The eMagazine of Philippine Information Agency 10 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
IRS hosting seen to advance river basin management, revert public apathy
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Cagayan de Oro City is set to host one of the biggest gatherings of experts, scientists, policy makers, river administrators, indigenous communities, support groups, people’s organizations and practitioners to identify opportunities, problems and best practices towards effectively managing rivers across four vital issues on governance, biodiversity conservation and management, climate change and disaster risk reduction management and water quality.
Philippine Watershed Management Coalition President Raoul T. Geollegue is hopeful that these will advance river basins management across the country. He explained that the summit aims to bring eminent leaders and stakeholders to share their knowledge and best practices that will form part in the blueprint of needed actions that will address pressing issues affecting river basins and their communities. The local organizing said they are expecting around 800 to 1000 delegates during the 3-day summit set on 24-26 November at the Pryce Plaza Hotel.
The event is co-hosted by the local government of Cagayan de Oro City, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council, and the League of Cities of the Philippines. Various ambassadors and international agency partners have already committed to speak in the plenary sessions to include Russia, Netherlands, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, and Australia, among others. Geollegue meanwhile stressed during the “Talakayan sa PIA” media forum held at the Limketkai Luxe hotel on 08 November, the state of the Cagayan de Oro River Basin and said that unless there is a serious intention to do something and correct the situation flooding is bound to happen. “Seventy six (76) percent of the CDO river basin is open land cultivated, meaning there is no protective vegetative cover, while 10 percent of the forest cover is also classified as open canopy forest, with only 10 percent vegetative cover,” he said. While massive tree planting has been undertaken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Geollegue said the trees planted are still small. “This is a social issue. Everybody should be on board to solve the problem right now,” he said.
Geollegue also called on instead of gray infrastructure like they development planners to focus on the did when Tropical Storm Sendong hits extensive rehabilitation of the grassland the region in 2011. (JCV/PIA-10) and barren areas at the headwaters
DTI, Lanao del Sur provl govt to establish Go Negosyo Center MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur – In a bid to assist entrepreneurs start and manage their business, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office and the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur is eyeing the establishment of a Go Negosyo Center in the province. Danny Arumpac, senior trade and industry development specialist and Go Negosyo focal person, said the establishment of Negosyo Center will bring government services closer to small businesses and promote entrepreneurship in the province. Under the Republic Act 10644, also known as the Go Negosyo Act, a Negosyo Center shall be established in all provinces, cities and municipalities to promote the ease of doing business and help create jobs and livelihood. Jasnia Adiong-Pandapatan, provincial livelihood training center manager, said the Negosyo Center of the province will be established at the Lanao Peoples’ Park for greater accessibility. Among the services to be offered by the Negosyo Center include business
registration through the Philippine Business Registry (PBR) System and Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE); business advisory services such as product development, market promotion, financing facilitation, investment promotion, and SME counseling; and business information and advocacy. The Negosyo Center will have reception, meeting and working areas, as well as training room. Provincial Governor Soraya Adiong issued Executive Order No. 21 creating the Provincial Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Council to serve as the coordinating and oversight body for the Go Negosyo Center. (APB/PIA10)
Dads push for dredging of Cagayan de Oro River CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The 18th City Council during its regular session Monday adopted Resolution No. 124862016, informing President Rodrigo Duterte, the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Maritime Industry Authority-Manila, and the regional offices of said departments that the city government of Cagayan de Oro is ready to undertake dredging activity at the Cagayan de Oro River so as to remove the sandbars and restore the depth of the river as a deterrent against flooding. This is an offshoot of the special report of Councilor Zaldy Ocon, who expressed concern over the possible increase of current of the CDO River due to the heavy downpour which is continually affecting the city. In his special report, Councilor Ocon said during low tide boulders and sand bars are seen jutting out of the river. “Makita nato nga ang mga bato nanggimaw na,” he stressed. According to experts, it is alarming since the river swells too much, which may result to an increase of the river current and cause the redirection of its flows. The ongoing river protection has to be augmented with measures to restore the depth of the river, Ocon cited. As a result, Councilor Ocon proposed that quarrying be allowed at the CDO River in order to remove the sandbars and restore the
deepness of the river at no cost to the government. Ocon said he already discussed the matter with some legal and legitimate sand and gravel concessionaires in the city who are willing to quarry the said sandbars. “Through quarrying the city will not spend any centavo but instead we will derive income from the sand and gravel extracted from the river,” said Ocon. (JBD/SP)