P9.5 M for watershed areas this year

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) - 7 intends to further stabilize banks and streams of nine identified watershed areas in Central Visayas, four of which are in Cebu, for  this year DENR-7 has allocated P9.5 million for this endeavor.

 The nine pre-determined watersheds which are up for bank stabilization include Buhisan Watershed, Argao Watershed, Asturias Watershed and Luyang Watershed, Carmen in Cebu province; Wahig Watershed and Acar Watershed, Carmen in Bohol province; Hilabagan Watershed and Bayawan Watershed in Negros Oriental; and Bandilaan Watershed in the province of Siquijor.

 Isabelo R. Montejo, DENR-7 regional executive director, said that this is in line with the soil conservation and watershed management programs of the DENR which is geared to arrest soil erosion through the adoption of soil and water conservation measures.

 He said that this project aims to maintain or improve the hydrologic integrity of the watershed areas, thus, avoid any depreciation of the downstream benefits of the irrigation systems.

 â€œWe have to maintain and protect our watersheds as these have been mostly source of domestic water use, irrigation, power, agriculture and other purposes,” Montejo said in a statement.

 Based on a report released by the Forest Management Services, Cebu gets the biggest amount of P4.413 million; Bohol with P2.232 million; Negros Oriental with P2.296 million, and P.560 million for Siquijor province.

  â€œBasically, our watersheds are our life supporting systems and we must as a community endeavor to sustain its purpose and not to degrade or destroy them,” Montejo added.

 Aside from bank stabilization, DENR 7 also aims to conduct a vulnerability assessment to Combado Watershed, Cebu; and Okoy or Banica Watershed in Negros Oriental. —