The 10th Project Leaders Meeting and Local Executives Meeting of the National Research and Development Project for Watershed Management were conducted simultaneously on September 10-11, 2014 in Tagum City, Davao.
Held for two days, the meetings sought to discuss the progress of the Watershed Project and orient the local executives inside the Saug Watershed about the importance of the project as well as its activities to strengthen collaboration and attain project sustainability.
The meetings were also held for the discussion of important project concerns such as the revision of the Watershed Phase II Project, timetable in terms of data collection and the preparation of the terminal report, succeeding meetings, and plans for the Watershed Forum.
Serving as resource persons, Ms. Faustina C. Baradas and Dr. Leila C. America of PCAARRD’s Forestry and Environment Research Division discussed the comments of the Directors’ Council (DC) to the Watershed Phase II Project and the timetable for the revision and second presentation of the proposal to the DC, respectively. They also gave some tips/suggestions to further improve the proposal.
Based on the National Research and Development Project for Watershed Management in the Philippines, the Watershed Project is part of the network of watershed research centers that will be established in the country for database generation on Philippine watershed. Its output will be used for future assessments of land use and climate change impacts on watershed functions.
Falling under PCAARRD’s strategic research and development banner program, the Watershed Project involves the characterization and instrumentation of three watersheds: the Pagsanjan-Lumban, Quiaoit, and Saug watersheds. The project is envisioned to be the basis for all decisions with regards to the sustainable management of watersheds in the country.
The Watershed Project is spearheaded by Project Leader Dr. Rex Victor O. Cruz, Chancellor of University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), other project leaders and staff from the UPLB, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 11.