de villa soc impact assessment

Some Thoughts on Social Impact Assessment: 

Some Thoughts on Social Impact Assessment By AGERICO M.DE VILLA

To say that Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is a useful planning tool is enough justification for insisting that SIA be established as a necessary feature of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system. From Aswan Dam to our own Lake Caliraya, there is enough experience from which it can be argued that SIA can be a useful planning tool. : 

To say that Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is a useful planning tool is enough justification for insisting that SIA be established as a necessary feature of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system. From Aswan Dam to our own Lake Caliraya, there is enough experience from which it can be argued that SIA can be a useful planning tool.

Nevertheless enough justification does not necessarily mean enough excuse. Our own Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary himself has enough justification to the contrary as to be bold enough to announce his intention to do away with SIA as a necessary feature of our EIA system. : 

Nevertheless enough justification does not necessarily mean enough excuse. Our own Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary himself has enough justification to the contrary as to be bold enough to announce his intention to do away with SIA as a necessary feature of our EIA system.

Let me point out the distinction between justification and excuse. : 

Let me point out the distinction between justification and excuse.

One plays a crucial role as a varsity player in an intercollegiate game. A choice has to be made between taking an exam and playing the game. Since a win in the game gives the university the championship of the entire intercollegiate athletic association championship, the loss on the other hand gives the championship to another university, and, finally, absence of the player involved practically seals the loss of the game, the choice is made to play the game. The player involved fails, in the process, the exam. Any attempt of the player involved to explain to the professor giving the exam can only amount to a justification but never an excuse. The key element here is that a choice to take the exam could have been made. The professor can always argue, “A choice has been made, and one has to stand-up for it.” : 

One plays a crucial role as a varsity player in an intercollegiate game. A choice has to be made between taking an exam and playing the game. Since a win in the game gives the university the championship of the entire intercollegiate athletic association championship, the loss on the other hand gives the championship to another university, and, finally, absence of the player involved practically seals the loss of the game, the choice is made to play the game. The player involved fails, in the process, the exam. Any attempt of the player involved to explain to the professor giving the exam can only amount to a justification but never an excuse. The key element here is that a choice to take the exam could have been made. The professor can always argue, “A choice has been made, and one has to stand-up for it.”

A student is kidnapped, tied-up, and thrown down a cellar for good measure. The student is later rescued but an exam he has had to take has already been given without him being able to take it. He explains to the professor his predicament. The explanation is accepted as an excuse and another exam is given for the benefit of the student. The key element here is that, so far as the earlier exam is involved, there has been no choice available to the student. : 

A student is kidnapped, tied-up, and thrown down a cellar for good measure. The student is later rescued but an exam he has had to take has already been given without him being able to take it. He explains to the professor his predicament. The explanation is accepted as an excuse and another exam is given for the benefit of the student. The key element here is that, so far as the earlier exam is involved, there has been no choice available to the student.

In insisting that SIA be established as a necessary feature of an EIA system because it is a useful planning tool, one only establishes some justification. Is it possible to insist that SIA be established as a necessary feature of an EIA system on the basis of an excuse, not simply a justification? : 

In insisting that SIA be established as a necessary feature of an EIA system because it is a useful planning tool, one only establishes some justification.   Is it possible to insist that SIA be established as a necessary feature of an EIA system on the basis of an excuse, not simply a justification?

1905. Einstein publishes “The Special Theory of Relativity.” His equations are recognized by his colleagues and celebrated by the scientific community at large. : 

1905. Einstein publishes “The Special Theory of Relativity.” His equations are recognized by his colleagues and celebrated by the scientific community at large.

1919. Arthur Eddington leads an expedition to Brazil to observe natural phenomena associated with total solar eclipses. He establishes the first ever proof of the usefulness of Eistein’s equations. : 

1919. Arthur Eddington leads an expedition to Brazil to observe natural phenomena associated with total solar eclipses. He establishes the first ever proof of the usefulness of Eistein’s equations.

1921. Einstein wins the Nobel Prize for physics. : 

1921. Einstein wins the Nobel Prize for physics.

1922. Niels Bohr wins the Nobel Prize for physics using the very theories of Einstein beyond Einstein’s own intention. : 

1922. Niels Bohr wins the Nobel Prize for physics using the very theories of Einstein beyond Einstein’s own intention.

At some point in time later, after Einstein and Bohr have both won the Nobel Prize, their friendship has become strained by irreconcilable differences between their views about physics. Why?: 

At some point in time later, after Einstein and Bohr have both won the Nobel Prize, their friendship has become strained by irreconcilable differences between their views about physics. Why?

These are dimensions of reasoning one ought to always consider: logical form, empirical evidence, and, finally, context. Logical form is known via mathematical or conceptual analysis while empirical proof is known via the scientific method. How is the right context known? : 

These are dimensions of reasoning one ought to always consider: logical form, empirical evidence, and, finally, context. Logical form is known via mathematical or conceptual analysis while empirical proof is known via the scientific method. How is the right context known?

Context is known as a function of social, political, cultural, economic, and geographic experience of the community, such as a community of scientists or a community of stakeholders. : 

Context is known as a function of social, political, cultural, economic, and geographic experience of the community, such as a community of scientists or a community of stakeholders.

As the U.S. Interorganizational Committee on Guidelines and Principles for Social Impact Assessment has declared in May 1994, “some of the most important aspects of social impacts, involve not the physical relocation of human populations, but the meanings, perceptions, or social significance of these changes.” Social context indicated by the meanings, perceptions, or social significance of the possible changes that projects bring with them count as much as the bio-physical nature of these changes. : 

As the U.S. Interorganizational Committee on Guidelines and Principles for Social Impact Assessment has declared in May 1994, “some of the most important aspects of social impacts, involve not the physical relocation of human populations, but the meanings, perceptions, or social significance of these changes.” Social context indicated by the meanings, perceptions, or social significance of the possible changes that projects bring with them count as much as the bio-physical nature of these changes.

Here is where lies an excuse in insisting that SIA be established as a necessary feature of our EIA system. There is little chance or no chance at all that conflict of views between project proponents and the publics concerned, given Philippine context, can be avoided. One should expect that on so many occasions, what may be music to project proponents might be noise to the publics concerned. : 

Here is where lies an excuse in insisting that SIA be established as a necessary feature of our EIA system. There is little chance or no chance at all that conflict of views between project proponents and the publics concerned, given Philippine context, can be avoided. One should expect that on so many occasions, what may be music to project proponents might be noise to the publics concerned.

Unless one is prepared to use coercion via the military and the police on more and more occasions, there can be little or no choice at all so far as the insistence that SIA be established as a necessary feature of our EIA system. : 

Unless one is prepared to use coercion via the military and the police on more and more occasions, there can be little or no choice at all so far as the insistence that SIA be established as a necessary feature of our EIA system.

What about the social context of Philippine practice of SIA?: 

What about the social context of Philippine practice of SIA?

Coherent tradition of any scientific practice, such as that of SIA, is founded on some paradigm by definition. This is true, for example, of Ptolemaic as against Copernican astronomy, of Aristotelian as against Newtonian dynamics, or of corpuscular as against wave optics. A paradigm itself may be some accepted example of actual scientific practice involving some law, theory, application and instrumentation. : 

Coherent tradition of any scientific practice, such as that of SIA, is founded on some paradigm by definition. This is true, for example, of Ptolemaic as against Copernican astronomy, of Aristotelian as against Newtonian dynamics, or of corpuscular as against wave optics. A paradigm itself may be some accepted example of actual scientific practice involving some law, theory, application and instrumentation.

In the case of Philippine practice of SIA, it seems that, rather than having a single dominant paradigm for everyone, what is available is a range of competing alternatives, sometimes, contradictory alternatives. : 

In the case of Philippine practice of SIA, it seems that, rather than having a single dominant paradigm for everyone, what is available is a range of competing alternatives, sometimes, contradictory alternatives.

Consider social acceptability. How many practitioners have ever considered a proponent-based rather than a community-based concept of social acceptability? : 

Consider social acceptability. How many practitioners have ever considered a proponent-based rather than a community-based concept of social acceptability?

On one hand, note that it is possible for a project to have a relatively low level of hostility so far as the community is concerned and, yet, it is still possible to insist on denial of the ECC involved on a social acceptability issue. This happens when, given some unique situation, the capacity of the proponent to manage the hostility involved is even lower than the level of hostility present. : 

On one hand, note that it is possible for a project to have a relatively low level of hostility so far as the community is concerned and, yet, it is still possible to insist on denial of the ECC involved on a social acceptability issue. This happens when, given some unique situation, the capacity of the proponent to manage the hostility involved is even lower than the level of hostility present.

On the other hand, note that it is possible for a project to have a relatively high level of hostility so far as the community is concerned, and, yet, it is still possible to grant the ECC involved. This happens when, given some unique situation, the capacity of the proponent to manage the hostility involved is much higher than the level of hostility present. : 

On the other hand, note that it is possible for a project to have a relatively high level of hostility so far as the community is concerned, and, yet, it is still possible to grant the ECC involved. This happens when, given some unique situation, the capacity of the proponent to manage the hostility involved is much higher than the level of hostility present.

Take this distinction between public consultation and public hearing easily lost to many.: 

Take this distinction between public consultation and public hearing easily lost to many.

Public consultation involves participants directly invited by the proponents or local government unit leaders to some forum. This presupposes some criterion, explicit or otherwise, that is dependent, therefore relatively biased, on the proponents or local government unit leaders. : 

Public consultation involves participants directly invited by the proponents or local government unit leaders to some forum. This presupposes some criterion, explicit or otherwise, that is dependent, therefore relatively biased, on the proponents or local government unit leaders.

Public hearing, on the other hand, involves both those invited by the proponents or local government unit leaders and those who come to be interested in the forum on account of the public announcements required of the proponents through the media – including anyone from as far as the North Pole or the South Pole. This presupposes that no biased criterion dominates the selection of those who are attending the forum. : 

Public hearing, on the other hand, involves both those invited by the proponents or local government unit leaders and those who come to be interested in the forum on account of the public announcements required of the proponents through the media – including anyone from as far as the North Pole or the South Pole. This presupposes that no biased criterion dominates the selection of those who are attending the forum.

Not all practitioners realize that Philippine practice of SIA is replete with unique features. Initially, what is used elsewhere is “a comparative SIA method to study the course of events in a community where an environmental change has occurred, and extrapolate from that analysis what is likely to happen in another community where a similar development or policy change is planned.” : 

Not all practitioners realize that Philippine practice of SIA is replete with unique features. Initially, what is used elsewhere is “a comparative SIA method to study the course of events in a community where an environmental change has occurred, and extrapolate from that analysis what is likely to happen in another community where a similar development or policy change is planned.”

Philippine practice has not had the same luxury of points of comparison across past experience; there simply has been none or little available. Philippine practice has had to rely on its own inventions and innovations. : 

Philippine practice has not had the same luxury of points of comparison across past experience; there simply has been none or little available. Philippine practice has had to rely on its own inventions and innovations.

Given Philippine propensity for “people power” expression, social acceptability has come in. Adjustments have had to be made between different levels of public participation such that a distinction has had to be made between “public consultation” and “public hearing.” “Prior consent,” instead of prior consultation, has had to be factored in with respect to issues involving indigenous peoples. : 

Given Philippine propensity for “people power” expression, social acceptability has come in. Adjustments have had to be made between different levels of public participation such that a distinction has had to be made between “public consultation” and “public hearing.” “Prior consent,” instead of prior consultation, has had to be factored in with respect to issues involving indigenous peoples.

How does one operationalize what is meant by social acceptability? How does one make a distinction between public consultation and public hearing where even practice in law does not regard one? How does one meaningfully obtain prior consent from communities who do not even have such basic physical distinctions between average velocity and instantaneous velocity present in their language? : 

How does one operationalize what is meant by social acceptability? How does one make a distinction between public consultation and public hearing where even practice in law does not regard one? How does one meaningfully obtain prior consent from communities who do not even have such basic physical distinctions between average velocity and instantaneous velocity present in their language?

And so the debate goes on. It can only be surmised that there is yet no normalcy in the Philippine practice of SIA. And so critics such as the DENR secretary are given the impression that this can be done-away with as a necessary feature of our EIA system. : 

And so the debate goes on. It can only be surmised that there is yet no normalcy in the Philippine practice of SIA. And so critics such as the DENR secretary are given the impression that this can be done-away with as a necessary feature of our EIA system.

There is certainly a need to organize. Firstly, because chances are our critics are going to get what they want. Secondly, because we need to agree on some paradigm of SIA practice.: 

There is certainly a need to organize. Firstly, because chances are our critics are going to get what they want. Secondly, because we need to agree on some paradigm of SIA practice.

Thank you for listening.: 

Thank you for listening.