Project Information

The DENR through the Water Resource Development Program (WRDP) has prioritized and programmed the preparation of comprehensive watershed development & management plans for three priority (3) watersheds within the Bicol River Basin, namely: Quinale River “A” Watershed; Waras-Lalo River Watershed; and Pulantuna-Libmanan Watershed. Through its Watershed Management Improvement Component (WMIC), the WRDP aimed to formulating improved watershed resources management strategy and a national long term programme of investments for country‘s watersheds; and to pilot implement such strategy in selected priority watershed areas, including the three watersheds covered under this project.

The Consultant formulated watershed development and management plans for the prioritized watersheds following participatory approaches and by adopting a holistic landscape systems approach in watershed development planning. The key tasks involved were as follows:

Task 1 (Preparatory Planning): this involved conduct of numerous community briefings and stakeholder consultations, as well as formulation and implementation of IEC campaigns. The aim of this phase is to increase the awareness of all stakeholders on the importance of their active participation in the planning project.

Task 2 (Watershed Appraisal): undertook watershed characterization or profiling, in order to have a comprehensive understanding of the biophysical and socioeconomic conditions within the planning areas. This also involved gathering of primary and secondary data, including resource assessment, i.e. terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna. Also conducted water quality analysis, soil analysis, soil erosion estimation, estimation of carbon budget, household socioeconomic surveys, community mapping and GIS mapping, among others.

Task 3 (Formulation of Detailed Watershed Management Plan and Project Appraisal): using the data gathered, sectoral management plans were then formulated. The plans developed included the formulation of institutional frameworks and mechanisms for interagency cooperation in watershed management. This also involved formulation of work and financial plans, as well as investment plans for the three (3) watersheds.