The DENR-RBCO spearheads the conduct of the CY 2019 Mid-Year Assessment and Planning Workshop at Bayleaf Hotel, General Trias, Cavite last June 25-28, 2019. The activity aims to identify the status of the river basin master plan implementation, operationalization of the different River Basin Organizations, determine the activities for the FY 2020 Physical and Financial Plan and to address some issues and concerns in the river basin management both in the regional and national level. The said Mid-Year Assessment was attended by the regional focal and alternate focal persons and DENR-PPS representatives.
The three-day activity focused on the presentation and discussion of the accomplishments of the regional offices in line with their approved CY 2019 Work and Financial Plan. Various PPAs implemented within the river basin area were presented by the regional focal persons. On the other hand, DENR Region 10 focal person discussed the mechanism and implementation of the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) for the Cagayan de Oro River Basin. Through this scheme, local stakeholders will be able to value the importance of the forestland and water resources within the river basin. DENR-CAR also presented their accomplishment as the recipient of the River for Life Award with their initiatives in the river rehabilitation and water quality monitoring.
Meanwhile, Dir. Antonio M. Daño, RBCO Executive Director, has emphasized to the participants their responsibilities in fulfilling the targets set for this year and to keep the River Basin Organization attain its functions towards river basin management. He also discussed the crafting of the State of the River Basin Report as the proper documentation and compilation of all river basin projects and activities implemented anchored in the river basin master plan. This shall determine how far the stakeholders have gone in the master plan implementation. Dir. Daño also stressed out to the regional focal persons to always coordinate with the regional planning officers in the budget proposal and to justify the various river basin activities prioritized in the succeeding years. Furthermore, the participants have agreed on the formulation of the standard river basin IEC module as the capacity building for this year to increase the awareness of the people about the River Basin Control Office and the Regional Project Management Offices. This will serve as a tool in the dissemination of the information on river basin management, master plan formulation and implementation and operationalization of the River Basin Organizations.