Sulog Volume 1 Issue 3

Task force completes critical rivers assessment

Scoping mission endorses flood control projects for Agusan river basin

Indigenous rites seal environment pact in Mindanao town

MindaNOW! Program Experts Profile

Sulog December 2013

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Davao City, Philippines

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MinDA

Volume 1 Issue 3

Editor’s Report Year in Review:

MindaNOW! Program 2013 accomplishments It’s quite pleasing to note that the full year of implementation of Mindanao Development Authority’s MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program is marked by achievements that gained full support from key stakeholders, which ushered for the establishment and strengthening of watershed and river basin organizations and the successful lobbying of policies and critical infrastructure projects for watershed and river basins across the island-region.

JANET M. LOPOZ Executive Director

In our efforts to integrate and harmonize a ridge-to-reef approach in managing Mindanao’s resources, we worked with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-River Basin Control Office (DENR-RBCO) in promoting responsible and sustainable development and management of river basins and watersheds in Mindanao. This partnership resulted to the creation of the Tagoloan River Basin Management Council and the anticipated establishment of seven other river basin organizations across Mindanao.

In addition to that, we also facilitated the completion of the master plans for the Mindanao River Basin and Buayan-Malungon River Basin. This feat is complemented with MinDA’s securing of funding commitment for flood control projects amounting to P6.9 billion. Similar infrastructure projects for the Agusan River Basin were also endorsed to the Department of Public Works and Highways for funding in 2014.

Moreover, our team successfully accredited a pool of seven local experts on environment and climate change for the MindaNOW! Experts Forum, a platform for knowledge development and information sharing. These accredited experts participated in the conduct of rapid assessment of 21 critical rivers in Mindanao, which were identified by the Mindanao Rivers Reconstruction Task Force.

For this issue, we dedicated a full infographic spread of last year’s accomplishments. A diagram also outlines the continuing task of nurturing Mindanao’s fragile environment as illustrated by our upcoming projects for 2014.

There is still so much to be done in ensuring a sustainable management of Mindanao’s environment, and that this task must come with a certain consciousness – the need to remind ourselves that we must view environment not just as our main resource, but more importantly as our prime habitat.

Photo by: Joemarie Escovilla

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Special Report

Task force completes critical rivers assessment

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rapid assessment of Mindanao’s 10 critical rivers revealed that a number of the assessed rivers are found to be heavily degraded due to intensive sand and gravel quarrying activities within and along the rivers’ streambanks.

Conducted by the Mindanao Rivers Reconstruction Task Force (MRRTF), the rapid

“total environmental service” for human needs.

A vital water source in the town of Pantukan, Kingking River traverses three barangays and covers a watershed area of almost 6,500 hectares.

The assessment also noted that the modification of the river’s condition caused by sand and gravel quarrying activities made the

The study also identified three rivers in Caraga Region that are in danger of deteriorating due to excessive human activities.

Among these activities include the excessive fishing in the upstream area of Tago River, the large-scale quarrying and fishing in Tandag River, and the small-scale sand and gravel quarrying and logging in Puyo River.

which will include the proposed interventions for the rehabilitation of the endangered rivers.

A similar study on 11 identified rivers in Mindanao will be conducted in 2014.

The MRRTF was organized in January last year through MinDA Board Resolution No.0004 Series of 2013 as a body that will conduct rapid assessment of the

Photo by: Central Mindanao University

Residents utilize a canoe-type boat as hauling device for sand and gravel quarried from the banks of Surigao River in Surigao City. A rapid assessment study revealed that intensive sand and gravel quarrying activities have caused the degradation of some of Mindanao’s critical rivers.

assessment tested both the biotic and abiotic conditions in the upstream and downstream portions of the rivers as well as the conditions of the vegetation along the riverbanks.

The Kingking River in the Municipality of Pantukan in Compostela Valley is found to have lost its basic environmental functions due to excessive quarrying and mining activities in the area.

The study also showed that the continued industrial activities within the stretch of the river have modified its conditions and affected its ecological system, which hindered it from providing

The study also identified three rivers in Caraga “ Region that are in danger of deteriorating due to excessive human activities.” river vulnerable to flooding, particularly during the monsoon season.

Other Mindanao rivers identified in the study as among the top three most degraded rivers due to extensive quarrying, mining of metallic ores, and indiscriminate waste disposal included the Carac-an River in Madrid, Surigao del Sur, the Mandulog River in Iligan City, and the Opol River in Misamis Oriental.

The study further revealed that medium-scale quarrying activities in Manurigao River in Compostela Valley and Surigao River in Surigao City have caused the degradation of the said rivers.

Conducted in partnership with the Central Mindanao University (CMU) that also acts as the study’s technical advisor, the rapid assessment’s final report is expected to be released by the first quarter of 2014,

damage brought about by environmental practices in the island-region. It is composed of key line government agencies that include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the National Irrigation Administration, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Environmental Management Bureau, the National Economic Development Authority, the Department of Agriculture, and provincial governments of concerned areas.

How are critical rivers assessed?

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Prioritization of critical rivers

Demographic Study of the Assessment Area

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Geomorphological assessment of selected critical rivers

Biotic and abiotic assessment of critical rivers

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Analyzing, profiling, and ranking of assessed critical rivers

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Crafting of recommendations and formulation of project concept proposals for immediate intervention

Scoping mission endorses flood control projects for Agusan river basin Ten flood control projects were endorsed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office as among the priority projects that need immediate implementation to mitigate flooding within the Agusan River Basin (ARB).

The flood control projects were identified through a scoping mission which included physical assessments conducted by a team of technical experts from the MinDA, DPWH Caraga, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region XI and Caraga, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga, and DENR’s Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Program Project Management Office.

Held in October last year, the scoping mission kicked off the updating of

The MindaNOW! Sulog Editorial Staff Janet M. Lopoz Editor-in-Chief Editorial Board: Reyzaldy Tan Joan Barrera Leoncio Rodaje Staff: Yvette Valderia Rolando Pinsoy Kenny Nodalo A scenic Mindanao sunset becomes a dramatic backdrop to the Wawa River in Esperanza, one of the important tributaries of Agusan River Basin.

the ARB master plan, which will become the blueprint of the ARB governing board in effectively managing the natural resources of the river basin.

Implemented in coordination with local government units, the scoping mission also validated the projects recommended in the ARB master plan as well as the Asian Development Bank Pre-Projects Programs and Technical Assistance.

Considered as the second largest river basin in Mindanao, the ARB has a total area of 10,921 square km or about 11 percent of Mindanao island’s total land area. It is composed of 17 sub-basins, which cover Regions X, XI, and Caraga.

The conduct of the scoping mission is also part of MinDA’s efforts in pursuing immediate and longterm flood control for the rehabilitation of the ARB.

Sulog is a quarterly publication of the Mindanao Development Authority through its flagship program called the MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program. The term Sulog is a Bisayan word for current, but specifically defines the current that is present in bodies of water like streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans. It connotes strength, power, and consistency.

Sulog plays a major role in the formation of the Earth’s landscape and acts as key element that connects the ridge to the reef. You want your stories published in the succeeding Sulog issues?

Please send your contributions to now@minda.gov.ph.

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MindaNOW! Program 2013 Accomplishm PLANS PROGRAMS & PROJECTS POLICY

MindaNOW! Program projects in 2014

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Mainstreaming Ridgeto-Reef Management Approach to Programs Projects Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation (PPPIME) of MindaNOW Partners

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Mindanao River Basin Information System

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Critical River Rapid Assessment Batch II

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Compendium of Mindanao Environment Statistics

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Implementation of Barangay StraTREEgic Project among key LGUs in Mindanao

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PLATFORMS

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Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the curriculum of Higher Education Institutions

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Mainstreaming Payment for Ecological Services in River Basin Organizations and Alliances

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Policy Advocacy on the Rehabilitation of the two critical rivers

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Indigenous rites seal environ DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Colors burst along the banks of Lake Danao as villagers clad in crimson traditional garbs gather for a communal rite that traces its roots from ancient traditions and is performed to seek permission from Magbabaya (Supreme Creator) for the utilization of land and other terrestrial resources.

Secretary Luwalhati Antonino (right) attends to the launching of the Naawan Green Governance Program.

Echoes of chants and soft humming envelope the usually quiet

community of Lubilan, a far-flung barrio located in the hinterlands of Naawan in Misamis Oriental in Southern Philippines, and home of the Higaonon, an indigenous tribe found in the northern region of the island of Mindanao.

“The entire Higaonon ritual is a series of rites performed to ask permission from Magbabaya to clear the area, utilize the soil, and grow trees,” said Salvador Almiñe, municipal

planning and development coordinator of Naawan Municipality.

Named as the “people of the living mountains,” the Higaonon are also called as the “safe keepers” of land, considered as a priceless gift from Magbabaya. The tribe’s name came from the words higa (living), goan (mountains), and onon (people).

Almiñe explained that the ritual is also part of the long-term commitment of the people of Naawan to take care of their environment through the implementation

of the “Naawan Green Governance Program (NGGP).”

“The NGGP, which is mainly designed to protect the environment, also aims to implement the massive reforestation project along the periphery of Lake Danao, the town’s main water source,” he added.

Almiñe said the municipal government of Naawan has initially collected funds of more than P300,000 which will be utilized for the reforestation project.

The funds were collected through the town’s payment for environment services (PES) program, one of the environmental mechanisms of the NGGP. “Through our PES program, the municipal government issued an ordinance to collect P1.00 for every cubic meter of water that a household consumes,” said Naawan Mayor Jaime Roa. He explained that the reforestation project is a component of the longterm mechanism designed to protect the watershed, ensure sustainability of the water system, and

This story was also published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on 18 January 2014.

Texts by Louie M. Rodaje, photos by Makmod S. Pasawilan.

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nment pact in Mindanao town restore the town’s damaged environment.

“We aim to initially plant 1,200 trees as part of its goal to reforest 25 hectares within Naawan each year,” Roa added.

A premier source of lumber during the 60s and 70s, Naawan’s 4,000 hectares of forest cover produced high-quality timbers such as Molave, Narra, and Lawaan for Mindanao’s top logging concessionaires. Currently, the remaining forest cover around Lake Danao has reduced to approximately 50 hectares, only 5 percent of its original forest cover of 1,000 hectares. The entire municipality of Naawan has a remaining forest cover of about 200 hectares.

Local chief executives in Mindanao are urged to implement PES programs to ensure sustainability of industries that are dependent on natural resources and help restore the islandregion’s heavily degraded environment.

“We need to ensure that our local governance must be paralleled with efforts to protect and conserve our environment,” said Luwalhati Antonino, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair.

She added that by creating an ordinance,

any local government unit (LGU) may implement a PES program that allows it to collect fees from its constituents who subscribe to services that are dependent on natural resources.

A partnership agreement was forged between the Naawan municipal government and MinDA through its MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program in the implementation of the “StraTREEgic Project” as one of the components of the NGGP. The “StraTREEgic Project” aims to achieve effective watershed and coastal management among LGUs

and is designed to increase environmental awareness, disaster mitigation, as well as provide income opportunities for the community. It also seeks to advocate PES as a mechanism for resource mobilization and social cohesion.

“Reforestation including the planting of trees in the uplands and mangroves in our shorelines are vital in lessening the damages caused by flash floods and storm surge,” said Antonino, while adding “Mindanao has a remaining 10 percent forest cover, and we must do all efforts to bring our environment back to its favorable state.”

The MindaNOW! Program seeks to integrate and harmonize a ridge to reef approach in managing Mindanao’s resources through coordinated planning, policy advocacy, and by providing platforms for public-private convergence so that local initiatives can be supported.

Antonino said the role of LGUs in implementing PES programs is crucial since its success is largely dependent on the quality of leadership and governance at the local level.

“Naawan has shown that it can be done, so there’s no reason why other Mindanao municipalities can’t,” she added.

Members of the Higaonon tribe lead a communal rite seeking permission from Magbabaya (Supreme Creator) for the utilization of land and other terrestrial resources that are considered priceless gifts.

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Meet the members of the MindaNOW! Program Experts’ Forum!

The Mindanao Experts’ Forum serves as a platform for collaboration and information exchange among Mindanao experts on environment, climate change, technologies, governance, and academe, among others. The forum also plays a critical role in crafting and advocating for policy reforms under the MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program.

Mr. Edgardo Aranico teaches Biological Sciences at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree as well as a Master of Science in Forestry. His fields of expertise include forest resource and watershed management, and ecology and environmental impact assessment.

Prof. Victoria Quimpang is a faculty-researcher at Central Mindanao University-Bukidnon. Her fields of expertise include river, lake, and coastal ecology; water quality assessment and monitoring; fishes, plankton, sea-grasses and their reforestation, and aquatic and forest productivity.

Dr. Einstine Opiso, Ph.D completed his doctoral degree in Solid Waste Resources and Geo-Environmental Engineering with specialization in Environmental Geology at Hokaido University, Japan as a MEXT-Monbusho scholar. Dr. Opiso teaches at Central Mindanao University-Bukidnon and specializes in geoenvironmental engineering, environmental hydrogeology, and geochemistry.

Atty. Renato S. Pacaldo, Ph.D. is an associate professor at the Mindanao State University main campus in Marawi City. His expertise includes biomass and bioenergy, Greeenhouse Gas (GHG) accounting, watershed management, and environmental laws and policies, among others.

Dr. George Puno is a professor at Central Mindanao UniversityBukidnon. He’s an expert in geographic information systems (GIS), watershed management and watershed modelling, and social forestry.

Be part of the MindaNOW! Program Experts’ Forum!

Environment experts and interested parties are encouraged to participate in the Experts’ Forum being organized by MinDA’s MindaNOW! Program.

Interested experts may visit the MindaNOW! Program Portal at www.minda.gov.ph or call MinDA at telephone number +63 (82) 221-1345 for further information.

Ms. Oda Beltran is an expert in biodiversity conservation, food security, watershed management and development, ancestral domain protection and development, and organizational management. She is the managing director and co-founder of the Bukidnon Resource Management Foundation.

Dr. Chona Q. Sarmiento is a professor at Western Mindanao State University. She was conferred with an International Peer Reviewer Award during the International Conference on Higher Education Research in 2010. Her expertise includes qualitative research, curriculum and instruction technology, developmental biology, and education evaluation.