The Ocoy River Watershed in Dumaguete City is one of the target sites of the 3-year Philippines-Canada Partnership on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation (PCP4NbS) program.
The Forest Foundation Philippines states that the PCP4NbS for Ocoy River, which crisscrosses around 15 barangays of Dumaguete, Valencia, and Sibulan, all in Negros Oriental, aims to achieve improved decision-making for gender–responsive climate change adaptation planning, practices, and governance of community and nature-based solutions; and enhanced adoption of gender-responsive NbS with biodiversity co-benefits for climate change adaptation of women and communities.
A team from Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), led by project manager Atty. Alaya De Leon, and Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Inc. (PhilBio), headed by executive director Lisa Paguntalan, paid a courtesy call on Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, with City Environment and Natural Resources officer, Engr. Chilvier Patrimonio, to discuss how the program can facilitate development in the watershed and learn about the city’s priority concerns and needs.
FFP is a non-stock, non-profit, nongovernmental organization that provides grants and technical assistance to organizations and individuals that empower the people to protect and conserve the forests.
Remollo manifested support in the conduct of the program that seeks to “contribute to the strengthening of the climate change resilience of communities, through nature-based solutions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems that address societal challenges, providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.”
The mayor also shared engineering interventions and projects that were designed to minimize the ill-effects of climate change, prevent flood, improve public safety, and effectively manage solid waste.
These include the construction of five full-span concrete bridges, shoreline protection to save lives and properties in coastal communities, implemented flood control projects with DPWH in Banilad-Mangnao, and river control dikes from Barangay Balugo down to the mouth of the Banica River in Barangay Poblacion 1 Tinago, the city said Oct. 14.
To ensure a healthier environment and citizenry, Remollo enforced the closure of the more than 30-year-old dumpsite near the Banica River, for rehabilitation. Once completed, the former dumpsite can be converted into a forest park, or for other public use. ||
