Conflict Management Analysis in an IFMA site: The Case of Surigao Development Corporation, Philippines

Abstract

The study was conducted to describe the types of conflicts and
conflict management strategies in the timber plantation project
of Surigao Development Corporation (SUDECOR) in Surigao
del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines. Qualitative analysis of conflict
management strategies (CMS) employed by stakeholders in the
Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) area of
SUDECOR was done based on narratives taken from key informant interviews and the focus group discussion (FGD). The study participants were chosen through snowball sampling technique and were made to narrate their perceptions about problems in the area and their participation in addressing those problems. Narratives were broken down to individual statements that bear on a particular CMS (i.e. accommodating, avoiding, collaborating, competing, and compromising).

Clustering of the statements showed the preponderance of
stakeholders’ actions that fall under the competing strategy.
This reflects the presence of multiple and overlapping interests of different stakeholders in the site, including their desire to impose their will and dominate others who also have a stake in the area. Next in importance is the compromising strategy, followed by avoiding and collaborating strategies. No stakeholder was seen to employ accommodating strategy, which is suggestive of the lack of efforts among stakeholders to generate shared understanding and commitment towards a common objective. The conflicts among stakeholders in the IFMA area stand in the way to achieving progress in the locality. Early resolution of conflicts within the IFMA area
before they escalate into unmanageable levels is a priority concern of SUDECOR and the government itself. The study also revealed that using a qualitative approach to analyzing CMS only applies at the micro–level. Use of other methods in analyzing CMS is suggested for macro–level conflict management situations.