Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

ADDENDUM TO THE FINAL REPORT

1 GENERAL

Contained herein are the changes on the Main Report submitted and
discussed during the meeting in the Foreign Assisted Special Projects Office
(FASPO) of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in
Quezon City last May 4, 2007 attended by the members of the Regional
Technical Working Group (RTWG), DENR executives and Staff of the River
Basin Control Office (RCBO). Highlighted during the deliberations of the
Agusan Master Plan Final Report are the changes on the strategy which will
create the Working Secretariat who will jumpstart the implementation of the
Masterplan.

2 ADDENDUM TO VOLUME I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The last paragraph of Section 6.0 Implementation Program in page I-13 of

Volume I Executive Summary shall be replaced by the following:

A Transition Program planned for the ARB is the formation of the ARB
Working Secretariat. The Working Secretariat shall be formed with the
following major functions: (a) to restudy various models of river basin
organization presented in the Agusan River Basin Masterplan and formulate a
basin organization model that will suffice the institutional needs and concerns
of the stakeholders of the Agusan River Basin, (b) to establish the RBO in
accordance with the model selected and decided by the Working Secretariat
and (c) to act as “ad hoc” or “interim” RBO that will jumpstart and oversee the
implementation of the Agusan Masterplan until the formal legal mandates for
the formation of the “decided” organization is realized.

3 ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER 7 AGUSAN RIVER BASIN

ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF APPENDIX B
VOLUME III MASTER PLAN REPORT

Statements and charts in Section 7.1.1 of Chapter 7 Agusan River Basin

Organization Development Program contained in pages IIIB-Appendix B-115
to 116 of Volume III Master Plan Report shall be replaced by the following:

ORGANIZATION OF WORKING SECRETARIAT PROJECT

The Working Secretariat shall be formed in accordance to the organizational

chart as shown in Figure 3.1. Its major functions would be:
1. To restudy various models of river basin organization presented
in the Agusan River Basin Masterplan and formulate a basin

1
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

organization model that will suffice the institutional needs and

concerns of the stakeholders of the Agusan River Basin.

2. To establish the RBO in accordance with the model selected

and decided by the Working Secretariat.

3. To act as “ad hoc” or “interim” RBO that will jumpstart and

oversee the implementation of the Agusan Masterplan until the
formal legal mandates for the formation of the “decided”
organization is realized.

Figure 3.1
Proposed Structure of the Working Secretariat

2
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

4 ADDENDUM TO CHAPTER 5 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

PROGRAM OF VOLUME V MASTER PLAN REPORT

Statements and charts in Section 5.3 of Chapter 5 Project Implementation

Program contained in pages V-Chapter 5-15 to 5-19 of Volume V Master Plan
Report shall be replaced by the following:

TRANSITION PROGRAM: FORMATION OF THE WORKING SECRETARIAT

To jumpstart the strategy of creating a single, a Working Secretariat will have

to be organized. The Working Secretariat shall be formed with the following
major functions: (a) to restudy various models of river basin organization
presented in the Agusan River Basin Masterplan and formulate a basin
organization model that will suffice the institutional needs and concerns of the
stakeholders of the Agusan River Basin, (b) to establish the RBO in
accordance with the model selected and decided by the Working Secretariat
and (c) to act as “ad hoc” or “interim” RBO that will jumpstart and oversee the
implementation of the Agusan Masterplan until the formal legal mandates for
the formation of the “decided” organization is realized.

Organizational Structure

The proposed Working Secretariat will be organized in the manner shown in

Figure 4.1. A Project Management Office (PMO) will be set up by the
Working Secretariat, It is suggested that a full-time contractual Senior
Professional, and a Deputy, be hired for a 3-year term (or a yearly renewable
contract). They will be hired at the same level of status and compensation as
the PPDCs/CPDC to afford them a stable negotiating level with the
PPDCs/CPDC. As a matter of institutional strategy, it would be best to work
together with and through existing institutions (i.e., LGUs, NGOs, NLAs, etc.).

3
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

Figure 4.1
Proposed Structure of the Working Secretariat

Functions

The PMO shall assume three (3) key functions to be carried out by their
respective Project Officers.

i. Advocacy

The job objective of this unit is to review, evaluate and implement the Public
Awareness Plan presented in the Masterplan.

If ever the creation of RBO is decided and will require legal backbone through
the passage in Congress, the Advocacy Unit may consider lobbying for a
Presidential Executive Order to generate political and financial support for the
ARBA at the national level.

4
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

ii. Institutional Stakeholder Analysis

This unit will undertake an inventory of government and non-government

organizations that have a stake (or would be affected directly) in the Basin.
Parallel to this task is the restudy of the various basin organization models
which will serve as the basis of decision on the structure of the basin
organization for Agusan River Basin that will suffice the needs and concerns
of the stakeholders.

Extensive consultations with these organizations will have to be made to

determine their interest and capability to be “institutional stakeholders” of the
Basin. These will include all LGUs (provincial and municipal – with an option
to include barangays), NGOs and POs; associations of youth, women, IPs;
chambers of commerce and industries; organizations of plantation operators;
the academe; and the churches.

The strategy is to group these organizations into “sectoral groupings” to

formulate a strategy of “representation” of institutional stakeholders to the
Institutional Stakeholders’ Congress.

iii. Data Banking

As a start-up issue, the data for planning of basin wide programs have not
been organized such that data across LGUs, NGOs, and NLAs, among
others, would be “comparable” and can be consolidated into an ARB
database.

To address this issue, the Data Banking Unit will assume the following key
functions:

1. Build an inventory of available data in the LGUs, NLAs, NGOs, and

other relevant institutions;

2. Screen what data are important and whether they are “comparable”
(i.e., the data parameters are similar)

3. Convene a “data summit” among planning officers of inventoried

institutions to determine “the” set of data needed for basin-wide
planning, to determine the gaps and what additional data should be
generated

4. Generate additional data to fill the gaps

5. Simulate the use of data for basin-wide decision-making

Mapping using GIS will be crucial to this unit. It should be recalled that GIS
Development and Data Banking is one of the three (3) Core Initiatives to be
done in parallel to realize the Master Plan. Build-up activities to this will be
started as early as the transition phase.

5
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

It is in this aspect and the vital importance of building the database for ARB
that once functioning, the ARBA would take on GIS Development and Data
Banking in its operations.

Development Agenda and Thematic Interventions

The agenda of the Working Secretariat is to generate substantive PPPPs for

development intervention as summarized below.

In Volume IIIB of the Master Plan Report, it has been explained that there are
six (6) key thematic interventions for WRM in the Agusan. These comprise
the WRM Thematic Interventions that make up the 2 nd Core Initiative. The 1st
is RBO Formation and Development, and the 3 rd is GIS Development and
Data Banking.1

These six (6) themes cut across sectors. 2 The Core Initiative on GIS
Development and Data Banking, which is regarded as not a thematic
intervention but the overarching key schema for ARB Master Plan
implementation.

A Matrix on each of the six (6) WRM Interventions and for GIS Development
and Data Banking has been prepared during Phase 1 (V-Appendix D). The
Matrix highlights six (6) attributes per intervention/ initiative; namely: (1) list of
priority interventions; (2) institutions involved (lead and supporting agencies);
(3) regulatory or development policies; (4) present state of data needs; (5)
proposed strategic measures for planning and implementation; and (6)
additional recommendations.

Coordinating Network

It is evident from the matrices that a network of existing institutions whether

local, regional and national is already engaged in the planning and
implementation of the thematic interventions.

Given the above situation, the purpose of the Working Secretariat, and the
organization in the future, is not to “take-over” these institutions or entities, but
provide an “added-value” of coordinating synergy that will be in the form of
“activity-initiatives”. These will be designed to bring, on a regular basis, the
institutions to work together as an “integrated entity” instead of separate
institutions having divergent agenda.

Some of these “activity-initiatives” are convergent “summits”, i.e., institutions

are called together into annual or semi-annual conferences to exchange
experiences, mutually enrich each other of technologies being used, and build
up databases.

1
These Core Initiatives are first introduced and explained in Volume III-A (Master Plan Report) of the
Master Plan.
2
The background and justification on these six (6) WRM Themes are in Chapters 2-7 of Volume IV.
The same for GIS Development and Data Banking is contained in Chapter 8.

6
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

For instance, a “data bank summit” may be organized among data generators
and data users to agree on common data format within the ARB, and
establish a LAN (local area network) based on a website. A ‘water summit’
may be held also to coordinate sectoral approaches to WRM.

Prioritization

In the matter of “prioritization” or which of the thematic interventions should be

the focus of priority support by way of PPPPs, this could be achieved
eventually by the RBO through a regular holding of Goals Achievement
Matrix/ Delphi (GAM/DELPHI) Workshops. The RBO may invite
knowledgeable technical and political personalities of the ARB together in a
series of workshops. The first GAM/DELPHI workshop could work on all
seven (7) themes (including GIS Development and Data Banking) while
succeeding workshops can tackle each of them.

Milestones

i. Public Awareness Program (PAP)

An early preparation for the consultation process, the advocacy campaign will
be the roll-out of the PAP (V-Appendix F) - within the ARB, regionally and
nationally. The ARB situationer must be laid open to the public, the Master
Plan shown in summary form, and the RBO discussed in all media, and in
public fora.

ii. Social Mobilization

Public Events must be held in each and every LGU of the ARB to heighten
awareness of it and create a demand for the RBO. This will take the form of
public demonstrations during town fiestas and foundation days of LGUs.
Marches may be organized to advocate for the RBO in the offices of NLAs in
Regions XI and Caraga.

iii. Institutional Stakeholders

A wide-ranging and intensive Stakeholder Analysis will be launched to identify

all community organizations within the ARB, group them into sectors
representing similar agendas, and organize delegations and identify
leadership in preparation for a Institutional Stakeholders’ Congress. The
holding of this congress will be given prominent publicity and will also mark
the launching of the RBO. In advance of congressional or presidential action,
the RBO will be formally constituted through a Memorandum of Agreement
among LGUs, NLAs, and NGOs, as the highlight and ending exercise of the
Congress.

7
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

5 ADDENDUM TO VOLUME VIA HYDROLOGY

The succeeding discussion and elaboration herein shall be inserted as

Section 3.3 of Volume VIA Hydrology.

5.1 Geologic Setting

For the Agusan River Basin, the physical characteristics are dominated by
tectonics and the underlying geology which controls the shape of the basin
and to a large extent, the course of the Agusan River. Apart from the
Philippine fault that traverses the basin, many other active faults cross the
basin laterally. The Agusan River generally follows the alignment of the
Philippine fault through the basin while some of the major tributaries of the
Agusan River are aligned with some of other faults. It has been identified that
some important faults trending eastward divide the basin tectonic lineament
into blocks that show similar uplift and dipping characteristic. The uplift zones
strike east west and the blocks dip southeastward, dividing the basin valley
into five major regions with the boundaries defined by the uplift zones. At
three of these locations, downstream of the towns of Monkayo, Talacogon,
and Esperanza, the foothills encroach into floodplains, dramatically narrowing
the valley bottom. Upstream of each of these sites are swampy areas that are
susceptible to inundation during the wet season. The forth-major uplift has
resulted in the high valley that forms the southernmost portion of the basin.
Downstream of Esperanza, the valley gradually widens and slopes gently to
Butuan Bay.
Another product of the uplift and dipping is that a number of the Agusan River
tributaries flow in a southerly direction (opposite to the direction of the Agusan
River). In addition, the western margins of the valley floor tend to be rather
sharp while the eastern margin is less defined.
It is thought that the quake of June 1893 resulted in the Agusan changing
course somewhere in the central swamp area. Also, considerable changes in
topography was recorded, notably subsidence in Agusan Swamp and
possible extensive faulting near Monkayo.
A large portion of the basin is overlaid by thick sedimentary formations made
up of sandstone, siltstone, conglomerate shale or clay, and reef limestone
lenses. Volcanic rock outcrops are common in both of the confining mountain
ranges. As indicated above, additional outcroppings of sedimentary rock are
also located on the valley bottom at the uplift areas, which have created
constrictions. Along the western side of the trough or valley floor, foothills
emerge from the alluvial areas and generally rise into the slopes of the
Central Cordilleras. These foothills are generally formed in soft sedimentary
rocks that are dissected by tributaries of the Agusan River. The region is
characterized by entrenched streams; mainly fault controlled and interstream
plateaus. The eastern side of the trough contains low hills of soft sedimentary
rock and flat alluvial areas that abut against the Pacific Cordillera. The central
alluvial plain generally comprises alluvium deposits consisting of unsorted

8
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

clay, sand, gravel and sometimes boulders. Four major areas of alluvial
deposits occur upstream of he uplift zones and in the coastal plain.
The soils in the swamps and marshes are predominantly deep clayey, grayish
to brownish and slightly acid to neutral in reaction. They are wet for a large
part of the year. Layers of varying thickness of partly decomposed organic
matter are often found in the profile. Moderate drainage is indicated by the
presence of grey features often at shallow depths. The water table is highly
variable due to geographical and seasonal influences, but in general it ranges
between 50 cm and 150 cm in depth during most of the year.
The unconsolidated deposit of quarternary alluvium occurs mainly along
banks of major river systems of the study area. Considerable amount is also
developed along flood plains and coastal lines. The deposit consists mostly of
admixtures of clay and silt with little amount of sand and gravel lenses and is
generally associated with lahar sediments in the lowlands.

The nature of the deposition of the unconsolidated materials favored the

interfingering of various lithologic units so that, it is sometimes difficult to trace
a single bed over short distances. The cumulative thickness of the alluvium in
the flood plains of major drainage systems of the study area may exceed 10
meters and may become even thicker when associated with lahar deposits. In
general though, the entire alluvial deposits in the entire Agusan River consist
mainly of considerable clay and silt materials derived from the weathering of
the cementing material of the tuffs and other pyroclastic rocks.
Figure 5.1 delineates the geology of the Agusan River Basin.

9
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

Figure 5.1
Geology of Agusan River Basin

5.2 Hydrogeological Setting

Well Inventory
Data inventory sourced from the National Water Information Network (NWIN)
of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) shows that about 108 wells
are drilled within the Agusan River Basin and mostly concentrated within the
lowlands and flood plains of the Basin. Out of the 108 wells in the inventory,
only 43 wells have complete statistical information. Locations of the wells are
10
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

shown in Figure 5.2 while Table 5.1 shows the tabular data for each of the
wells.

Figure 5.2
Well Location in Agusan River Basin

11
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

Table 5.1-A
Inventory of Wells in Agusan River Basin

12
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

Table 5.1-B
Inventory of Wells in Agusan River Basin

13
Agusan River Basin Master Plan Addendum to the Final Report nn

Aquifer Systems

The only available potential aquifers or water-bearing formations identified in

the study area are the moderately thick cyclic layers of sand, silt and minor
gravel and boulder deposits of the tuffaceous sediments and other pyroclastic
flow rock materials. The aquifer system of the tuffaceous rock units may
indicate lesser degree of permeability because of the occurrence of clay and
silt interbeds in the entire sequence.

Evaluation of the available lithology of boreholes at the proposed landfill site

under certain depth limitation reveals the occurrence of relatively thicker soil
mantle in the form of unconsolidated admixtures of sand, silt, clay and boulder
fragments. The deepest explored depth at a little over 18 meters may
exemplify the occurrence of this unconsolidated deposit close to this depth.

In general though, the groundwater in the lowlands would necessary occur

under the water table condition so that available groundwater reservoirs can
be found close to the surface under saturation from the direct infiltration.

Water Yields
The measurement of the true static water levels (SWL) in wells within the
study area are extremely difficult to obtain as most of them were drilled from
shallow to moderate depths only so that the well structures were not provided
with access holes for the water level measuring device to get in. In limited
cases, particularly those wells with culvert structures to form dug wells, the
water level of the well systems can be measured. Otherwise, the water levels
in most wells are reckoned from the depths they were represented and from
the correlation with the levels of some nearby dug wells.

For the productive wells, discharge records were attended from the time they
were drilled where discharge were taken during the aquifer test of these wells.
For each of the wells, discharge data are also found in Table 5.1. The water
yield ranges from 0.3 to 19 lps. Iso-discharge lines are drawn within these
points and it is layered in Figure 5.2.

14