Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Acknowledgements
This report would not have been possible without the generosity and
support of Willy Prilles and the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) of
Naga City. It was an immense pleasure to meet and spend time with all of you.
In gathering data for this project the following people were a great help:
Oscar Orozco (CENRO), Jesus P. Bongalonta (CENRO), Rolly Campillos (UPAO),
Miles Arroyo (UDHB), Melchor Estrella Llantero (CENRO), Erlinda V. Bailey
(CENRO), Badette Rocco (LIGF), Atty Ojastro (City of Naga), Dada De La Rosa
(NCPC), and Ramon Antonio (Barangay Dinaga Captain). Without their insight
and knowledge this project would not have been possible. Thank you all so
much for your time and words of wisdom.
And finally, thank you Dr. Nora Angeles. Thank you for conceptualizing a
studio course in Naga City and for making this opportunity in mutual learning
possible. Being a Filipino-Canadian, this has been a very special and memorable
experience. For this I am especially grateful.
Biography
Cathy Pasion is a School of Community and Regional Planning graduate student
at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Cathy also holds
both an undergraduate and graduate degree in Civil and Environmental
Engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Cathy has worked as
an environmental consultant in the remediation of contaminated sites and as a
researcher in the clearance of landmines and unexploded ordnance from
contaminated lands. She hopes to use her technical and planning skills to
continue to work with communities in the future.
ii
Executive Summary
The Naga City River is an important physical and cultural feature for the
city of Naga. Not only does the river serve a vital role in the citys ecosystems,
but it is also the site of the Bicol regions most prestigious religious ceremony,
the Peafracia fluvial procession.
The importance of the river is evident, but the rivers water quality
remains below desired standards and is unfit for human uses such as bathing.
The city of Naga has made many concerted efforts to manage the river in the
past, including the development of the Naga City River Watershed Strategic
Management Plan in 1997. Much important progress has been made as a result.
This is evident from the marked improvement in water quality from its initial
state, the enactment of relevant ordinances and legislation, the establishment
of city departments dedicated to environmental issues, and the participation of
citizens groups in river management. These advances are substantial;
however, ten years have passed and many of the objectives initially stated in
this plan remain at a standstill. Naga City is in need of a renewed plan to help
rebuild momentum towards the rivers revitalization.
Based on a review of existing policies, ordinances and visioning
documents, and through stakeholder interviews, a series of recommendations
were made for the City of Naga to consider in the future management of the
Naga City River. These recommendations are informed by the principles of
sustainable development and look to foster the objectives initially stated
within the Strategic Watershed Management Plan developed in 1997. In
summary the recommendations include the following:
iv
Table of Contents
1.
Introduction________________________________________________________ 1
2.
Stakeholders __________________________________________________________ 3
2.2.
2.3.
Policy Context_________________________________________________________ 6
2.3.1.
2.3.2.
Legislation________________________________________________________________9
3.
4.
5.
Recommendations __________________________________________________ 25
Bibliography __________________________________________________________ 31
Tables _______________________________________________________________ 33
1. Introduction
with
of
of
Bicol,
population
Philippines.
Through
its
momentum
revitalization.
towards
the
rivers
Management
year.
fronts.
delicate
contributes
water
sustainability
quality
issues
has
been
Plan
Cleaning
of
1997,
the
river
ecosystems
to
and
it
the
and
supports
environmental
recognizes
the
made
The
USAID,
continual
in
its
revitalization.
comprehensive
strategic
concern
for
the
city.
1
2. Problem Context
Goals
for
2015
(UN
Millennium
interviews
with
organizations
management.
were
stakeholders
conducted
and
visioning
documents
were
2.1.
Method: Interviews
The
stakeholder
2.2.
Stakeholders
interviews
and
and
Housing
These
Board
(UDHB),
provided
rivers development
as this could
potentially
the
tourism.
impacts
the
city
environmentally,
economically,
and
socially.
Nagueos
stakeholders
stakeholders.
rivers management.
It
interviews
should
be
noted
increase
economic
are
All
in the
that
Naga, 1997).
City
Environment
and
Natural
of
institutionalized
Development
Board
Department
brief
and
Housing
description
of
these
organizations follows.
1997.
Resource
well,
CENRO
in
of
July
then
1999.
Environment
(DENR)
CENRO
was
and
requirements.
provides
technical
input
forms
At
As
on
different
of
Office (CPDO)
Development
both
tanks
manages
the
lands
(PNP),
adjacent
to
the
and
Office
to
immediately
river.
The
are
made
CENRO
ordinances
by
CENRO.
enforces
that
the
guide
In
city
waste
river.
its uses.
Department of Environment and
City Environment and Natural
Resources Office (CENRO)
CENRO
is
the
executive
is
department
the
that
national
level
manages
throughout
the
Philippines.
For
4
instance,
the
DENR
requires
the
implementation.
government,
which
facilitates
the
Council
has
the
representatives
forces.
deliberation
They
power
to
all
send
government
participate
and
to
in
the
evaluation
of
mandate
find
the
of
UPAO
resettlements
that
to
ensure
initiatives
resettlement
urban poor
riverbank.
of many
brought
about
through
1995,
Government
the
the
Naga
City
enacted
the
City
plan
themselves
through
Stakeholder Congress.
is
non-governmental
River.
LIGF
was
formed
in
2.3.
Policy Context
Government.
Since
then,
purpose
of
supporting
the
City
quality
within
the
Naga
River,
strategies
were
articulated:
rivers
Naga
following
River
the
building
of the river.
The
beautification,
were
river
institutions
instance,
representatives
from
the
non-
extensive
process
the
river
park
For
remains
were articulated:
To prevent floods,
safe,
continue
progressing
towards
the
Integrating
the
sustainable
development
resources.
principles
of
into
Achieving
significant
2020.
The City of Naga is using the
Within
the City
set
intention
of
women,
extreme
is
environmental
according
to
eradicating
ensuring
sustainability,
which,
to
their
Executive
women.
Legislative
the
UN
through five key strategies: (a) reengineering Naga (b) reducing poverty
2.3.2. Legislation
governance
and
citizenship.
responsible
Re-engineering
Naga
documents
environmental
whole.
River
to
prevent
future
flooding.
that
These
relate
to
conservation
and
include
Environmental
various
management,
more
and
attractive
to
visitors
Bureau (LMB).
With
respect
to
the
1997.
river
part
Millennium
other documents.
The
of
comprehensive
meeting
the
b) conduct
It
should
be
noted
that
ordinances
pertaining
to
the
Ordinance
No.
86-019
was
polluted
groundwater
and
surface
now
that
flooding
and
Ordinance
No.
93-103
was
common.
to
Some
conduct
an
environmental
10
and
implement
comprehensive
are
ordinance violations
information
campaigns
and
to
river
patrols
to
monitor
encourage
Council
representatives
sector,
the
barangays
to
members
included
from
religious
urban
the
poor
academia,
and
government
organizations
sector,
city-based
non-
were
started
in
the
primarily
environmental
tourist attraction.
concerned
with
Ordinance
no.
2000-006
The
following
organizations
and
11
no.
the
structure
will
be
River
associated
apprehension.
rivers
edge.
measures
structure,
in
and
control
2000-018
prescribes
Section
4.1
of
the
quarters
prescribed
within
the
easement
and/or
vacate
their
present abode.
12
designate
one
person
to
be
permanent member.
3. Guiding Principles
Sustainable Development
Ordinance N. 2003-013
Ordinance
established
No.
2003-013
a caretaker group
In
1987,
the
Brundtland
for
Kapalibotan
Lugar.
Common Future.
the
on
sa
anti-littering
Maogmang
and
solid
waste
most
cited
definition
of
Sustainable
development
is
UN World Commission of
River
and
its
creeks.
The
whom
include
barangay
tanod,
reinforcing
economic
development
pillars
consisting
development,
and
of
social
environmental
13
Climate
and
Environment, 2007).
Sustainable development is positive
socioeconomic change that does not
Figure
1.
The
Pillars
of
Sustainable
Development
undermine
the
ecological
social
There
have
been
some
well,
there
have
been
its
political
viability
many
The
following
are
few
River.
the
interdependence
of
14
4. Key Findings
existing
policies,
visioning
documents,
stakeholder
life elements.
Improve
governance
coordinated
efforts
through
that
ordinances
and
interviews,
and
through
the
data
link
Incorporate
project
techniques
that
appraisal
include
is
benefits.
Involve
citizens
in
necessary
to
fully
assess
and
decision-making.
Promote values and ethics that
the
the
need
interdependence
for
of
cooperation
and
community.
highlights
of
the
achievements
include:
Stakeholder
visioning
consultations
workshops
and
were
conducted.
15
initiatives
for
However,
some
requiring
following:
of
attention
section
the
of
small
riverfront
is
its
to
river
of
was
riverbanks
the
the
clean up campaigns.
portion
original
include
Although
River.
the
developed.
help
prevent
flooding.
remains undeveloped.
Naga
the
river.
been developed.
16
by
national
legislation
the
the
walk
would
resettlement
or
of
the
Strategic
There
require
their
through
the
facilitation of UPAO.
meeting
management plan.
the
objectives
of
the
the
would
and
the
require
settlement
negotiation
between
objectives
River
Management
Plan,
the
the
National Legislation
watershed
lands,
and
the
river.
and
Resources
common
responses
to
environmentally
enforced.
The
sustainable.
following
were
the
17
enforce
existing
environmental
the
enforcement
legislation,
capacities
in
the
City
remain
2000-06.
meet
long-term
environmental
assigned
goals,
like
comprehensive
to
ordinances.
enforcing
The
personnel
number
employed
enforcement
thought
of
to
(Bongalonta,
the
for
ordinances
be
2007
of
the
is
inadequate
and
the
Antonio,
2007).
of
investments
and
short
term
the
2004,
CENRO
identified
165
anti-littering
election
the
campaigning
citizens
in
the
period,
hopes
of
For
water
untreated
but
instance,
contributes
to
18
management
waterways
are
of
not
Philippine
adequately
Illegal dwellers
Like
most
rivers
in
the
the
are
are enforced.
majority
of
Nagueos
Park
move
forward
consideration
of
approximately
Barangay
2007).
without
cannot
360
Sabang,
illegal
in
the
dwellers
central
because
of
its
very
progressive
19
livelihoods full
the riverbanks.
In an interview with
this
transportation
planning.
knowledge
consideration when
into
landuse
and
decision-making
and
remains
the
river
for
generations
the
biggest
barrier
to
were
this
they
dwellers
have
new
settlement
are
area,
known
to
20
with
the
landowners.
This
is
the City.
The
land
not
length
that
titles
is
do
proposed
for
negotiate
with
landowners
where
levels
in
the
residential
and
(COD),
liquid wastes.
biological
oxygen
demand
21
the
the
sampling
stations.
These
cost
of
which
would
be
commercial,
and
agricultural
land
CENRO
and
the
Ladies
and
amount
water
Also, the
river
footbridges
the river.
of
polluted
outfall
for
tourism,
and
integrated
plans
for
with
Attention to Sustainable
Development Principles
has
made
His response
22
is
secondary.
that
in
citizens
river
felt
management
environmental
once
He
issues
peoples
basic
will
and
increase
needs
are
towards
environmental
there
are
three
of
sustainability,
their garbage.
DaDas comments
development.
that
river
less likely.
more
sustainable
the
tenets
environmental,
Without
an
come
of
needs
only
of
at
the
Nagueos
expense
Visioning Language
should
be
considered
in
terms
of
23
cleanliness
and
the
rivers
possible
engineering
incorporate
flooding
situations.
Naga
to
be
diverse
Rebetter
range
of
culture.
Typhoon Reming and Climate
Change Initiatives
The
disastrous
effects
of
For
instance,
the
tree
planting
along
in
the
groundwater
and
24
5. Recommendations
following:
Survey of property lines and land
walk.
dedicated
Determine
the
number
of
to
the
environmental
issues,
and
Determine
the
number
of
be made.
Management Plan
It
is
recommended
that
stated
Strategic
Management
approximated.
within
the
Plan
could
Included
in
be
this
25
be
approached,
treatment.
the
possibilities
especially
of
in
acquiring
funding.
2. Explore Many Funding
Considerations
development
Aristocrat Hotel.
possible
suggestions
for
is
recommended
planning
be
front
of
the
that
the
acquiring
in
that
incremental
Education on Sustainability
Principles
It
is
recognized
and
will
re-kindle
momentum
issues
funding
river
development
for
management
further
and
of
the
environment
are
26
be fostered.
Dwellers
Regulations
The
City
ordinances
and
legal
importance
not
of
considering
the
basis
for
adequately
following
are
regarding
the
regulations
management.
locating
future
areas
of
resettlement.
monitoring
and
enforced.
The
recommendations
enforcement
related
to
of
river
main
reason
given
by
Subdivision Development on
Watershed Lands
and
of
foothills
present
of
the
Mt.
development
Isarog.
It
is
number
of
personnel
is
27
struggling
with
enforcing
the
regulations.
instance,
according
to
Attorney
planted. This
campaigning
and
understanding
their
and
of
education
why
is unknown to
the
along
be
the
is
supported.
dedicated
cleanliness
d.
of
to
the
Foster
maintaining
river.
Knowledge
It
of
National Legislation
Managing the Naga River: Where to Go From Here
the
riverfront
and
in
the
vendors
be
deputized
to
documents
This
communicate
holistic
approach
important
to
river
approach
river
holistic manner.
to River Management
29
economic
well-being
for
all
30
Bibliography
Antonio, Ramon. 14 June 2007. Personal Interview. Barangay Dinaga Captain.
Naga River Patrol. Naga City, Philippines.
Arroyo, Attorney Miles. 12 June, 2007. Personal Interview. Urban
Development and Housing Board, Chairperson, Naga City, Philippines.
Atmosphere, Climate and Environment website. http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/
accessed 4 July 2007.
Barry, Erlinda V. 13 June 2007. Personal Interview. City Environment and
Natural Resources. Chief Socio-Cultural Division.
Bongalonta, Jesus P., 12 June, 2007. Personal Interview. City Environment and
Natural Resources Office, Senior Environmental Management Specialist. Naga
City, Philippines.
Campillos, Engr Rolly. 12 June 2007. Personal Interview. Urban Poor Affairs
Office (UPAO), Chief. Naga City Philippines.
City of Naga, Strategic Management Plan of the Naga City Watershed,
November 1997, Governance and Local Democracy Project, ARD Associates in
Rural Development,Inc.
De La Rosa, Dada. 15 June 2007. Telephone Interview. Naga City Peoples
Council (NCPC). Naga City Philippines.
Ladies in Green Website: http://ligfinc.tripod.com/what_is_LIG.htm accessed
on 19 June 2007.
Managing the Naga River: Where to Go From Here
31
32
Tables
Table 1. Persons Interviewed during Data Collection
Interviewee
Designation
Organization
Jesus P. Bongalonta
Senior Environmental
Specialist
Rolly Campillos
Chief
Oscar Orozco
Officer
Miles Arroyo
Chair
Melchor Estrella
Acting Senior
Llantero
Environmental
Specialist
Erlinda V. Bailey
Chief, Socio-cultural
Division
Badette Rocco
President
Attorney Angel R.
City of Naga
Ojastro III
Officer
Dada De La Rosa
Co-ordinator
Ramon Antonio
Barangay Captain
Dinaga
33