Luna, Apayao – The Apayao-Abulug River Basin Council convened this March 30, 2023 to look into environmental concerns and issues as well as to propose programs and projects for 2024.
The workshop was participated in by line agencies like the DAR, DENR. NIA, BFAR, MGB-EMB, DILG, DSWD, NCIP, DOST, others and the Apayao PLGU.
The Apayao-Abulug river basin cover parts of Apayao and Cagayan and its considered critical for its role in upland agriculture, forestry, irrigation, fisheries, and other industries. The basin is also considered as one of the three most vulnerable basins in the country.
DENR-CAR Regional Director Ralph C. Pablo, in an interview, said that “Congressman Leah Bulut-Begtang tasked us to work on the integrated management and development master plan of the basin which was actually prepared way back 2014. While we have the master plan adopted by RDC-CAR in 2018, it is also imperative that we shift from working in silos and promote partnership and actual convergence and complementation.”
Pablo likewise underscored the importance of identifying root causes of issues and problems, emphasizing the need to prioritize addressing upstream concerns.
Pablo explained that most problems regarding water flow, including flooding and drought midstream and downstream, emanate from the source, and thus the more interest is needed to be given upstream.
One of the huge concerns is the recurring flooding experienced in Luna and Sta. Marcela. The solutions suggested were dredging activities in the lower areas to deepen the river channel and forestation upstream along with other projects to control water flow.
Rivers used to have a deep middle portion but overtime they get shallower and they widen causing flooding in low lying areas, told Pablo, adding that the flooding is aggravated by uncontrolled human activities that affect the river.
It is expected that with the workshop, a concerted and well-synchronized approach of agencies involved will be achieved for a more impactful result of proposed programs and projects.
The outputs or programs formulated through the workshop will be submitted to Congressman Bulut-Begtang for possible funding.
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