Last September 12, 2017 – A conference was held at NHotel wherein water resource management advocates, stakeholders and members of the academe gathered together with Northern Mindanao LGU leaders.
All of them realized the urgency of increasing the local participation in creating and executing policies that are associated with water rights, water use and waste water management. The group believes that these are the important components in ensuring the continuous development of Mindanao.
According to Atty. Nathaniel Santos (PWP Chairperson);”Tapping local expertise and knowledge would ensure that Mindanao’s path to progress remains on course. The best solutions are always indigenous and homegrown.” Philippine Water Partnership or PWP is connected with the Global Water Partnership and is a non-government organization. Its role is to assist the government and to create a venue for dialogues regarding integrated water resources management.
Water is one of the important keys to life and its availability will determine the success of the upcoming generations. The way water is being provided and managed is an important factor in our region’s growth.
In order for our city to succeed as a rising metropolitan center and a commercial gateway to Mindanao, we must know how to manage our water supply properly keeping in mind increased demands from increased trade and investments from outside Mindanao.
“In short, this is a role to be fulfilled by the LGUs in the area. Effective local involvement vis-a-vis water resources management is a crucial element in proper local sustainable development.” Santos emphasized.
It was revealed by NEDA that Northern Mindanao’s economy registered a robust growth in 2016 by ending the year with a Gross Regional Domestic Product worth P305 million or equivalent to a 7.6 percent growth, the highest recorded growth in the last six years. The region is also the second largest economy in Mindanao, accounting for 26.2 percent of the total output in Mindanao.
At the discussions, it was emphasized by DILG Chief Project Officer Marisia Naybe that there is a need for exercising devolved powers for local water management under the Local Government Code down to the barangays.
According to Engr. Susan Abano of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) and Engr. Alex Tacbobo of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), there should be an effective working relationship between local leaders, business and residents in order to balance preservation and use of precious water resources.
The Cagayan de Oro RTD is part of a series of workshops organized in key areas throughout Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as vital consultative and feedback fora for LGU officials, local water district (LWD) executives and stakeholders. The added aim is to better understand and define the role of the LGUs in local water resources management and development.
Attendees to the discussions included members of various local agencies, the Philippine Watershed Management Coalition and staff from the Xavier University Science Institute. LGU officers from Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte likewise participated.
The convenors of the project include the PWP, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), and ISTRATEHIYA.
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