Normin Summit tackles water security

By Mike Baños

Stakeholders from the government and the private sectors came together on May 25-26, 2023 to address water security issues in Northern Mindanao.

Over 400 stakeholders from various government agencies, NGOs, business chambers, water districts and local governments joined the Northern Mindanao Integrated Water Security Summit held at the Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort in Opol, Misamis Oriental.

“We cannot emphasize enough the importance of the water situation here in Northern Mindanao and how it affects our daily lives,” said Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter M. Unabia , who currently chairs the Infrastructure & Utilities Committee (Infracom) of the Regional Development Council Region X (RDC-X).

“This assembly, therefore, is a necessary and urgent step towards achieving our collective aim of attaining water security and providing safe, adequate, affordable and accessible drinking water for the Filipino people living in this part of Mindanao.”

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Regional Governor for Northern Mindanao and concurrently Vice Chairman, RDC-X Infracom Ruben A. Vegafria related how the conduct of a water summit was unanimously approved by the

RDC Full Council 1st quarter meeting.

“We are gathered here today, together as one, in praying that the policy initiatives covered by the passage of Executive Order # 138 s. 2021 (Full Devolution of Certain Functions of the Executive Branch to LGUs) particularly the provisions on water and sanitation services, the current initiatives to update the archaic water studies in the country, the crafting of the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan, and recently, the signing of EO#22 s 2023 by Pres. Marcos creating the Water Resources Management Office in the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) be given serious attention by government and private stakeholders in order to ad - dress the depressing situation in the country,” Vegafria stressed.

A former chairman of the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD) intimately familiar with the challenges facing the water sector, Vegafria exhorted the congressmen present to file a legislative bill in Congress to strengthen water cooperatives; establish the formulation of a Provincial Integrated Water Security Plan in each of the five provinces of Northern Mindanao under the Regional Development Council as a special body; create a Regional Water Supply Sub-Committee under the auspices of the RDC-X Infracom; and, decentralize the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) by creating Regional Offices all over the country.

Dapitan City LGU visits WPMAC VEGGIES in Sto. Nino Talakag, Bukidnon

WPMAC Veggies an emerging hydroponic farming destination in Sto. Nino, Talakag Bukidnon was recently visited by the Dapitan City LGU headed by Hon. Ronie Harapan - Municipal Councilor and their City Agriculturist, Mr. Cyril Patangan. This is in close coordination with the Department of Agriculture in Talakag, Bukidnon.

The House of Representatives was well represented by Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo (Camiguin), Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano (2nd district, Misamis Oriental), and Rep. Jose Manuel Alba (1st district, Bukidnon) who all actively participated in the discussions.

The Oro Chamber of Commerce chaired the Technical Working Group for the summit with the Region X offices of the National Economic Development Authority, Department of Science and Technology, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Board of Investments/Dept of Trade and Industry, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The visit showcased the various agricultural projects by WPMac Veggies owned by the Macasusi Family in Talakag under the able management of their eldest brother, Eddie Macasusi. Works are stilll underway to fully develop the area but to date, it has already produced several agricultural products and plan to embark more in the months to come.