in effect when demand for water is great (October, November) or when water is in short supply.

There is a rule forbidding withdrawal whenever and wherever desired, based on unspecific criteria. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules. The rule is in effect when demand for water is great (October, November) or when water is in short supply.

There is a rule forbidding withdrawal whenever and wherever desired, based on unspecific criteria. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of a less restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules. The rule is in effect during any period other than when demand is high or supply short.

The authority and scope rules do not apply to whether or not certain subgroups received substantially unequal privileges, because there is only one subgroup.

Scope Rules:

The national and regional level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.

There is a rule requiring regular maintanence labor input based on the ownership or leasing rights to a certain proportion of the flow. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

There is a rule requiring emergency repair labor based on the ownership or leasing rights to a certain proportion of the flow. This rule is enforced at the local and rules-in-use level(s), and is part of the most restrictive, regularly adopted/used set of rules.

If labor input for maintenance is required, the input can be substituted by hired labor. Most of the time, labor force is organized in relatively small teams.

Information Rules

Payoff Rules

The default condition, that all appropriators can retain whatever they can physically keep hold of and no external rewards, taxes, or sanctions are imposed is not imposed in this case. The authors have the following confidence level for the results of this section: inferred. Appropriators cannot obtain external aid to develop their appropriation technologies. Appropriators cannot obtain external aid to develop or repair their production, distribution, or appropriation resources. Appropriators are not party to price support contracts or guaranteed purchase agreements for the selling of resource units or commodities produced by resource units.

The following percentages indicate the percentages assigned to individual positions. If more than one percentage is listed per position, the individual percentages refer to the different arrangements existing within the operational rules.

Owner(s) (non-operator(s)) of primary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Owner(s) - operators(s) of primary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Owner(s) (non-operator(s)) of supplementary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Owner(s) - operator(s) of supplementary appropriation equipment:

0%; 0%; 0%

Crew with special assets (including non-owner captain):

0%; 0%; 0%

Regular crew (each):

0%; 0%; 0%

Other:

0%; 0%; 0%

Aggregation Rules

The default condition, that no rules specify contraints or requirements on the process to be used in deciding which actions will be taken, and that appropriators can have as much independence in deciding upon actions as they are physically able to exert, is imposed in this case.

Overall Questions About Rules Configuration

The general framework of the rules-in-use has governed the activities of this subgroup for 26 to 50 years.