Local Government Approach to Financing Watershed Protection

by: Governor Alex P. Calingasan

Philippine Conference on Capturing Economic Benefits from Ecosystem Services 25 August 2011, ADB Manila

Why the Provincial Government of Bukidnon adopted watershed management approach?

Significance of Bukidnon River Basin & Watersheds

1. Bukidnon Head Water Source of 6 Major Rivers in Mindanao: Pulangui Tagoloan, Cagayan, Maridugao, Davao Salug & AgusanCugman that drains into 6 Provinces

2. Bukidnon is known for rich depository of Biological Resources & Conservation Hotspots. 3. Food Basket in Mindanao

MAJOR RIVER WATERSHEDS IN BUKIDNON

Pulangui River which traverses the province from
Kalabugao plain in the North and rains to the southwest of Mindanao through the Cotabato Provinces. Its watershed divides into two(2) clusters: Upper and Lower Pulangui. There are nine(9) municipalities in the Upper Pulangui watershed while Lower Pulangui is also spread in the nine(9) municipalities.

Mt. Kimangkil

Mt. Tago Range

Pantaron Mt. Range

Tagoloan River that emanates from the East-central part in

the plateau areas around Malaybalay and drains Northward toward Macajalar Bay in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental Province. Its watershed extends into five(5) municipalities.

Mt. Kitanglad Range

Cagayan River that comes from the mountains of Talakag

(Northwest of Bukidnon) and also drains northward into the Macajalar Bay in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental Province. The watershed covers three(3) municipalities of the Province.

Mt. Kalatungan Range

Maridugao River that flows from the mountains of Talakag

and drains Southward forming the natural boundary between Bukidnon and Lanao del Sur Provinces. The watershed is composed of five(5) municipalities.

Mt. Tangkulang Range

Davao-Salug River that cuts the Eastern fringes of the

province along the mountains of San Fernando and drains south towards Davao Province. San Fernando and Quezon municipalities make up its watershed.

Agusan-Cugman River that originates from Kitanglad

mountains which cuts through the Municipality of Libona and drains into Macajalar Bay Cagayan de Oro City, Province of Misamis Oriental. The watershed covers two(2) municipalities in Bukidnon.

Bukidnon River Watersheds and Municipalities/ Cities Covered

Name of River Watershed Upper Pulangui AgusanCugman Tagoloan Lower Pulangui Cagayan Upper Pulangui 154,956.34 Area in Hectares 296,153.17 Municipalities/Cities Covered Malitbog, Impasug-ong, Malaybalay City, Cabanglasan, Lantapan, Valencia City, San Fernando, Maramag and Quezon Maramag, Quezon, Pangantucan, Kadingilan, Don Carlos, Kitaotao, Dangcagan, Damulog and Kibawe Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Impasug-ong and Malaybalay City Talakag, Baungon and Libona Don Carlos, Pangantucan, Kalilangan, Kadingilan and Talakag San Fernando, Quezon Libona and Manolo Fortich

Tagoloan

151,870.84

Cagayan Maridugao Lower Pulangui DavaoSalug Maridugao

110,631.06 57,362.27

Davao-Salug Agusan-Cugman

36,445.31 21,959.01

TYPES OF WATERSHEDS:
4
1 2 17

River Basin
Large Watershed Medium Watershed Small Watershed
AgusanCugman Tagoloan

155 Micro Watershed

Cagayan

Major Watersheds
Upper Pulangui

Total Area

No. of City/ Mun. Covered

9 9 5 3

Upper Pulangui

296,153.17 154,956.34 151,870.84 110,631.06 57,362.27

Lower Pulangui Tagoloan Cagayan Maridugao River

Davao -Salug

Maridugao
Lower Pulangui

DavaoSalug

5 2 2

36,445.31 21,959.01

AgusanCugman

Benefits of Bukidnon Watershed Management

Environmental Services:Forest Protecting Biodiversity( Forest and wetland ecosystems0 that can be found in protected areas in Mt. Kalatungan & Mt. Kitanglad and other Mountains Mt. Tangkulan, Mt. Saldab, Mt. Tago Range, and the Pantaron Mt. Ranges) Soil Conservation, Water conservation, flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, oxygen generation and micro climate amelioration.

Economic Services: Water Supply for 1.3 Million people,16 Agro-industries(Multinational Corp.) & 32,382 hectares irrigated lands,145,434 annual and perennial croplands, 191 poultrys & piggeries & hydro-electric power generations of NAPOCOR (generates 255MW 30% of the power demand in Mindanao), Bobonawan Power Company and First Gen Power Corporation.

Social Services: Preservation of Tourism (Eco-cultural and Landscape preservation), Recreation (hike trekking, mountain climbing and water sports), Historical (protection of historical monuments and archeological sites), Cultural (Protection of areas of cultural importance e.g sacred groves, burial places, indigenous cultures, beliefs and knowledges, Health (Control of water Borne diseases and prevention of malnutrition) and Social Welfares (livelihood security, social equity/poverty alleviation, reduction of risk of loss of life due to natural disasters, disaster relief avoidance , prevention of rural and urban migration.

IMPLICATION S OF WATERSHED DEGRADATION TO ADJACENT PROVINCES

Bukidnon has a significant landscape and identified as a critical watershed because it is a head water sources of six major rivers in Mindanao. Buikidnon rivers such as; Pulangui, Tagoloan, Cagayan, Maridugao, Agusan Cugman and Davao Salug rivers supplies water for domestic, irrigation, Agro Industrial, Commercial and Hydroloelectric power generations, not only in Bukidnon, but for our adjacent provinces, like Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Orietnal, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Lanao del Norte. Bukidnon river watershed provides hydrological support to conserve biodiversiity within Agusan and Liquasan marsh which is also recognized as biological hotspots. Continuous flow of water is dependent on the condition of the forest. With the continuing deteriorationand degradation of forest ecosystem within Bukidnon River Watershed there will be corresponding effects on the social, economic and ecological mainstays in adjacent provinces which would affect the Philippine economy.

STRATEGIES & APPROACHES

Local Institutional Strengthening

Operationalization and Strengtehning of the Bukidnon Watershed Protection and Development Council. Formulation of Watershed Management & Protection Framework Plan ( Provincial, City/Municipal & Barangay) Capacity Building Intensive Information Campaigns/Advocacy Data-based Establishment & Management Fund Sourcing Strengthening Linkages to Resource Providers for Integrated Watershed Management

Policy and Legislation

Amendment of Bukidnon Environment Code Formulation of IRR for the Bukidnon Environment Code Study on Provincial/City/Municipal Revenue Code for Proposed Integration of Payment of Environmental Services (PES) on Local Policies Compilation & Study of ENR Local (Provincial, City/Municipa & Barangay Ordinancesl, National & International Laws and Regulations for Improvement of Local ENR Code

Technology (Upstream and Downstream Devt.)

Research & Development (Carbon Stocks Assessment, Hydrological Appraisal, Biodiversity Appraisal, ) Reforestation/Afforestatin (Climate Change Adaptation) Agro-forestry Bio- Engineering Riparian Development Watershed Rehabilitation Rain Water Harvesting

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT CAPABILITY BUILDING & PLANNING PROGRAM OF LGUs ( Provincial , Municipal & Barangay) 1995-up to date

Bukidnon Major Watersheds

Manupali River Watershed & 9 Subriver( Tributaries) Watersheds

Approach in watershed Data based Collection, Interpretation and Analysis Impact Pathways Address Communication Gap between three types of Knowledge on Watershed Functions and found appropriate Negotiations for Payment or Rewards of environmental Services

Local Public Ecological Ecological Knowledge Knowledge

Scientific Ecological Knowledge

Figure. 1. Integration of three Sources of Knowledge System ( Local, Public and Scientific Domains for Sustainable NRM & Devt.

Land Cover Situation in Bukidnon River Watersheds

1% 1%

Bukidnon Land Cover

0% 1% 25%

16%

3%

1% 21% 31%

Natural Forest Other Land Built-up Areas No Data

Plantation Perenial Cropland River/Lakes

Wooded Land Annual Cropland Agri-Industrial

Benefits of Bukidnon Watershed Management

Environmental Services:Forest Protecting Biodiversity( Forest and wetland ecosystems0 that can be found in protected areas in Mt. Kalatungan & Mt. Kitanglad and other Mountains Mt. Tangkulan, Mt. Saldab, Mt. Tago Range, and the Pantaron Mt. Ranges) Soil Conservation, Water conservation, flood mitigation, carbon sequestration, oxygen generation and micro climate amelioration.

Economic Services: Water Supply for 1.3 Million people,16 Agro-industries(Multinational Corp.) & 32,382 hectares irrigated lands,145,434 annual and perennial croplands, 191 poultrys & piggeries & hydro-electric power generations of NAPOCOR (generates 255MW 30% of the power demand in Mindanao), Bobonawan Power Company and First Gen Power Corporation.

Social Services: Preservation of Tourism (Eco-cultural and Landscape preservation), Recreation (hike trekking, mountain climbing and water sports), Historical (protection of historical monuments and archeological sites), Cultural (Protection of areas of cultural importance e.g sacred groves, burial places, indigenous cultures, beliefs and knowledges, Health (Control of water Borne diseases and prevention of malnutrition) and Social Welfares (livelihood security, social equity/poverty alleviation, reduction of risk of loss of life due to natural disasters, disaster relief avoidance , prevention of rural and urban migration.

Local,Public & Modellers Ecological Knowledge on Watershed Issues

Rapid increase of population and slash and burn have caused rapid denudation in the upland areas, particularly in the last two decades. 2005 spot revealed that Bukidnons forest cover is only 25% situated in the headwater mountain slopes resulted also with a corresponding decline in genetic species and ecosystem within and downstream watershed. Rapid rainfall runoff and severe soil erosion became increasingly evident as flash flood, landslides and siltation in the rainy season alternated with worsening droughts and destructive fires in the dry season when inadequate river flows failed to sustain irrigation and hydro-electric power generation. Competing water use and industrial) increases (agricultural

Water quality changes based on community based water monitoring Extent of rural poverty in the uplands continued to increase and the ability of upland farm families to generate even subsistence livelihoods from the deteriorating resource base continue to decline.

Programs, Projects of the Province of Bukidnon to Protect the Bukidnon River Watersheds
1. The province facilitated the issuance of Memorandum Order 270, in 1985, Creating the Bukidnon Watershed Protection and Development Council, signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos in order to protect the remaining forests within Bukidnon river watersheds; 2) Enacted and enforced logging moratorium since 1986. 3) Conducted comprehensive data based to determine the macro to micro river watersheds as basis for clustering LGUs (Provincial, city/ Municipal up to Barangay level. For watershed management purposes (1995- 2001) 4) Mandated LGUs (provincial, all municipal and barangay) to prepare watershed management plan as framework in environmental and natural resources management with continuous watershed capability development support of the Provincial Government. 5) Facilitated forums and summit to integrate various environmental and natural resources management initiatives. 4) Implemented reforestation, small scale tree farms and tree growing. 5. Enacted the Bukidnon Environment Code; 5) Enacted a resolution to support the declaration of Mt. Ktanglad Range Nature Park and Mt. Kalatungan Range Nature Park as Protected areas.

Programs, Projects of the Province of Bukidnon to Protect the Bukidnon River Watersheds (Continuation)

6. Applied TULSEA Negotiation Support Tools for PES Negotiations (Carbon stock measurement, hydrological measurement, Landscape appraisal, Land Tenure Appraisal, market appraisal & biodiversity appraisal). 7. implemented the province wide greening program and Rewards of Ecosystem Services (RES) through providing financial assistance to diverse stakeholders who adopted Tree Growing in order to address forest degradation and deforestation and food security within Bukidnon River watersheds.

Perceptions on current hydrological situation in Manupali (LEK and PEK results)

Causes LEK -Decreasing forest cover (farmers) -Expansion of banana and pineapple plantations -Rivers utilized for local water system PEK
(public and policymakers)

Effects -Decreasing water supply (e.g. drying up of rivers) -Degrading water quality -Flooding -Siltation in irrigation canals -Decreasing water supply (e.g. drying up of rivers) -Degrading water quality -Siltation in irrigation canals -Sedimentation in reservoir -High treatment costs -Poor rice production

Actions -Protect forest -Plant trees -Efficient use of water

-Population growth -Expansion of banana plantations -Decreasing forest cover -Intensive agricultural production -Improper waste disposal -Increasing water demand -Unsustainable farming systems

-Massive environmental awareness -Implement environmental policies -Plant trees -Water recycling -Provide incentives -Regulate banana and agricultural expansion

Hydrologists/Modellers Ecological Knowledge

Mean monthly water yield Buffering of water flow relative to rainfall event using empirical records Use of the model GenRiver Water quality Landslide risk Land cover/Land use, River network, Rainfall, Soil type & depth, River flow data, Existing reservoirs & operating rules

Plausible land use change scenarios Analysis of drivers for scenarios

Fig 5.1. Steps in the RHA modellers ecological knowledge analysis

Fig. 5.4. Daily rainfall data used to simulate the river flows of Alanib (TOP-LEFT), Maagnao (TOPRIGHT) and Kulasihan (BOTTOM) Rivers.

Average water balance of Alanib and Kulasihan sub-watersheds during a GenRiver simulation (MEK results)
No. Dynamics of water Alanib sub-watershed

12-year

Kulasihan sub-watershed

Computed (mm)
1 Precipitation 2272.36

Simulated (mm)
2260.34

Computed (mm )
2300.67

Simulated (mm)
2222.09

Evapotranspiration

760.42 (34)

1058.50 (44)

3 4

Other losses River flow Run-off Soil quick flow Baseflow Surface quick flow 496.12

654.94 (29) 844.98 (37) 516.49 (23) 0.00 328.49 (15) 535.20

401.61 (17) 980.35 (41) 536.90 (23) 31.00 (1) 0.00 412.45 (17)

Based on the RHA results, the overall assessment of the environmental conditions in the focused subcatchments specifically the Alanib and Kulasihan Rivers implies that land use/cover change of the landscape coupled with the increasing water demands by different group of users seems to significantly influence the changes in stream flow patterns, and water level or supply as supported by MEK, LEK and PEK.

Institutional Challenges: Strengthen multi-sectoral approach to watershed planning & management & Partnerships. Continuing IEC program in watershed resource management. Creation of ENRO ( City & Municipal level). Establishment of LGU Watershed Management Trust Fund. Establishment of Management Information System. Implementation of Comprehensive Training Programme Local Policy & Legislation Challenges: Enforcement of Rules & Regulations for Watershed Protection. Formulation of economic policy instruments (Integration of Payment of Environmental Services)

Technological Challenges for Interventions: Appropriate technologies which are simple, conservation effective, low cost, maintenance & productive