STAKEHOLDERS INK MOU TO SAVE SILANG-SANTA ROSA RIVER

Aiming to ensure sustainable and equitable use and management of the freshwater resources in the Santa Rosa sub-watershed and enjoin all concerned stakeholders to support the implementation of an integrated watershed management plan, stakeholders signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Canyon Woods, Laurel, Batangas last October 23, 2008.

In the agreement, stakeholders declare and agree to "formally strengthen collaboration and complementarity" of their support and assistance to the further development and implementation of the Integrated Water Resources Management in the Santa Rosa sub-watershed.

Stakeholders are to develop a water management framework, land use and zoning plan, market-based instrument that will ensure sustainable use of freshwater resources to help sustain the sub-watershed. They are also to formulate guidelines for the development of project taking into consideration freshwater carrying capacities and ecological impacts.

In line with this, they are expected to conduct surveys, studies and/or assessments contributing to the development of information base for integrated water resources management. They are to exchange information, maps, documentary outputs produced under their respective programs and develop new projects to carry out the objectives of the memorandum.

The said memorandum of agreement is a collaboration between the River Basin LGUs composed of the City of Santa Rosa, the Municipalities of Biñan and Cabuyao in Laguna, the Municipality of Silang, Cavite, the Provincial Government of Laguna, the Laguna Lake Development Authority, the Save Silang-Santa Rosa River Basin Council and the Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas Foundation, Inc.

They are to participate and contribute to the activities being develop under the existing memorandum of understanding, using available resources to their current programs.

Specifically, KKP shall support the conduct of research, planning and awareness raising activities subject to the availability of resources until 2010. LLDA will support in the capacity-building, information sharing, policy making and other activities on the watershed while the provincial government will support the full implementation of the watershed management plan.

The River Basin LGUs are to update ecological maps and profiles, and their Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans. They commit their respective City/Municipality Planning and Development Office, Environmental and Natural Resources Office, Engineering Office, Education/Environment Committee and representatives from their barangays to do research, validation and planning activities.

This MOU will be in effect until December 31, 2010. (CIO/STA. ROSA CITY)