MinDa calls on stakeholders support to IRS

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1471478514930/minda-calls-on-stakeholders-support-to-irs
• Monday, November 7, 2016

By Jorie C. Valcorza (JCV/PIA-10)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, November 7 (PIA) – Highlighting the gains that the 3rd International River Summit (IRS) will bring to the rehabilitation and protection of our country’s major river basins, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) called on key stakeholders to be part of the initiative set on 24-26 November 2016 at the Pryce Plaza Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

Interested participants are advised to pre-register online at www.3rdirscdo.com.

Lourdes Enjambre of MinDa said the summit is a venue to share best practices on the implementation of programs and projects, not just here in the country but across the globe.

Various ambassadors and international agency partners have already committed to speak in the plenary sessions to include Russia, Netherlands, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, and Australia, among others.

Enjambre said this is a good learning experience for the local chief executives, environmental officers and planning officers as they also gather support from the non-government organizations (NGOs) and academe.

A mini-exhibit of the eight major river basins in Mindanao, to include the Mandulog River Basin will be among the highlights of the IRS summit which aims to showcase notable river management initiatives to some 1000 expected delegates.

The event is co-hosted by the local government of Cagayan de Oro City, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cagayan de Oro River Basin Management Council, and the League of Cities of the Philippines.

MinDa, for its part, performs an oversight function in all Mindanao river basins, attuned to its “Mindanao Nurturing Our Waters Program.”

In an interview with Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Enjambre also reported that all river basins in Mindanao have already crafted their respective master plan, while it’s only in Butuan City that’s pending for approval by the Regional Development Council (RDC) but is targeted to be passed within the year.

She said that while they are eyeing to institutionalize the budget that will support to the priority programs and projects identified in the protection and preservation of the watersheds, they are at the same time hopeful for the creation of an executive order to bridge the gap.