Convergence with MinDA during a benchmarking activity
The Tumaga River Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) Governing Board, headed by its chair, EMB 9 Regional Director Jacqueline A. Caancan, coordinated with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) during a benchmarking activity conducted in General Santos City on February 19-20, 2016. The coordination was in relation with the Mindanao Nurturing Our Waters (MindaNOW!) Program of MinDA to align Tumaga River WQMA initiatives with the Mindanao Development Goals and Objective. The benchmarking aimed to disseminate information and knowledge to the members of the Governing Board on the best practices on the operationalization of the Silway River WQMA Governing Board and to replicate these best practices in the management of the Tumaga River WQMA.
Mr. Olie B. Dagala of MinDA said that the agency provides strategic direction for Mindanao and the overall framework for Mindanao’s peace and development. He also explained the features of Mindanao 2020, a peace and development framework with the MindaNOW! program as the centerpiece of the framework. He further said that the program adopts the river basin and watershed as the key platforms for planning and the ecosystem-based or “ridge-to-reef” approach with water as the most important indicator of development in Mindanao. He said that MinDA would like to extend assistance to the two WQMAs in terms of fund mobilization and fund generation. He proposed for the following activities as areas of collaboration:
GHG Accounting Inventory (Plan) through the USAID Building Low Emissions Alternative to Development Economic Resilience and Sustainability Project (BLEADERS)
Characterization of Tumaga River
During the benchmarking, Engr. Danny Pelias, also of LGU Polomolok, presented the significant contributions of Polomolok to the Silway River Watershed and to the WQMA program. Under the WQMA Silway River LGU Compliance Plan, he said that the basic problem that was identified was open defecation, poor sanitation practices, and lack of sanitary facilities. He said that this problem was addressed by a community-led total sanitation program conducted in 26 puroks in 13 barangays along the river. Another intervention of the LGU, he stated, was the passing of the Ordinance for Water Pollution Control and Septage Management and the Sangguniang Bayan is in the process of crafting the implementing rules and regulations for the said Ordinance. He said that the greatest achievement of the LGU is the creation of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO). He expressed that one of the best practices of the LGU is the conduct of survey of households using tablets with open source software to generate coordinates of households such as those without toilets or those that are not practicing proper solid wastes disposal. Another best practice he said is the creation of a data bank using also an open source software for the water quality monitoring results of the Silway WQMA.
The NGO representative of the Silway River WQMA Governing Board, the Mahintana Foundation, Inc., presented its best practices which includes the watershed/riverbank rehabilitation projects. He said that the major components of their projects include vegetation enhancement, flood control structures and alternative livelihood assistance, among others. Under the environmental sanitation campaign, at least 37% of households in 15 barangays in Gen. Santos and Tupi have established toilets from locally available materials, thus reducing open defecation along the river. RD Lanto emphasized that the Foundation is very efficient in finding funding sources for its projects.
