DAVAO WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS SUMMIT 2014

Prof. Nympha E. Branzuela attended the Watershed Stakeholders’ Summit 2014 held in Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines held last June 24, 2014. The theme of the summit is “Unifying Watershed Stakeholders’ Participation towards addressing the Challenges of Climate Change”.

The summit was hosted by the Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC), a body composed of all watershed key actors headed by the City Government of Davao, Barangay officials, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, City Planning and Development Office, Davao City Water District,  Non-government organizations, academe, among others.

Significant topics discussed, among them were:

1.       Climate Change and its Local Impacts

2.       Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change through Rainwater Harvesting (Davao City Ordinance No. 0298-09

3.       Sustaining Forest Restoration through Establishment of Riparian Forest Corridor

4. Davao City Development in relation to Davao City Vulnerability and Adaptation   Assessment

             5. Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change through Rainwater Harvesting

             6. Salient Provisions of the Rainwater Ordinance Implementing Rules and Regulations

             7. Update  on Davao River Basin Management Alliance and Water Quality Management Areas (WAQMA)

Atty. Romeo  Cabarde Jr.  synthesizes the watershed summit and identified nine (9) recommendations:

1.  Strengthen local data generation for climate change modeling;

2. Bring climate change education to the ground for community-based environmental conservation;

3. The Local Government Unit of Davao should take the lead in complying with the Rain Water System Ordinance: Role modeling;

4. Develop water-sensitive urban designs and plans;

5. Rainforestation within the riparian areas (buffer sones); Engage in tree-growing rather than tree-planting only;

6. Adopt-a-riverbank partnerships with Barangay Local Government Unit

7. Explore alternative renewable energy sources;

8. Organize vigilant multi-sectoral watchdogs;

9. Spare groundwater; maximize surface water

The Summit was ended with Signing of Pledge of Commitment and Ritual where Prof. Nympha E. Branzuela, representing the academe, swore to provide scientific bases of climate change impacts particularly in downscaling local climate scenarios and simulating hydrologic modeling in the watersheds of Davao City.