Stakeholders discuss mgt of Cebu's rivers

CEBU, Philippines - Around 150 participants from the national government agencies, local government units, academe, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders, are expected to attend a two-day Central Cebu River Basins Multi-Stakeholders Forum and Workshop starting today at Montebello Villa Hotel, Cebu City.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 director Maximo O. Dichoso said the activity recognizes the vital role of various stakeholders in the protection, rehabilitation, management, and utilization of the natural resources within the Central Cebu river basins.

The purpose and objective of the council is to address the urgent and critical water problem and attendant issues of land use in Cebu by effectively and efficiently integrating the development and management of land, water resources, water supply and sanitation.

In a press statement, Dichoso said the effective and efficient management of the river systems, water distribution system, and equitable use of water as a resource is an essential factor to sustain Cebu’s economic development.

The objectives of the activity are to review and present previous efforts in the past related to CCRBM, to solicit suggestions and proposals from various stakeholders for the effective protection, management and rehabilitation of the CCRB, to define the various responsibilities of participating stakeholders through a memorandum of cooperation, among others.

The Central Cebu river basins with a total area of 68,133 hectares which covers four major watershed areas with corresponding hectarage are Mananga with 8,716; Lusaran-Combado, 26,257; Coastal, 24,849; and Kotkot with 8,311.

Coastal river basins include Guinsaga, Butuanon, Mahiga, Guadalupe, Lahug, Linao, and Bulacao. It covers cities of Cebu, Toledo, Danao, Mandaue, and Talisay and municipalities of Asturias, Minglanilla, Lilo-an, Consolacion, Compostela, and Balamban.

DENR Undersecretary for Planning and Policy Demetrio L. Ignacio, Jr will deliver a keynote address. Resource persons are Metro Cebu Water District General Manager Armando Paredes and River Basin Coordinating Office Executive Director Vicente Tuddao to discuss the River Basins Master Plan; and National Water Resources Board Executive Director Vicente Paragas to talk on the integrated water resources management.   - (THE FREEMAN)