Pan-ay River Basin

Case study written by

Edwin Borja
Provincial Environment & Natural Resources Officer
Department of Environment & Natural R
Member, CapizDevelopment Council
And
Salim Biclar
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office
Capiz Provincial Capitol

INTRODUCTION
A. Geographical Location
Capiz is one of the six (6) provinces of Western Visayas located at the northeastern portion of
Panay Island; bounded on the north by the Sibuyan Sea; by the provinces of Iloilo on the south
and southeast; by Aklan on the west and northwest; and by Antique on the southwest. It has 16
municipalities and one City (Roxas City the provincial capital); 473 barangays (villages) the
countrys smallest political subdivision and 2 Congressional Districts(1st and 2nd districts).The
total land area is 263,317hectares. It is 13% of Western Visayas Region and 0.9% of the
countrys total land area. The alienable and disposable land is 169,547 hectares (64.39%).
93,770 hectares (35.61%)is classified as public timberland.The total population is 701,664 as of
2007 census of population (male-352,867 andfemale- 348,797). The population density is
266/sq. km. The 2011 projected population is 729,287 at an average annual growth rate of
0.97%.Roxas City airport is 45 minutes flight from Manila and served by Philippine Airlines and
Cebu Pacific.
Culasi Port in Roxas City is served by various shipping companies. Pump boats provide ferry
services to and from Masbate Island through the Banica wharf. The fish ports are located at
Libas and Banica (Roxas City), Pawa (Panay) and Basiao (Ivisan). Roxas City has taxis, multicabs, tricycles and motorcycles. For inter-municipalities/provinces there are buses, jeepneys and
L-300 vans. To remote areas are motorcycles and jeepneys (hired or scheduled trip).
B. Tourist Attractions
1. Birthplace of Pres. Manuel A. Roxas at
Cor. Rizal-Zamora Streets, Roxas City

2. Baybay Beach, Roxas City

3. Ruins of Moro Watch tower, Roxas City
4. Quipot Cave, Burias, Mambusao
5. Suhot Cave, Consolacion, Dumalag
6. Pilar Cave, Natividad, Pilar
7.Giant statue of Virgin Maryatop a hill at
Agtalin, Dulangan, Pilar town
8. St. Martin of Tours Church, Dumalag
9. Sta. Monica Church, Panay
where the biggest bell in Southeast Asia is
found; Cast from 70 sacks of coins
Height :
7 feet
Diameter :
5 feet
Weight
:
10.4 tons

I. Capiz Topography
Found in the central part of the province and stretching from north to south bordering the
Iloilo province areflat lands and rolling hills. The stretch in the west along Capiz-Antique-Aklan
borders and in the Southeastern border with Iloilo are mountain peaks and ranges.
The prominent peaks at the western border are:Mt. Baloy, Mt. Magsalom, Mt. Toctocan, Mt.
Tinayuga, Mt. Nangtud, Mt. Mansang, and Nacuron Mountain Range. At the Southeastern
portionthe prominent peaks are:Mt. Paningraon, Mt. Tag-ao, Mt. Agsubay, Mt. Karatagan, Mt.
Yating, and Mt. Opao. These mountains serve as the reservoir of rivers and creeks which
provide water for domestic irrigation and commercial use.
The province of Capiz is located in the island of Panay in the heart of the Philippine
archipelago. Bounded in the north by Sibuyan Sea, in the northwest by the province of Aklan, on
the west by the province of Antique, and on the south & southeast by the province of Iloilo.
Roxas City, the provincial capital of Capiz is 115 kms. away from Iloilo City , 78 kms.
to Kalibo, Aklan and 155 kms. toBoracay, Island.
The province Capiz has a total land area of 263,317 hectares divided into two political
districts The First District composed six municipalities and one city the provinces capital and
Second District composed of ten municipalities having a total of 473 barangays.
Capiz has a population of 701,664 (as of August 1, 2007) with an annual Population
Growth Rate of 1.07%, Population Density of 266 person/sq.km. and Average Life Expectancy
of 59.92 years for male and 65.58 years for female.
On socio-economic and cultural profile, Capiz has 51 % labor force comprising ages
from 15 years and above with an employment rate of 93% based on the data from National
Statistics Office. Most of its population speaks Hiligaynon/Capiznon. Ethnic groups identified

are the Ati and Panayanon/Bukidnon. Famous festival is the SinadyasaHalaran celebrated in the
first week of December each year.
The province has varied topography consisting of rolling lands and hills to mountain
peaks and ranges. Flat and rolling hills lies in the central part of the province and stretches from
the northern portion towards the south bordering Iloilo province which are devoted to
agricultural production.
Mountain peaks and range stretches in the west along Capiz-Antique-Aklan border. Prominent
peaks are Mt. Baloy, Mt. Magsalom, Mt. Toctocan, Mt. Tinayuga, Mt. Nangtud and Mt.
Mansang and Nacuron Mountain range. In the south towards the eastern portion of Capiz
bordering the province of Iloilo found the mountains of Mt. Paningraon in the municipality of
Dumalag; Mt. Tag-ao, Mt. Agsubay, and Mt. Karatagan, in the municipality of Dumarao and
Mt. Yating and Mt. Opao in the municipality ofPilar. These mountains serve as the reservoir of
rivers and creeks which provides water for domestic, irrigation and commercial use of the
province.

PuntaCogon
Capiz
Bay
Province of Aklan

TinagongD
agat Bay

Mambusao River

Maayon River
Panay River
Badbaran River
Province of Iloilo
Province of Iloilo

Panay River which emanates from upland areas of Tapaz stretches an approximate length of
393.94 kilometers following its curvature, drain the province of Capiz towards the north to
TinagongDagat Bay in Pontevedra and Capiz Bay in Roxas City. Its major tributaries are
Mambusao River in the west with a length of 70.51kms.,Maayon River in the east with a length
of 54.83 kms. andBadbaran River in the south east with a length of 72.13 kms.
The province coastline stretches to an approximate length of 136 kms. fromSapian in the
west to Pilar in the east passing the coastal municipalities of Ivisan, Roxas City, Panay,
Pontevedra, Pres. Roxas and Pilar.

Guiding Principles for Environmental Protection

Legal basis:


Presidential Decree No. 705, otherwise known as Forestry Reform Code of the
Philippines

Executive Order No. 318, otherwise known as Promoting Sustainable Forest

Management in the Philippines

Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991

DENR Administrative Order No. 99-01 entitled Adoption of Watershed and Ecosystems
Planning Framework

DENR Administrative Order No. 2005-23 entitled Adoption and Implementation of

Collaborative Approach to Watershed Management

DENR MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2008-05, SERIES OF 2008 mandates the

preparation of the Integrated Watershed Management Plan for all watersheds through the
conduct of watershed characterization and planning with the collaboration between and
among LGU, various agencies and stakeholders.

Environmental Management
Some municipalities in the province has started preparing their Forest Land Use Plan to
be incorporated in the updating of their Municipal Land Use Plan. The provincial government
and some municipalities have already prepared their Environment Code.
Participation from other government agencies and other sectors pave the way for the
conservation of environment and natural resources. DENR, DA and DAR establish convergence
area in Dumarao as a start off point for agro-forestry development.
To protect the existing sources of water for potable and irrigation purposes,
Memorandum of Agreements were instituted: These were the:

1. Memorandum Of Agreement for the Co-Management of 876.70 hectares of

DumaraoWatershed signed between LGU of Dumarao, DENR and Dumarao Water
District.
2. Memorandum Of Agreement for the Co-Management of 183.16 hectares of San Julian,
Tapaz Watershed signed between LGU of Tapaz, Capiz State University and DENR.
3. Memorandum Of Agreement for the Co-Management of 50 hectares of Ivisan Watershed
area signed between LGU of Ivisan and DENR

Action towards Environmental Conservation and Rehabilitation

Implementation of Reforestation Projects by DENR resulted to the establishment of 537
hectares for the First District of Capiz and 3,349 hectares for the Second District of Capiz from
1989-2010 plus the contribution of private land tree farmers which improves the vegetative cover
of the province from 7% in 1990 to 11% in 2008.
Also with the support of 2,688 upland farmers/kaingineros beneficiaries of Integrated
Social Forestry Program, has improved and make productive the 8,051.59 hectares and
minimized denudation of upland areas. Of these, 1,927.95 hectares were transformed into a
Community-based Forest Management Area.

The Panay River Watershed

Panay River watershed embraces almost the entire province of Capiz and portion of
Northern Iloilo covering an estimated area of 219,772.48 hectares.

Mambusao River Watershed

MaayonRiver Watershed

Panay River Watershed

BadbaranRiver Watershed

Panay River watershed is made up of a river system comprising the Main Panay River, and its
tributaries: the Mambusao River in the west, Maayon River in the east and Badbaran River in the
southeast.
Physical Attributes
The
Panay
River
Watershed
comprise a topography ranging from flat to
rolling lands and hills to mountain peaks and
ranges.
Flat and rolling hills is observe in the
central part of the province and stretches
from north to south bordering Iloilo province
while mountain range stretches in the west along Capiz
Capiz-Antique-Aklan
Aklan border where the
headwaters of Mambusao River and main Pa
Panay
nay River emanates. Prominent peaks are: Mt.
Agpalali, Mt. Pula, Mt. Binilanga, Mt. Igabon, Mt. Angas, Mt. Taganghin, and Nacuron
Mountain Range.
Mountains found in the south to the eastern portion of Capiz bordering the province of
Iloilo are Mt. Paningraon
raon in the municipality of Dumalag, Capiz; Mt. Tag-ao,
Tag
Mt. Guiscan, Mt.
Agsubay, and Mt. Karatagan, in the municipality of Dumarao, Capiz, Mt. Yating in the
municipality of Pilar, Capiz, Mt. Musugbu in the municipality of Lemery, Iloilo, and Mt. Agudo
in San Dionisio, Iloilo. These areas are being drained by Badbaran and MaayonRivers .
Nacuron Mountain range located in the of Municipality Jamindan as reflected in the
topographic map prepared by National Mapping and Resource Information Administration
(NAMRIA)
AMRIA) posted the highest elevation of 1,088 meters above sea level. The lowest elevation of
the province is posted at 0.25
meter above sea level. Average
elevation is posted at 866
meters above sea level.
Upland areas of the
Panay
River
Watershed
embraces 70,568.91 hectares or
about 26.80 percent of the total
provincial land area. These are
found in the western and
southern portion of the province
which
constitutes
the
forestlands. These areas are

Proclaimed Military
Reservation

sparsely covered by patches of residual trees, shrubs, brushes, and grasses such as talahib and
cogon which are the dominant species growing in the area. Wide span of forest lands in the
municipality of Tapaz and Jamindan was proclaimed on December 21, 1962 as Military
Reservation under Presidential Proclamation No. 67 covering 33,310 hectares but not all of
these have been utilized for the purpose. Large portion has been laid idle which can be developed
into reforestation sites. Part of the timberland area in Tapaz outside military reservation covering
an area 4,350 hectares was proclaimed on June 28, 1990 as Panay River Watershed Forest
Reserve under Presidential Proclamation No. 599. The intention of which is to rehabilitate,
reforest, develop and protect the existing vegetation. Likewise it aims to respond to the existing
problem of perennial flooding affecting the low lying areas of the province and to minimize soil
erosion and rapid siltation of Panay River bed and TinagongDagat Bay Area in the municipality
of Pontevedra, and other areas within the Panay River Basin.
Stakeholders
Panay River Watershed affects fourteen municipalities in the province of Capiz and eight
municipalities in the province of Iloilo. Data from National Census and Statistics Office shows
that province of Capiz has a population of 701,664 (as of August 1, 2007) with an Annual
Population Growth Rate of 1.07% having an average life expectancy of 59.92 years for male and
65.58 years for female. Records of NCSO also shows that 51% of the provinces population (15
years and above) comprise the labor force and a Population Density of 266 person/sq.km.
Ethnic/indigenous people groups identified are the Ati and Panayanon/Bukidnon, most of
whom occupies upland areas. Their presence plays vital role in the protection and conservation
of the uplands plus the participation and cooperation of upland farmers in implementing
environment friendly farming activities will bring justice to the degradation of forest cover.
Natural Assets of Watersheds
Forests:
Water
Timber and non-timber products
Food
Fiber
Minerals
Medicine and many intangible goods such as:
Aesthetics & wholesome environment with solar radiation, precipitation, land, labor, and
capital as major inputs.

BENEFITS from WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Economic
Water supply
Forestry
Agriculture
Livestock

Fishery
Mining

Social Services
Tourism
Recreation
Historical
Cultural
Health
Social Services

Environmental Services
Biodiversity
Soil Conservation
Water Conservation
Carbon Sequestration
Oxygen Generation
Micro-climate Amelioration
Protection of Natural Assets
Strong support and collaborative efforts from different sectors of society is needed to
protect and sustain these natural assets. Strengthening of existing upland organizations
comprising the devolved Integrated Social Forestry Projects supervise by Local Government
Units and Community-Based Forest Management program supervised by DENR will minimize
the degradation of upland environment.

Issues and threats to Natural Assets

Forest
-

Continued
indiscriminate
upland
farming
scheme.
(Slash
and
burn/Kaingin System)
Resistance of upland farmers to forest
rehabilitation program for fear of losing
farmland.
Rapid population growth and influx of
migrant in the upland
Lukewarm
support
from
local

government units

Agricultural Land
- Use of non-environment friendly agricultural chemicals resulting to land and water
pollution
- Malpractice in agricultural activities leading to massive soil erosion
Built-up Areas
- Improper zonification of settlement
- Establishment of settlement in environmentally critical areas
Coastal and Marine Areas
- construction of illegal structures within waterways will lead
riverbeds, lakes and bays and inundation of estuaries
- massive conversion of mangroves to fishpond

to rapid siltation of

Economic Implication

Unabated loss of forest cover and unprotected watershed will result to loss of wildlife, reduced
water supply, massive soil erosion, occurrence of drought, flooding, global warming and climate
change.
Occurrence of drought results to low agricultural productions which also affect food security.
Occurrence of constant flooding does not only affect agriculture but cause damage to
infrastructures, loss of lives and property.
Siltation in the bay affects the fishing and seafood industry of the province.
All of these can be avoided when all the stakeholders will unite and draw proper and effective
watershed management towards a wholesome environment.

The Stakeholders of the Watershed are: the sixteen (16) municipalities and one (1) city in the
Province of Capiz; eight (8) municipalities in the Province of Iloilo; ethnic/Indigenous People
(Ati, Panayanon/Bukidnon) and the farmers.

Issues and Threats to the Ecosystems

A Watershed Management Workshop meeting was conducted last June 22, 2011 to deliberate
issues and threats as well as recommendations for the Watershed areas namely; Dumarao,
Jamindan, Maayon, Mambusao, Pilar, Pontevedra, Pres. Roxas, Roxas City and Tapaz. The
Provincial Technical Working Group of the Capiz Sustainable Development Council also
attended the workshop.

Ecosystem
1. Forest Land

2. Agricultural Areas

3. Settlement Areas

Issues

Threats

Squatters/Informal settlers
Disrespect to Nature
Kaingin
illegal cutting of trees
Landslides
Ineffective implementation
Soil erosion
of laws / programs
Limited
support
from the Poverty
Unrest
Government
Wild fires
Indiscriminate upland farming
Resistance to forest rehabilitation
Pollution
Rapid population growth
Poverty
Influx of migrants / informal
Conversion of agricultural
settlers
areas to other uses
Perennial flooding
Indiscriminate use of toxic
Water quality
agricultural chemicals
Low production
Wrong farming methods
Inadequate irrigation system
Poor waste management
Flooding
Peace and order
Squatting
Fish kill
Poverty
Settlement
Congestion/inaccessibility
Flood
Improper implementation of
Zoning Ordinance
Inadequate basic social
services
Settlement areas found in
environmentally critical sites
Limited government

4.
Coastal,
Marine
and Riverine

along waterways obstruction

and encroachment
Conversion of mangroves to
fishponds
Illegal fishing activities
Ineffective implementation of laws
Improper fishing practices
Siltation
Pollution

Siltation
Inundation
of
estuaries
Pollution
Flood
Poverty
Water contamination
Improper use of
chemicals

4. Benefits from the Natural Assets of the Watershed

Economic

Social

Environmental

Water supply
Forestry
Agriculture
Livestock
Fishery
Mining

Tourism
Recreation
Historical
Cultural
Health

Biodiversity
Soil Conservation
Water Conservation
Carbon Sequestration
Oxygen Generation

5. Natural Assets of the Watershed include forest, water, timber and non-timber products,
food, fiber, minerals, medicines, intangible goods, aesthetics, wholesome environment, solar
energy, and precipitation.

V. Way Forward
1. On the protection of the natural resources is the strong support and collaborative efforts
from the different sectors of the society and the presence of upland organizations: Integrated
Social Forestry (ISF) / Community Based Forestry Management (CBFM) Project.
2. Recommendations for Action
* Create the Provincial Environment and Management Office; execute the laws on
environmentalmanagement and protection; implement the programs and projects on
environment; monitor and evaluate the impact of such programs and projects.
* Conduct research on environment
* Organize Community watershed groups and provide funds thereof
* Solicit support from other agencies / sectors
* Strengthen existing organizations
* Seek support of LCEs and legislators
* Develop Panay River Flood Control Project