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Province of Davao Oriental - Archived News

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Irrigation project ensures sustainability of fish biodiversit

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r11&id=52144
• By: Noel T. Provido
• September 02, 2011

CATEEL, Davao Oriental- Aside from boosting the province’s rice production, the irrigation project to be constructed here will also ensure sustainability of fish biodiversity.

The P256 million irrigation project of the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) and the provincial government of Davao Oriental integrates social environmental safeguards (SES) to ensure that people and environment are not negatively affected by the project implementation.

In compliance with the World Bank operation policy, SES is a measure that mitigates and protects the environment from the cumulative adverse impact that might be brought by failure to recognize that inherent value of natural resources.

“Fishing aside from farming is also one of the important sources of food and livelihood in the province. While irrigation project will greatly boost rice production, we must also ensure that other sources of livelihood will not be jeopardized,” said program director Lealyn Ramos.

“While we want to spur rural development, MRDP also puts premium on environmental protection. Environmental safeguards are being observed and integrated in the design, site selection and implementation,” she added.

Citing the soon to be established irrigation project in Cateel, Ramos said the program ensures that aside from quality engineering standards it also conforms to the recommended environmental safeguards.

The dams and other structures that will be constructed may tend to block and pose hazard to fishes’ natural migration, a fish-friendly infrastructure was incorporated to the final design of the irrigation project.

“A fish ladder design was recommended to prevent damage to fish biodiversity and fish stocks along Cateel River ,” SES specialist Arnel Areglado said.

Fish ladder, also known as a fish way, fish pass or fish steps is a structure designed to allow migrating fish pass around barriers such as dams or locks by swimming and leaping up series of relatively low steps. Protection and recovery of fish stocks in the area is ensured since fishes have the opportunity to migrate and spawn in downstream and upstream ecosystems.

“The Cateel irrigation project which incorporates a 42-meter fish ladder structure is the first of its kind in Mindanao . It also showcases how the perceived negative impact of development projects can be addressed by putting in place the recommended environmental safeguards,” Areglado said.

The Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) revealed that Cateel River which is the major water source of the irrigation project is a home to ecologically important fish species.

“These fish species are found to be either andromous (migrating from the sea to the river) or catadromous (migrating from the river to the sea) and the tributary of Cateel River is crucial in their life cycle,” Areglado said adding:

“The IEE identified the presence of “Pigek” the country’s most expensive but nearly endangered fish along Cateel River .”

Pigek which is also known as Pigok in Northern Mindanao and Ludong in Luzon swims to salt water to spawn from October to December and returns to upstream ponds after. It undergoes upstream migration during December, January, and February, and this coincides with other species of fry also undergo upstream migration.

“Since Pigek was found to be endemic in the Cateel River , there is a need to protect and conserve this valuable fish species along with the establishment of dams and other engineering structures.

Construction of a fish ladder as part of the irrigation project is the best way to address this need,” Areglado said.

Communities get 57 more projects

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2011/09/01/communities-get-57-more-projects-176635
• By: Carmelle Marie Harrow
• September 01, 2011

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Kalahi-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) completed a total of 57 sub-projects in Governor Generoso, New Corella, Talaingod, and Laak in Davao Region.

The projects range from potable water system, flood control facilities, drainage lined canal, hanging cable footbridge, school building, barangay health station, tribal housing, day care centers and birthing facilities.

"This is where we need more help from major stakeholders. By our convergence, we will be able to help these municipalities in their community-driven projects," said Priscilla Razon, assistant regional director of DSWD.

Under Kalahi-Cidss, communities in different municipalities identify key development changes that they need and they are the ones who design and develop the projects through a participatory and collective approval process, wherein criteria are developed by the members of the communities.

Potable water systems are the major problems in the towns of Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental and New Corella in Compostela Valley, wherein 12 were already constructed in these areas.

"Ito ‘yung mga basic needs at situations that could help them in living a decent quality of life, dito kami pumapasok to help them with their decision-making, looking for resources and opportunities in accessing these basic services," Razon said.