RDC backs river basin management body

CEBU, Philippines - The Central Cebu River Basin Management Council (CCRBMC) chaired by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has the support of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council.

The RDC manifested its support to CCRBMC during its full council meeting recently, particularly on collaborative efforts to manage, rehabilitate and protect the river basins in Central Cebu.

Major river basins covering the CCRB are Mana-nga River traversing the cities of Cebu, Talisay and Toledo and the municipality of Minglanilla; the Combado-Lusaran River traversing the cities of Cebu and Danao and the municipalities of Balamban, Asturias and Compos-tela; the Kotkot River traversing the cities of Cebu and Danao and the municipalities of Compostela, Liloan and Consolacion; and the Central Cebu Coastal River Basin traversing the cities of Cebu, Talisay and Mandaue and the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan and Compos-tela. According to the draft general guidelines and policies, CCRBMC is a multi-stakeholder organization.

It will be composed of government agencies, government owned and controlled corporations, and relevant civil society groups.

It will use the Integrated Water Resources Management Principles and adapt the Integrated Watershed/River Basins and Ecosystems Management approach as an overarching strategy to Environment and Natural Resources Management (ENRM).

Last month, some agencies and organizations signed the Memorandum of Cooperation.

Representing the local government units are the cities of Cebu, Danao, Toledo and Talisay and the municipalities of Compostela, Consolacion, Asturias and Ba-lamban.

The government agencies are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Department of Health, National Economic Development Authority; Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippine Air Force, Department of Tourism and the Metropo-litan Cebu Water District.

Those from the private sectors are the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water, Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Environmental Legal Assistance Center.

The functions of CCRBMC include, among others, the harmonization of the land use plans affecting the Central Cebu river basins and establishment of a working mechanism that would enhance collaborative undertaking, simplify bureaucratic procedures, standardize processes and promote participatory management.

The Economic Development Committee of RDC-7 recommended to support the CCRBMC as a strategy to effectively manage and promote sustainable development in the river basins of Central Cebu. — (FREEMAN)