Social capital and citizen participation in sustainable watershed governance : evidence from the Irawan watershed in Puerto Princesa, Philippines | |
| Author | Sibal, John Vincent Cabailo |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.DP-26-03 |
| Subject(s) | Watershed management--Government policy--Philippines Watershed management--Citizen participation--Philippines Social capital (Sociology)--Philippines |
| Note | A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Planning Management and Innovation |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study examines the social and relational foundations of watershed management and governance of the Irawan Watershed in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines. Moving beyond a purely institutional or technical understanding of governance, the study analyzes how watershed governance is framed by formally constituted actors, enacted through citizen participation, shaped by social capital, and experienced through community perceptions of governance performance. Specifically, it examines how actors define problems, propose solutions, and justify action; assesses citizen participation in terms of involvement and leadership and/or contribution; determines how social capital dimensions and selected socio demographic characteristics are associated with participation; and analyzes how social capital shapes perceived watershed governance performance. Using a mixed-methods design, the study draws on key informant interviews with formally constituted actors, a community survey of Barangay Irawan residents, and focus group discussions. Qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis guided by the diagnostic-prognostic-motivational framing tasks, while quantitative data were examined through descriptive, comparative, correlation, and regression analyses. Findings show that watershed governance is framed through multiple and coexisting interpretations. Diagnostic frames highlighted implementation capacity gaps, coordination constraints, Indigenous exclusion and misrecognition, legal and procedural ambiguity, and development and land-use pressures. Prognostic frames pointed to executive led coordination, rights-based co-management, enforcement-centered approaches, and livelihood and incentive-based conservation. Motivational frames centered on water security, cultural survival, Indigenous stewardship, and urgency through risk and loss. Participation was present but uneven, with residents more commonly involved in activity-based forms than in leadership or decision-making roles. Social capital did not operate uniformly: civic participation and awareness were important for participation, while network cohesion, cooperation, and awareness shaped more favorable governance perceptions. Reciprocity, however, showed a more complex relationship with governance perception. Collectively, the study demonstrates that watershed governance is not only about managing resources, but also about managing relationships, meanings, recognition, and participation. It contributes to sustainable watershed governance by showing how social capital links framing, participation, and governance perception, while identifying pathways for more inclusive, collaborative, and adaptive governance. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development (2026) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Development Planning Management and Innovation (DPMI) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thi, Phuoc Lai Nguyen |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ahmad, Mokbul M.;Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Her Majesty the Queen’s Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2026 |
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