TERMINAL REPORT

Seminar Workshop on Coastal Resources Management and

River Rehabilitation Action Planning

Participants: Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office

Date: April 29 -30, 2017

Venue: Bernabeach, Nasugbu, Batangas

Background

Population growth as well as rapid urbanization has greatly contributed to the deterioration of the
quality of surface waters in the municipality. Plant species and endemic fauna usually seen at the
river area are now seldom observed. The most common source of water pollution is domestic
wastewater, followed by discharge of untreated sewage from other commercial sources such as
food establishments. These sources rely mostly on open drains and poorly constructed septic tanks
to dispose of human and liquid wastes thereby organically polluting the water body at the outfall.

An integrated approach to mainstream the programs and projects in environmental management

that relates to the river ecosystem was identified and formulated as a draft master plan to address
the issues affecting the Taytay River and its environs.

Overall Assessment

With the fast growing local economy, an intensified program that aims to create a paradigm shift
regarding the preservation and rehabilitation of the rivers and streams, on which many communities
are part of, must be custom fit to issues that are presently found in the area. Each plan or program
that is formulated entails the involvement of the proximate communities to the waterway or
waterbody.

A strategic and cohesive approach that envisions the desired future development of the river system
was conceptualized. The four-fold aspects of River Rehabilitation was identified and this included
river protection and conservation, promoting river sensitive developments, disaster risk
management, and institutionalizing regulations as well as programs for its continued success.

Performance Indicators and Activities

Primer: Capacity Development

The Supreme Court mandamus to clean-up, rehabilitate and preserve Manila Bay was discussed.
Also the Provincial Program Oplan Buhayin ang Sapa, Ilog, Lawa at Karagatan (BUSILAK) was further
discussed to streamline the proposed projects and activities to these two national and provincial
environmental objectives.

As discoursed by the group, urban rivers and streams are vulnerable to different urban processes
and activities that cause pollution and degradation of the water ecosystem. Restoring the health of
these waters is a huge challenge to the local government and other stakeholders belonging to the
river system. While rehabilitation of urban rivers in developed countries offer examples and
methods for developing ones, various local conditions and practices must be taken into
consideration in formulating a comprehensive river rehabilitation program.

Numerous suggestions were made and these various ideas were further simplified into the Four-Fold
Objective of:

Protection and Conservation where sustainability is implied and the natural resources are
preserved. This takes into consideration the long term capability of the waterway/ water body
so it can yield its optimum benefit of all users and stakeholders for the longest period.

River sensitive Development where the integration of human and natural environment is
considered so that the river can continue its function of provisioning and supporting the
community it is host to. These activities denote a balance between economic development
and environmental management.

Disaster risk management wherein developments and projects in the banks of rivers or
streams will improve slope protection of the banks from erosion, flood protection installations
for the community living near its banks, protection from overspill and also dredging of the
waterway to increase its carrying capacity during rainy season and storms. Other programs
such as waste segregation and its proper management divert these solid wastes away from
the streams, where these water bodies, free from solid waste, can heal itself and recover
naturally.
 Institutional management is where local laws and regulations may sanction those who are in
violation, those discharging untreated liquid wastes and septage from their establishments or
homes. When rules are enforced, it increases awareness and the accountability of the entire
community, further advancing this advocacy into a common practice for all. The local
government must be empowered by local ordinances to be able to enforce a mandate that
will govern land and water uses in the areas declared as the river ecosystem area.

Main Activity: Implementation Plan

In the implementation planning, Protection and Conservation promotes environmental

conservation through steady yet flexible implementation of programs. After which, preventive and
rehabilitative measures in response to constant review of the effectiveness of the program shall
follow.

Rehabilitation focuses on the encroached waterways, denuded forestland, areas subject to flooding,
areas with a high rate of erosion and sedimentation and areas with large volume of solid and liquid
waste. Rehabilitation efforts are measured by the quality of the waters, lessened denudation of the
surrounding areas, mitigated impacts of flooding and climate-induced hazards, and reduced
vulnerability of the communities that live in the area.

Strategic Development included plans that help the river ecosystem and the human environment
adapt and mitigate climate change effects. This also aims to harness the economic potential of
having a usable and clean river or waterway.

In the provincial level, municipalities are well surpassed by more developed cities in effectively
cleaning up their rivers. The latter, often backed up by adequate resources, strong public sector
capacity and institutionalized systems are more capable in implementation of their plans. Therefore,
more funding mechanisms are to be established locally to fully create a steady financing scheme and
increase the capital resources needed for the program.

Another well thought strategy is to go for immediate wins and to address less challenging issues
first. This way, as more goals are achieved, succeeding programs are backed up by these milestones,
thereby pushing through the other phases in the achievement of the long-term goals for the river
ecosysytem.
Evaluation

Good Practices in all planning undertakings is to optimize the use of natural resources that
generates the greatest good for the greatest number. Consideration of the welfare of all and the
future users of the area is the best observance of this practice.

Problems Encountered was the lack of sufficient data of the identified water bodies such as length,
depth, carrying capacity, elevation, water level as well as the water quality parameters of each
waterway. This is essential in establishing a baseline and as a basis for comparing the results of the
future efforts in the rehabilitation process.

Lessons Learned in the planning process as well as in the group discussions was to take each
problem or issue in the discussion and elaborate using different approaches in its solution. No idea is
laid to waste as all are part of the creative pool of ideas where they are properly classified and
streamlined into a cohesive plan that targets the present situation. These plans must also be
considered to be flexible and adaptive so be able to remain as planning tool for future use.

Future plans: Phase 2 planning

Future planning sessions to evaluate the outcomes of the implemented plans will focus on the
reconfiguration of the development and management of the river system to be more adaptive and
at the same time resilient to the changing and emerging resource challenges and other issues
focusing more on disaster reduction and climate change, among others.

Photo Documantation
Prepared by:

Daryl Lyn P. Santos

Noted by:

Engr. Paula Jane S. Zapanta

MENRO - Head