River protection, rehab discussed in workshop

CEBU, Philippines - Representatives from the local government units, national government agencies, academe, non-government organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders discussed the need to come up with programs to rehabilitate and protect our rivers.

Nearly 70 representatives attended the strategic and action planning workshop for the Central Cebu River Basins. DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said the focus now is to design programs that would be supportive to the integrated watershed management as a strategy for rehabilitation, protection and conservation of our rivers.

Organized by the Central Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBMC) of the DENR-7, the activity was pursued to identify relevant and integrated-based activities and programs, prepare a coordinative and cohesive mechanism strategic plan, and translate these plans into looking for funding sources for implementation.

Father Tito Soquino of the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño, who spoke in behalf of Cebu Archbishop and CCRBMC Chair Jose S. Palma, stressed the need to come out with not just tactical but also strategic results on the action planning workshop.

Montejo also emphasized the need to put in place and operate programs related to disaster mitigation and adaptation within the Cebu river basins so that communities would be able to respond appropriately to certain disasters.

“We urge our communities to promote soil and water conservation measures to include water impounding, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling,” he added.

To recall, the Regional Development Council- 7 approved RDC Resolution No. 47, series of 2011, supporting the CCRMBC in its collaborative efforts to manage, rehabilitate, and protect the river basins in Central Cebu.

With a total area of 68,133 hectares, the Central Cebu river basins straddle five cities and six municipalities covering four major watershed areas with corresponding hectarage are Mananga with 8,716; Lusaran-Combado, 26,257; Coastal, 24,849; and Kotkot with 8,311.

Coastal river basins include Guinsaga, Butuanon, Mahiga, Guadalupe, Lahug, Linao, and Bulacao.

Six technical working committees were identified to work on specific river basin concern, namely, waste management, environmental security and safety, education and community development, river basin management and rehabilitation, water resources generation and utilization, and institutional development.

CCRBMC is a multi-stakeholder organization composed of government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, and relevant civil society groups. It will use the integrated water resources management principles and adapt the integrated watershed or river basins and ecosystems management approach as an overarching strategy to environment and natural resources management.  (FREEMAN)