BICOL RIVER BANK STABILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT IN THE PROVINCE CAMARINES SUR

I. PROJECT RATIONALE

Based on the studies, the Bicol River is the eight largest river in the Philippines in terms of drainage basin size with an estimated catchment area of 3,770 km2. It is geographically located in the province of Camarines Sur. Bicol River is the biggest water way in the province that played significant roles in terms of socio-economic development and ecological balance throughout the history. It served as the main route of transportation for trading agricultural products and other merchandises, source of livelihood and source of domestic and irrigation water that brought growth to at least 14 municipalities and 1 city. Moreover, conservation and environmental importance of the river grew as the effects of climate change drastically affect and threaten the safety of the communities who lived along the river embankment and destroys their source of livelihood.

From the Baseline Biophysical Assessment and Rapid Resource Appraisal of the Bicol River conducted by the Province, status quo shows that the river is severely degraded due to overexploitation of the resources and erroneous activities/practices of the exponential growing population along the river bank. Problems and issues contends with soil erosion, siltation, solid and liquid wastes, pollution, congestion of water way, flooding and unregulated cutting of trees and bamboos were seen and validated thru Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and ocular inspection. Critical areas that need urgent interventions were also mapped out using the GPS and GIS.

Hence, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur thru the Environment, Disaster Management and Emergency Response Office conceptualized the Bicol River Conservation and Management Program that aims to rehabilitate and restore the river basin that will sustainably support itself and other ecosystems including human communities to which it is directly and indirectly related. Initially, the province is now focusing on river bank stabilization using the effective low cost localized materials such as vetiver grass and bamboo that is also known and being used by other countries in their river bank improvement projects. Currently, the province was able to established bamboo barriers and planted fruit-bearing trees in several barangays of Bato, Bula and Nabua that has eroded embankments. However, due to lack of enough budgets only few portions of the identified severely eroded sections were given immediate actions. Hopefully, if this project proposal would be approved, chances to rapid rehabilitation and river embankments stabilization will be given an abrupt attention and action.

Based on another study conducted by the Bicol River Development Foundation, dredging operations of heavily silted areas in the Bicol River do not only alleviate and control flooding in one of the stretches in the Bicol River and sustains the ecological condition. These also contribute to the livelihood of the communities in the area. Concrete mixing and hollow blocks production for shelter and other building constructions are thriving source of income along the lines where there are dredging operations of the province. In fact, the operations has doubled the income of the members of the communities within the outlying communities

Clearly, the aim of this project proposal is a wholistic and integrated approach to promoting environmental sustainability while promoting economic viability and socio-ecological living.

II. EXISTING INITIATIVES

The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur is continuously planting vetiver grass and establishing bamboo barriers along the identified severely eroded banks, also planting of fruit bearing trees are being undertaken as part of the Bicol River Conservation and Management Program. To date, other environmental related projects and programs have been accomplished, to wit:

1. Planted 15,119,993 trees/mangroves across the province under El Verde. 2. Established cassava, coconut, bamboo nurseries and plantations. 3. Established rainforestation sites and school forest parks 4. Launched the Save Caramoan Peninsula Project 5. Mobilized volunteers to protect the province’s natural resources (e.g Mt. Isarog

Guardians (MIGs) and Bantay Bakawan). 6. Constructed engineer wetland, established community organic farm and handicraft

making as part of the Lake Bato Conservation Project. 7. Participated and conducted coastal clean up, river bed dredging, and tree planting

activities. 8. Conducted several trainings and seminars regarding Forest Protection and

Environmental Laws Enforcement, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and Solid Waste Management.

9. Conducted several environmental researches and assessment (Status of Caramoan Peninsula Forest Complex, Status of fringing a islands of Gota Beach Caramoan, Rapid Assessment of Poro Island at Handong Libmanan, Camarines Sur, and Baseline and Biophysical and Rapid Resource Appraisal of the Bicol River, etc.)

10. Conceptualized Environmental Management Plans for forest, coastal, marine and freshwater resources.

11. Formulated Solid Waste Management ordinance and plans. 12. Revised the Camarines Sur’s Environment Code of 2012

III. PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

The objective of the proposed project is to stabilize the severely eroded sections along the Bicol River banks using localized materials that will eventually cater environmental, economic and quality-of-life benefits to local residents. The following are the expected results to be delivered, to wit; ▪ Compromised sections of the Bicol River will be stabilized through vegetative and

structural means ▪ Degraded ecosystem along the Bicol River will be rehabilitated and restored ▪ Community volunteers will be organized to maintain and watch over the constructed

bank improvement project/s ▪ Awareness and knowledge of the communities along the river embankment will be

enhanced through solid waste management and disaster preparedness trainings ▪ Improved agricultural and fishery productions using organic farming system and other

environmental best practices ▪ Increased capacity and resiliency of the basin against effect of climatic extremes like

droughts and flooding ▪ Elevated population of priority native aquatic species

IV. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT COMPONENTS AND ACTIVITIES

A. Ecosystem Management

The disturbed surface areas along the bicol river embankment will be planted with native grasses and fast growing native plants such as anabiong (Trema orientalis), malubago (Hisbiscus tiliaceus), anislag (Securinega flexuosa), alim (Melanolepis multiglandulosa), hagimit (Ficus minahasse), and Hawili (Ficus variegate) among others. Planted trees will eventually serve as habitat for faunas and will provide economic benefits to the local communities in the long run.

Bamboo barriers will be constructed, this will slow down water current that will pass through the barriers, and will give chance for the sediments to settle down along the river bank. Also, planting of aquatic native plant species such as water hyacinth along the barriers will absorbed pollutants and will also serve as breeding ground for various fishes species in the area. Through time when the water hyacinths reach its maturity it will be removed/harvested to rid off the absorbed pollutants.

Community volunteer will also be organized to look over and maintain the established bamboo barriers and planted trees. This will also assure the sustainability of the project.

Improvement of solid waste management will also be prioritized clean up and other alike activities will be implemented.

B. IEC

The technical staff of EDMERO will conduct training and seminars regarding RA 9003 also known as the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, Disaster preparedness and Climate Change. This will basically enhanced the knowledge and level of awareness of the communities living along the Bicol River. The EDMERO will provide materials necessary in the information dissemination such as brochures or pamphlets. Though, assistance from the concerned LGUs such as man power might be requested.

C. Enterprise Development

Handicrafts will be a viable choice for livelihood. Water hyacinth that will be planted along the barriers will be harvested and converted into various handicrafts such as bag, matt, holder etc. The livelihood training/s will be given to those affected communities. The dredging operations shall also support hollow blocks making and other sand and gravel business in the area. Only the heavily silted areas shall be scheduled for dredging so as not to disrupt ecological balance along the Bicol River.

Prepared by the Provincial EDMERO Office