ROJAS, ALPHEUS SHEM A.

RESEARCH CONCEPT NOTE

PROJECT DETAILS
TITLE
KNOWLEDGE INTEGRATION AND CONSERVATION: COMMUNITY BASED POLICY
AND LEGISLATION TO SAFEGUARD WATERSHED AGAINST RUN-OFF
SUMMARY:
Water is one of the renewable resources essential for sustaining all forms of life, food
production, economic development, and for general wellness. It is impossible to
substitute for most of its uses, difficult to de pollute, expensive to transport, and it is truly
a unique gift to mankind from nature. Water is also one of the most manageable natural
resources as it is capable of diversion, transport, storage, and recycling. All these
properties impart to water its great utility for human beings. The surface water and
groundwater resources of the country play a major role in agriculture, hydropower
generation, livestock production, industrial activities, forestry, fisheries, navigation,
recreational activities etc.
Given its importance it should be one of prioritized natural resources to be protected via
executive, judicial, and legislative interventions against the effect of anthropogenic
activities related to extensive urbanization, agricultural practices, industrialization, and
population expansion have led to water quality deterioration in many parts of the
country.
PROBLEM (REAL AND LEGAL):
REAL
Water pollution can occur from two sources. 1. Point source and 2. Non-point source
Point Sources Nonpoint Sources

-Runoff and infiltration from animal
feedlots
- Runoff from mines,
- Runoff from construction sites >2 ha
- Runoff from agriculture (including return
flow from irrigated agriculture)
- Activities on land that generate
contaminants, such as logging, wetland
conversion, construction, and
development of land or waterways

Agro-chemical Wastes: In the agricultural sector, water and electricity for irrigation are
subsidized for political reasons. This leads to wasteful flood irrigation rather than
adoption of more optimal practices such as sprinkler and drip irrigation. Cropping
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patterns and farming practices also do not necessarily encourage the judicious use of
water. There are losses of water due to breaches and seepage resulting in water
logging and salinity. Agro-chemical wastes include fertilizers, pesticides which may be
herbicides and insecticides widely used in crop fields to enhance productivity. Improper
disposal of pesticides from field farms and agricultural activities contributes a lot of
pollutants to water bodies and soils. Some of the pesticides are: DDT, Aldrin, Dieldrin,
Malathion, Hexachloro Benzene etc. Pesticides reach water bodies through surface
runoff from agricultural fields, drifting from spraying, washing down of precipitation and
direct dusting and spraying of pesticides in low lying areas polluting the water quality.
Most of them are non-biodegradable and persistent in the environment for long period of
time. These chemicals may reach human through food chain leading to
biomagnification.
Nutrient enrichment: The sources of nutrients in surface water can be divided broadly
into natural and anthropogenic types. Contribution to pollution by natural source is low
due to balance established by the natural system between the production and
consumption of nutrients over the course of time. Anthropogenic sources of
contaminants are contributed from agriculture, domestic and industrial wastes. Nutrient
concentrations in streams and rivers have been strongly correlated with human land use
and disturbance gradients. Both N and P enrichment have links with the agricultural and
urban land uses in the watershed.
LEGAL
The Philippines does not lack in environmental statutes. The 1987 Philippine
Constitution is explicit in providing for ownership, governmental control, and supervision
of natural resources and lands of the public domain.34 Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987
Constitution provides
“— All lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral
oils, all forces of potential energy, fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna,
and other natural resources are owned by the State. With the exception of agricultural
lands, all other natural resources shall not be alienated. The exploration, development,
and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the
State. The State may directly undertake such activities, or it may enter into co-
production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements with Filipino citizens, or
corporations or associations at least [60%] of whose capital is owned by such citizens.
Such agreements may be for a period not exceeding [25] years, renewable for not more
than [25] years, and under such terms and conditions as may be provided by law. In
cases of water rights for irrigation, water supply, fisheries, or industrial uses other than
the development of water power, beneficial use may be the measure and limit of the
grant.
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The State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial
sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to
Filipino citizens.
The Congress may, by law, allow small-scale utilization of natural resources by Filipino
citizens, as well as cooperative fish farming, with priority to subsistence fishermen and
fishworkers in rivers, lakes, bays, and lagoons.
The President may enter into agreements with foreign-owned corporations involving
either technical or financial assistance for large-scale exploration, development, and
utilization of minerals, petroleum, and other mineral oils according to the general terms
and conditions provided by law, based on real contributions to the economic growth and
general welfare of the country.
In such agreements, the State shall promote the development and use of local scientific
and technical resources.
In Relation to the constitution the country passed a lot of national and local legislations
that are supposed to protect the environment but are blatantly flawed or not followed.
These are very specific with the Mt. Apo national park where a lot of the areas in
Kapatagan has already been converted into agricultural use and Tamayong which
belongs to the Talomo Lipadas watershed are all planted with bananas by big
companies.

TARGET AREA AND BENEFICARIES:

Tamayong Calinan District for target area and whole of Davao City for Benefeciaries.
GOAL:
Reconcile and Solidify all municipal and national laws to protect talomo-lipadas
watershed via knowledge integration with the community of Bagobo Klata immediately
located near the watershed.
OUTCOME:
- Well-grounded sound policy to safeguard the watersheds and framework for an
integrated national legislative action.
DURATION:
6 months.
APPROACH:
Desktop ethnography, In-situ Participant Observation.
EVALUATION:
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This study and its policy output shall be evaluated by the community elders,
governmental stakeholder, and University Lawyers.
SUSTAINABILITY:
The policy sustainability will depend upon the agreement of stake holders but it will be
perpetually solidified if used as framework for legislation.

University of Southeastern Philippines

RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION
DIVISION Obrero, Davao City 

Theme 3: Pollution Control 

 Researches and extension programs/projects which include 
environmental issues that affect the land, air and water. 
 Areas of studies: a) ridge to reef assessment; b) valuation studies on pollution; c)
biological remediation; and d) development of technologies for waste utilization.
Agendum 3 – Policy Studies

Theme 1: Industry Analysis 

. 
 It will focus on three major industry groups: 1) Agriculture, Fishery and Hunting; 2)
Industry (Mining and Quarrying, Manufacturing, Construction, Electricity, Gas and Water
Supply); 3) Service (Transportation, Communication, Financial Intermediation, Real
Estate, Renting and Business Activity, and other Services - education).

Agendum 4 – Socio-
Cultural 

Theme 1: Indigenous Knowledge and Practices 

 Researches and extension programs that focus on the improvement of

health, education and governance; preservation of language, history, culture
and environment; and allow economic participation among indigenous
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groups. This may also include Indigenous Knowledge Systems on Disaster

Risk Reduction and Climate Change.