MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR THE CREATION OF BUED RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COUNCIL SIGNED

Pursuant to DENR Memorandum Circular (DMC) No. 2008-05 or guidelines in the preparation of watershed management plans and DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2021-41 known as Guidelines in the creation of watershed management council, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region I led by Regional Executive Director Atty. Crizaldy M. Barcelo, CESO III the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) creating the Bued River Watershed Management Council last August 8, 2023 at Hotel Consuelo Resort, Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Said agreement aims to create a multi-sectoral institution that will bring about holistic mechanisms and initiatives for the protection, conservation, management, and development of the Bued River which has a total length of 80 km (50 mi) and primarily encompasses the provinces of Benguet and Pangasinan, and a few parts of La Union. The river originates from the City of Baguio and joins with the Angalacan River in the municipality of Mangaldan, MOA 3

Pangasinan to form the Cayanga River.

Moreover, the watershed management council is composed of the Chief Executive Officers of various government agencies, offices, organizations, and instrumentalities or their duly authorized representatives that have jurisdiction of the watershed.

The council was chaired by RED Barcelo given that Region I had the biggest cover of Bued River. It was co-chaired by Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III which was represented by Mark Ronald DG. Lambino and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) I Regional Director Irenea B. Ubungen while the core members are DENR Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) represented by Regional Executive Director, Engr. Ralph C. Pablo, NEDA CAR, Department of Public Work and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Council for Indigenous People (NCIP), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Tourism (DOT), National Irrigation Authority (NIA), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Energy (DOE) –Luzon Field Office, Provincial Government of La Union and Benguet, General Manager Pozzurubio Water District, Center Head- Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau -Watershed MOA 5

and Water Resources Research Development and Extension Center (ERDB-WWRRDEC), and Zero Waste Baguio among others.

The event formalizes the creation and operationalization of the watershed management council of Bued River Watershed. Though our agencies have different mandates and priorities, your presence here today reassure and strengthens our hope for a good partnership and also heightens our desire of teamwork as watershed stakeholders in attaining a sustainably managed watershed.

This MOA also denotes our partnership in exchange of knowledge, research, studies and technical capacities and information on new, current and emerging trends in developing and managing our watershed. Contribution of each stakeholder is very vital. Let us be guided by emerging, acceptable and functional management concepts like convergence initiatives and solidarity because as we always believe, “together we can do better”, RED Barcelo said in his message.

Members of the created council shall serve as the oversight and advisory body on watershed planning and program implementation as well as contributor in the formulation of policies that support inter-agency coordination, collaboration, cooperation, partnership, and convergence, and complementation of natural resources benefits and cost sharing and resources planning and program implementation.

After the MOA signing, the first joint council meeting was carried out where the milestones and preparation of the Intergrated Watershed Management Plan of Bued River was presented.

Details: Parent Category: News & Events; Category: Press Releases; Published: 25 August 2023