Year in Review:

MindaNOW! Program 2013 accomplishments

December 2013 Davao City, Philippines Volume 1 Issue 3

It’s quite pleasing to note that the full year of implementa on 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 organiza ons and the successful lobbying of policies and cri cal infrastructure projects for watershed and river basins across the island-region.

In our eff orts 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 Offi ce (DENR-RBCO) in promo ng responsible and sustainable development and management of river basins and watersheds in Mindanao. This partnership resulted to the crea on of the Tagoloan River Basin Management Council and the an cipated establishment of seven other river basin organiza ons across Mindanao.

In addi on to that, we also facilitated the comple on 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 fl ood control projects amoun ng 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 pla orm for knowledge development and informa on sharing. These accredited experts par cipated in the conduct of rapid assessment of 21 cri cal rivers in Mindanao, which were iden fi ed by the Mindanao Rivers Reconstruc on Task Force.

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

There is s ll 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.

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 Profile2 3 6 8

Editor’s Report

MinDA

JANET M. LOPOZExecuti ve Director

Photo by: Joemarie Escovilla

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A rapid assessment of Mindanao’s 10 criti cal rivers

revealed that a number of the assessed rivers are found to be heavily degraded due to intensive sand and gravel quarrying acti viti es within and along the rivers’ streambanks.

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

assessment tested both the bioti c and abioti c conditi ons in the upstream and downstream porti ons of the rivers as well as the conditi ons of the vegetati on along the riverbanks.

The Kingking River in the Municipality of Pantukan in Compostela Valley is found to have lost its basic environmental functi ons due to excessive quarrying and mining acti viti es in the area.

The study also showed that the conti nued industrial acti viti es within the stretch of the river have modifi ed its conditi ons and aff ected its ecological system, which hindered it from providing

“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 modifi cati on of the river’s conditi on caused by sand and gravel quarrying acti viti es made the

river vulnerable to fl ooding, parti cularly during the monsoon season.

Other Mindanao rivers identi fi ed 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 also identi fi ed three rivers in Caraga Region that are in danger of deteriorati ng due to excessive human acti viti es.

Among these acti viti es include the excessive fi shing in the upstream area of Tago River, the large-scale quarrying and fi shing in Tandag River, and the small-scale sand and gravel quarrying and logging in Puyo River.

The study further revealed that medium-scale quarrying acti viti es in Manurigao River in Compostela Valley and Surigao River in Surigao City have caused the degradati on 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 fi nal report is expected to be released by the fi rst quarter of 2014,

which will include the proposed interventi ons for the rehabilitati on of the endangered rivers.

A similar study on 11 identi fi ed rivers in Mindanao will be conducted in 2014.

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

damage brought about by environmental practi ces 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 Nati onal Irrigati on Administrati on, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Environmental Management Bureau, the Nati onal Economic Development Authority, the Department of Agriculture, and provincial governments of concerned areas.

Task force completes critical rivers assessmentSpecial Report

“The study also iden fi ed three rivers in Caraga Region that are in danger of deteriora ng due to excessive human ac vi es.”

Photo by: Central Mindanao U

niversity

Residents u lize 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 ac vi es have caused the degrada on of some of Mindanao’s cri cal rivers.

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How are critical rivers assessed?

A scenic Mindanao sunset becomes a drama c backdrop to the Wawa River in Esperanza, one of the important tributaries of Agusan River Basin.

Scoping mission endorses fl ood control projects for Agusan river basin

Priori za on of cri cal rivers Geomorphological assessment of selected cri cal rivers

Bio c and abio c assessment of cri cal rivers

Demographic Study of the Assessment Area

Analyzing, profi ling, and ranking of assessed cri cal rivers

Cra ing of recommenda ons and formula on of project concept proposals for immediate interven on

Ten fl ood control projects were endorsed by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Offi ce as among the priority projects that need immediate implementati on to miti gate fl ooding within the Agusan River Basin (ARB).

The fl ood control projects were identi fi ed 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 Nati onal Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Caraga, and DENR’s Cotabato-Agusan River Basin Development Program Project Management Offi ce.

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

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

Implemented in coordinati on 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 eff orts in pursuing immediate and long-term fl ood control for the rehabilitati on of the ARB.

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The MindaNOW! Sulog Editorial Staff

Janet M. LopozEditor-in-Chief

Editorial Board:Reyzaldy TanJoan Barrera

Leoncio Rodaje

Staff : Yvett e ValderiaRolando PinsoyKenny Nodalo

Sulog is a quarterly publicati on of the Mindanao Development

Authority through its fl agship program called the MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program. The term Sulog is a Bisayan word for

current, but specifi cally defi nes 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 formati on 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 contributi ons to now@minda.gov.ph.

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POLICY

PLANS

PROGRAMS & PROJECTS

MindaNOW! Program projects in 2014

MindaNOW! Program 2013 Accomplishm

Mainstreaming Ridge-to-Reef Management Approach to Programs Projects Implementati on Monitoring and Evaluati on (PPPIME) of MindaNOW Partners

1 Mindanao River Basin Informati on System2 Criti cal River Rapid

Assessment Batch II3 Compendium of Mindanao Environment Stati sti cs 4

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PLATFORMS

PEOPLE

ments

Implementati on of Barangay StraTREEgic Project among key LGUs in Mindanao

5 Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reducti on and Management and Climate Change Adaptati on and Miti gati on in the curriculum of Higher Educati on Insti tuti ons

6 Mainstreaming Payment for Ecological Servicesin River Basin Organizati ons and Alliances

7 Policy Advocacy on the Rehabilitati on of the two criti cal rivers8

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Colors burst along the banks of Lake Danao as villagers clad in crimson traditi onal garbs gather for a communal rite that traces its roots from ancient traditi ons and is performed to seek permission from Magbabaya (Supreme Creator) for the uti lizati on of land and other terrestrial resources.

Echoes of chants and soft humming envelope the usually quiet

Indigenous rites seal environ

community of Lubilan, a far-fl ung 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 enti re Higaonon

ritual is a series of rites performed to ask

permission from Magbabaya to clear the area, uti lize 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 implementati on

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

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

Almiñe said the municipal government of Naawan has initi ally collected funds of more than P300,000 which will be uti lized for the reforestati on 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 reforestati on project is a component of the long-term 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.

Secretary Luwalha Antonino (right) a ends to the launching of the Naawan Green Governance Program.

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nment pact in Mindanao town

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

restore the town’s damaged environment.

“We aim to initi ally 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 ti mbers 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 enti re municipality of Naawan has a remaining forest cover of about 200 hectares.

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

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

She added that by creati ng an ordinance,

any local government unit (LGU) may implement a PES program that allows it to collect fees from its consti tuents 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 implementati on of the “StraTREEgic Project” as one of the components of the NGGP.

The “StraTREEgic Project” aims to achieve eff ecti ve watershed and coastal management among LGUs

and is designed to increase environmental awareness, disaster miti gati on, as well as provide income opportuniti es for the community. It also seeks to advocate PES as a mechanism for resource mobilizati on and social cohesion.

“Reforestati on including the planti ng of trees in the uplands and mangroves in our shorelines are vital in lessening the damages caused by fl ash fl oods and storm surge,” said Antonino, while adding “Mindanao has a remaining 10 percent forest cover, and we must do all eff orts 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 platf orms for public-private convergence so that local initi ati ves can be supported.

Antonino said the role of LGUs in implementi ng 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 municipaliti es can’t,” she

added.

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Meet the members of the MindaNOW! Program Experts’ Forum!8

The Mindanao Experts’ Forum serves as a platf orm for collaborati on and informati on exchange among Mindanao experts on environment, climate change, technologies, governance, and academe, among others. The forum also plays a criti cal role in craft ing and advocati ng for policy reforms under the MindaNOW! Nurturing Our Waters Program.

Mr. Edgardo Aranico teaches Biological Sciences at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Insti tute of Technology. He holds a Master of Public Administrati on degree as well as a Master of Science in Forestry. His fi elds of experti se 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 fi elds of experti se include river, lake, and coastal ecology; water quality assessment and monitoring; fi shes, plankton, sea-grasses and their reforestati on, and aquati c and forest producti vity.

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

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

Ms. Oda Beltran is an expert in biodiversity conservati on, food security, watershed management and development, ancestral domain protecti on and development, and organizati onal management. She is the managing director and co-founder of the Bukidnon Resource Management Foundati on.

Dr. Chona Q. Sarmiento is a professor at Western Mindanao State University. She was conferred with an Internati onal Peer Reviewer Award during the Internati onal Conference on Higher Educati on Research in 2010. Her experti se includes qualitati ve research, curriculum and instructi on technology, developmental biology, and educati on evaluati on.

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

B M NOW! P

E ’ F !

Environment experts and interested par es

are encouraged to par cipate 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

informa on.