Palma chosen to head river management body

A new responsibility was given  to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.

The head of the Cebu archdiocese  was chosen by stakeholders yesterday to head the newly formed Central Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBMC).

Stakeholders chose the prelate, who will lead  the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines starting December  as they need a neutral leader who can build consensus, said Fr. Mar Alingasa, SVD of the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW).

Alingasa and other stakeholders signed a memorandum of cooperation at Montebello Hotel to solve Cebu’s water woes and manage its water resources.

Architect Soccoro Atega, also from CUSW said that they will lobby for President Benigno Aquino III to empower the council through an executive order.

“This is a major concern for a thirsty Cebu,” she told reporters.

In a pastoral letter, Palma called on the Cebuano flock to participate in the management and sustenance of the river basins.

“We need to actualize an action-reflection-action praxis towards integrated water resources management,” Palma said.

The prelate scored Cebuanos’ failure to be sensitive and conscientious  to the wtaer crisis.

“Complacency has no room for a long overdue homework,” Palma added.

He also called for river  council members to transcend personal interests.

“Cooperation and collaboration will be effective if each one understands their role and can undertake responsibility for their specific function,” he added.

Alingasa said the clergy would endorse programs and “provide the extra push” for their implementation.

“The church has a smooth relationship with the local government and business sector so all can be directed work together.”

Alingasa said the technical aspects of the council would be assigned to other groups like the Departmtnet of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas which co-chairs the council.

The council will use an  “ecosystems approach” to river management that considers  interdependent factors like forest cover and socio-economics, Atega said.

A careful study of the organization is needed so that it can work as an independent council with the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), she said.

She said the council will work with the CCPL. However, the PAMB will  deal with infrastructure within Cebu’s forests.

Cebu’s water problems have been neglected for many years, said  Vicente Tuddao, director  of the DENR’s  River Basin Contol Office.

He said Cebu is in danger of floods due to the low flow of rivers caused by siltation, improper management of solid waste and the presence of illegal settlers along the rivers. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya