- Resource System
- Watershed and associated topography
- Resource Units
- Freshwater
The Nazareno-Gamutan system is a communal irrigation system that appropriates water for rice cultivation in Misamis Occidental Province, Philippines. It is composed of canals that deliver water from the Langaran River and the Dokaling Creek to roughly 1200 hectares of nearby farmlands within the municipality of Plaridel. There are an estimated 2500 rice farmers who appropriate water from the system. The communal Nazareno Gamutan Irrigation System (NGIS), owned by Nazareno Gamutan Agricultural Development, Inc., has over a century of successful operations behind it, attributed to good leadership and the collaborative spirit of the members. The data was extracted from a journal article by Ongkingko (1976) that details the Nazareno-Gamutan and Laoag-Vintar irrigation systems in the Philippines.
This case study is part of the original Common-Pool Resource (CPR) database. A summary of the original CPR coding conducted in the 1980s by Edella Schlager and Shui Yan Tang at Indiana University may be found under the CPR tab in the Institutional Analysis section below.
The resource appropriated from Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation is water for irrigation. This irrigation system is comprised of canals that deliver water from the Lanaran River and the Dokaling Creek to the nearby farmlands.
SCREENER:
Case: Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation, 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 two resources in detail. The primary resource is the Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation, situated in Plaridel 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 Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation. 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 Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation have a complete knowledge of its particulars. Furthermore, the authors have provided sufficient data to formulate a structured coding process.
There are 1001-2500 total appropriator teams appropriating from the resource . Appropriator teams for the resource are always formally organized.
The Laoag-Vintar Irrigation System (LVIS) is a government-owned system operated and maintained by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). The irrigators of the system have also established their own association called the Ilocos Norte United Farmers Association, Inc. (INUFA). Officials of INUFA help organize irrigators to work with NIA officials in regard to water delivery. According to the author, LVIS was selected for discussion on the basis of its uniqueness. The presence of INUFA makes LVIS different from other NIA systems. The Nazareno Gamutan Irrigation System, a communal system owned by Nazareno Gamutan Agricultural Development, Inc., has a century of successful operations behind it, attributed to good leadership and the collaborative spirit of the members.
CITATION(S):
Ongkingco, Peteronio S. (1973) "Case Studies of Laoag-Vintar and Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation Systems." PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURIST 59(9-10): 374-380.*
The resource appropriated from Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation is water for irrigation. It is produced physically and is a renewable moving (fugitive) unit. This irrigation system is comprised of canals that deliver water from the Lanaran River and the Dokaling Creek to the nearby farmlands.
The boundary of this resource has natural/constructed attributes 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.
This study did not indicate whether or not there are distinct and stable micro-environmental or ecological zones within this resource . The study did not indicate whether the quality and/or quantity of units is regularly better in some of the zones than in others .
There are strategic points within the resource where the main flow of the water for irrigation can be controlled (inferred). There is not considerable variation over space in the availability of water for irrigation within the resource (educated guess). 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 is gently undulating (educated guess).
The boundaries of the production resource do not coincide with the boundaries of the appropriation resource. The production resource is a facility connected to the appropriation resource (confident). The boundaries of the production resource are not equivalent to the boundaries of the location, but lie within the boundaries of the location (educated guess). The boundaries of the distribution resource are roughly equivalent to the boundaries of the appropriation resource (inferred). 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 (confident).
The headworks (production resource) are operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource, and the agency(s) or the group(s) of people are the sole operator(s) of the headworks (inferred). The distribution system is solely operated by the same agency(s) (or the same group(s) of people) as the appropriation resource (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 Plaridel, a municipality (not sure, needs to be checked). The boundaries of the location are municipal boundaries. The appropriation resource present in this location consists of canals that deliver water from the Lanaran River and the Dokaling Creek to the nearby farmlands.
The system is located within one country. Within this country, the system's location is not divided among several general purpose local jurisdictions at the same level. A permanent population lives year round in this location (inferred). There is frequent contact and communication between people in this location and officials in a nearby administrative center (inferred). This location is also characterized by an economy that is stable and tied to other economic networks during the entire time period (educated guess).
The latitude of this location is 14.53'N, and its longitude is 120.51'E. The elevation of this location is 19 meters. The highest elevation is 0. The lowest elevation of this location is 0. The region's average annual rainfall is 2068 milimeters. The region's average annual evapotranspiration is 1385 milimeters. The distribution of rainfall and evapotranspiration per month is as follows:
January precipitation: 23, evapotraspiration: 85
February precipitation: 11, evapotraspiration: 65
March precipitation: 17, evapotraspiration: 68
April precipitation: 33, evapotraspiration: 66
May precipitation: 129, evapotraspiration: 137
June precipitation: 253, evapotraspiration: 159
July precipitation: 425, evapotraspiration: 157
August precipitation: 421, evapotraspiration: 151
September precipitation: 353, evapotraspiration: 141
October precipitation: 192, evapotraspiration: 138
November precipitation: 142, evapotraspiration: 114
December precipitation: 69, evapotraspiration: 104
The resource appropriated from Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation is water for irrigation. This irrigation system is comprised of canals that deliver water from the Lanaran River and the Dokaling Creek to the nearby farmlands.
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 exercising (or attempting to exercise de jure) and effective in gaining closed access to this resource. Since the beginning of this period, the appropriators are exercising (or attempting to exercise de jure) effective closed access to this resource.
EVENTS MARKING THE BEGINNING ACTION SITUATION
It is estimated that the operational level coded on this form ended in 0. The estimated duration of the patterns that are described in this form is 76 to 100 years. Throughout the duration there was change made primarily by the appropriators in operational, collective, or consititutional rules. There was no change in resource size or structure. There was no new technology introduced to the system over the duration of the patterns coded on this form. There was no substantial external change in the value of the units appropriated. The quantity of units available did not change due to a change in appropriation patterns of other appropriators' withdrawals from the same production or distribution resource. There were no new groups starting to withdraw units from the appropriation resource. There was no recorded change to one or more variables internal to the operational level. The author begins the description of this case at this point in history. The author begins at this point in history because Nazareno Gamutan Agricultural Development, Inc. was established in 1876..
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 not included in the case information. 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 not included in the case information.
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: 12000000
*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 quite low (inferred). 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 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.
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 have no documented patterns in regard to the frequency with which they could readily observe each other. 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 was no information in the study about whether or not there are records of the withdrawals from this resource kept in a systematic way. 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). Records are kept in a language accessible to most of the appropriators (ambiguous). The keepers of these records are officials at some level (ambiguous). 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 (ambiguous). Appropriators get together to discuss mutual problems of the resource weekly (inferred). The appropriators have a considerable familiarity with the characteristics of this resource (educated guess).
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, because there are no prior appropriators (inferred). 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). If someone violates the rules-in-use related to the appropriation process from this resource, it is likely that an official monitor or guard would move to impose sanctions (inferred). There is a considerable range of sanctions imposed depending on rule infractions and in regard to social, physical, and official sanctions (inferred).
POSITIONS AND PARTICIPANTS
At the end of the period studied the position of non-appropriator (individuals prevented from using the resource) did exist. At the beginning of the period there was a general estimate of some undocumented number appropriators. There was a general estimate of 1001-2500 appropriators at the end of the period (confident). The "official" position of monitor (apart from the willingness of all appropriators to monitor) does exist, and appropriators are selected by one another for this position (highly confident).
The general estimate for the number of official monitors on duty at one time during peak hours was 11-25 (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: 28.1 - 0 - 0 - 0
EVALUATION OF RESULTS
There are no appropriators who were consistently disadvantaged in this period (educated guess). 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 have been sucessful to organize among themselves to undertake maintenance. "The success of the association depends a great deal on its officers who are sincere in the discharge of their duties." (p.388) We do not have a direct question on the officers' behavior.
SUBGROUP:
Participants:
The criteria for who is a member is well defined (inferred). . This group ended with a membership of 2500.
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). Members of this subgroup cannot exercise the right to decide who can be excluded from particular zones within the resource either de facto nor de jure. (educated guess). The separable right of transfer to the flow of units from this resource is not held either by de jure nor de facto (educated guess). 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 76 through 100 years (confident). 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). The proportion of this subgroup that currently appropriates similar units from other resources is less than 10% (ambiguous). Given the economy of the location, the average annual family income (including all non-monetary forms of income) is considered average (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 not occur in a drastic reduction of this subgroup's appropriation activities (educated guess). 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 cause unknown contraints, time limit rules cause unknown contraints, quantity rules cause unknown contraints, marginal units or units obtained by increasing levels of appropriation have a low value immediate return (educated guess).
Technology:
The appropriative power of the technology used does not threaten 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 increasing (educated guess). In irrigation, the appropriation resources (at the end of the period) produce mainly paddy rice. 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). At least one member has assumed entrepreneurial activity in trying to achieve coordinated strategies in relationship to investment or maintenance (inferred). 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 become larger (inferred).
The resource appropriated from Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation is water for irrigation. This irrigation system is comprised of canals that deliver water from the Lanaran River and the Dokaling Creek to the nearby farmlands.
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 membership in an organization. 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).
Authority and Scope Rules
The default conditions for both authority and scope rules do not apply.
The following paragraphs include information on rules of 1 cycle(s).
Authority Rules:
The national and regional level(s) of government or organization had no jurisdiction over the resource.
There is a rule permitting 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 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 amount of land held. 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 amount of land held. 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 labor, money, or materials to be used for major capital investment, based on the amount of land held. 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 some payment (e.g. money, materials).
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: confident. Incarceration is not imposed as penalty on appropriators for breaking rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Heavy fines can be imposed on appropriators for breaking rules related to the appropriation of this resource. Appropriators may not lose their entry or appropriation rights for breaking rules related to the appropriation of the resource. Appropriators cannot obtain external aid to develop their appropriation technologies. Appropriators can obtain aid from a national (private or public) agency(s) to develop or repair their production, distribution, or appropriation resources. Appropriators can obtain aid from a national (private or public) agency(s) to develop technologies for using the resource units. 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.
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 76 to 100 years.
Nazareno Gamutan Agricultural Development, Inc. (1876 - 1976)
Resource System
Watershed and its associated ecology
Resource Users
Irrigators (~2500 rice farmers)
Public Infrastructure Providers
Nazareno Gamutan Agricultural Development, Inc. (NGADI) and its associated officers and members
Public Infrastructure
Hard human-made infrastructure includes: (1) canals, (2) dams, and (3) dikes/levees along boundaries of rice fields
Soft human-made infrastructure includes the rules in use regarding: (1) payments and fees, (2) when to open or close the headgates, and (3) traditional rituals said to improve rice yields
Relationship 1
R => RU
- Farmers practice continuous flooding to submerge their rice fields, using soft and hard infrastructure
Relationship 2
RU => PIP
- Landowners i.e., farmers) are members of the Nazareno Gamutan Agricultural Development, Inc. (NGADI) association
PIP => RU
- The lawyer of NGADI handles farmers’ payments of fees and will address disputes if farmers do not wish to pay their fees
Relationship 3
PIP => PI
- Members of NGADI contribute to labor, repair, and maintenance of the hard infrastructure
Relationship 4
Hard PI => R
- Irrigation infrastructure transports water to rice fields
Relationship 5
Soft PI => R
- Cropping seasons and the associated rituals around them dictate when the headgate will be open or closed for continuous flooding of rice fields
Relationship 6
Soft PI => RU
- Farmers must pay fees to the NGADI association if they do not provide labor (see link 3)
Exogenous Drivers 7 (Resource System)
- Weather patterns, such as extreme rainy seasons or tropical storms / typhoons can lead to floods
- Changes in water levels influence the level of salt intrusion from the nearby sea into freshwater resources
Exogenous Drivers 7 (Public Infrastructure)
- Floods can destroy or damage the irrigation system (Hard PI)
Exogenous Drivers 8 (Resource Users)
(none specified)Exogenous Drivers 8 (Public Infrastructure Providers)
- External salesmen, extension agents, and agricultural advisors can influence the decisions of the officers of NGADI regarding crop seasons (i.e., pressuring for more seasons per year) or fertilizer use, etc.
- Other professional or livelihood opportunities for members of NGADI can influence whether they continue providing manual labor to the association, or rather have enough disposable income to opt to pay the fees instead. Fewer members willing to provide manual labor would affect the underlying structure of the PI that NGADI can provide.
Human Infrastructure, Private and Human-Made (Resource Users)
- It is implied that individual landowners privately own livestock such as carabaos (water buffalo)
Human Infrastructure, Private and Human-Made (Public Infrastructure Providers)
- NGADI owns a small tractor which they will allow farmers to use for a fee
Case Studies of Laoag-Vintar and Nazareno-Gamutan Irrigation Systems. Philippine Agriculturalist. 59(9-10):374-389.
. 1973.