The Governing Board conducts its 2016 3rd quarter meeting
August 18, 2016 marked the 3rd quarter meeting of the Tumaga River WQMA Governing Board for the year and the first appearance of the Regional Director of the Environmental Management Bureau Region IX Edgardo S. Callanta as chair. In his message, he stressed the importance of water as a commodity and underlined the significance of the Governing Board in guiding the lawmakers to improve our waterways for the good of the people.
Seventeen (17) Governing Board members were present during the meeting to review the LGU Compliance Scheme submitted by the local government of Zamboanga City. The Chair informed the body that the Implementation Plan prepared by the Board must be "...translated into a Compliance Scheme by the LGU so that actions will be undertaken."
Ms. Grace R. Jugno of the Department of Education (DepEd) Region IX proposed to include the use of multimedia in the IEC campaign of the city and identify the mode of verification (MOV) in the output. She noted the lack of participation of DepEd in the activities identified in the LGU Compliance Scheme when in fact she said the Department plays a great part in education and massive information.
The body agreed to review the LGU Compliance Scheme further and forward the comments and inputs of each member before its approval on September 2, 2016.
During the meeting, the Board also approved the reconstitution of the Multi-sectoral Group (MSG) to include Barangay Boalan, Barangay Tetuan, and the City Agriculture and Fishery Council (CAFC).
Finally, a presentation on Wetland Assessment and Management of Tumaga River was given by Ms. Georgina L. Fernandez of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Zamboanga Sibugay. She said that Tumaga River qualifies the criteria to be included in the wetland assessment and management project of the DENR, which is part of the commitment of the Philippine government as a signatory to the RAMSAR Convention, a treaty that protects wetlands. She further said that the project includes wetlands in Barangays Mampang, Tugbungan, Boalan, and Zambowood and it intends to assess the capability of the wetlands in supporting the biodiversity in the area particularly the species of local and migratory birds. Among the bird species that were noted in the area, she said, include egrets, heron, sandpipers, plovers, and terns.
