Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volume 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Integrated Bicol River Basin
Management and Development
Master Plan
July 2015
With Technical Assistance from:
Orient Integrated Development Consultants, Inc.
Formulation of an Integrated Bicol River Basin Management and Development Master plan
Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
2.0 KEY FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BICOL RIVER BASIN ........................... 1
3.0 ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING SITUATION ........................................................................ 3
4.0 DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES ................................................... 9
5.0 VISION, GOAL, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES ........................................................... 10
6.0 INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................... 17
7.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS ................................................................................................. 20
8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED PROJECTS ....................................... 20
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Bicol River Basin (BRB) has a total land area of 317,103 hectares and covers the provinces
of Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. The basin plays a significant role in the
development of the region because of the abundant resources within it and the ecological
services it provides to support the livelihood of communities. About 77% of the basin area or
243,800 hectares are cultivated agricultural lands. Its rivers and lakes provide irrigation water
to these agricultural lands, apart from being used for fishing. The forests and forestlands,
including protected areas, contain rich biodiversity resources and non‐timber products,
which are used as raw materials for handicrafts. These forestlands are the head waters of the
major rivers and tributaries of the BRB, which are sources of water for irrigation, domestic
use and power generation.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) identified the BRB as one of
the 18 priority river basins in the country for which comprehensive management and
development master plans are to be formulated following the integrated watershed
resources management (IWRM) approach. This planning framework ensures that the
situation in the basin is viewed in a holistic manner and that the interconnections between
upstream and downstream activities are taken into account. IWRM provides the context for
harmonizing individual and collective resource management actions of various stakeholders
and for improving the overall governance system for the river basin.
2.0 KEY FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BICOL RIVER BASIN
The Bicol River Basin (BRB) is drained by two major rivers. These are the Bicol River and the
Libmanan River, which meet near Aslong, Libmanan before they finally empty into the San
Miguel Bay. Based on the topographically delineated watershed divide, 43 local government
units (LGUs) are situated wholly or partially within the Bicol River Basin.
For management purposes, the entire Sub‐Basins within the Bicol River Basin
BRB was divided by the Department of Area
Sub‐Basin % Share
Environment and Natural Resources (hectares)
(DENR) into eight sub‐basins. Libmanan‐Pulantuna 74,416 23%
Naga‐Yabo 8,840 3%
Close to 81% of the areas within the BRB Naporog 10,812 3%
Pawili 39,441 12%
are relatively flat; only 3,297 hectares of
Quinali 59,550 19%
the BRB are situated in elevations above Ragay Hills 52,393 17%
1,000 meters above sea level. The highest Thiris 27,687 9%
altitude is the peak of Mt. Mayon, which Waras‐Lalo 43,964 14%
is about 2,500 meters above sea level. TOTAL 317,103 100%
The Bicol River Basin falls under three climate types: (a) no dry season with very pronounced
rainfall from November to January (for the upper portion of the BRB); (b) rainfall more or less
evenly distributed throughout the year (for the central strip); and (c) season not very
pronounced dry from November to April and wet during the rest of the year (for the lower
portion). The river basin also lies within the main typhoon belt of the Philippines and as
such, experiences frequent tropical storms and typhoons.
Geomorphologic Map of the Bicol River Basin
Source: Nippon Koei Inc., 2003
The BRB’s geomorphology is controlled by the distribution of the major geologic formations,
which allows it to be naturally divided into the Volcanic Terrain, the Bicol Plain and the
Sedimentary Terrain. The eastern rim is bounded by a line of volcanoes of which one, the
Mayon Volcano is active.
Geological and Meteorological Hazards
The hazards that can potentially affect the Bicol River Basin fall under the following
categories: hydrologic, volcanic, earthquake‐induced, coastal‐related, mass movement, and
typhoons.
Flooding is the most pervasive hydrologic hazard that threatens the entire Bicol Plain. This
hazard is attributed to the combined effect of the regular passage of typhoons, high runoff in
the surrounding Volcanic and Sedimentary Terrains and the natural low elevation of the Bicol
Plain. The projected flooded area in the BRB for a one‐in‐five‐year return period is estimated
to cover 42,124 hectares. This is expected to increase to 50,402 hectares or 16% of the BRB
area in a one‐in‐25‐year return period of flooding, affecting significant areas of settlements
and agricultural lands, particularly irrigated rice lands.
The volcanic hazards include ash fall, pyroclastic and lava flows, earthquakes and lahar or
mud flows. These hazards are generally limited around the vicinity of the active Mayon
Volcano. Earthquake‐induced hazards include ground rupture, ground shaking, tsunamis and
liquefaction. Coastal hazards comprise of tsunamis, storm surges and erosion. The areas
susceptible to mass movements or landslides correspond to the upper slopes of the volcanic
centers and the edges of the sedimentary terrain; about 51,750 hectares (16% of BRB area)
are susceptible to landslide within the BRB. An average of 20 tropical cyclones also pass
through the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) every year. BRB has a 21‐30% typhoon
occurrence.
3.0 ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING SITUATION
Ecosystems, Resources and Uses
The existing ecosystems and resources in the BRB as identified from ridge to reef comprise of
the following: (1) land resources consisting of forests and forestlands, protected areas (PA),
cultivated agricultural lands and settlements and built‐ up areas; (2) surface and ground
water resources including rivers and lakes; and (3) mangroves, marshlands, wetlands and
coastal resources.
Land Resources
About 83% (262,246 hectares) of the total land area of BRB are classified as alienable and
disposable (A and D) while 12% or 38,232 hectares are forestlands and 4% (12,120 hectares)
are protected areas. The A and D lands are generally titled, privately‐owned and used for
agriculture, settlements and for other commercial and industrial purposes. Most of the
cultivated agricultural lands are located in Libmanan‐ Pulantuna, Quinali and Ragay Hills sub‐
basins. Key economic crops where the basin has comparative advantage in terms of agro‐
ecological conditions include rice, coconut, coffee, cacao, pili nut, and citrus. In addition,
there are a number of valuable non‐timber forest products, notably abaca, with the Bicol
Region being one of the main sources for this fiber.
The forestlands and protected areas, which cover the higher slopes of Mt. Labo, Mt. Isarog,
Mt. Malinao, Mt. Masaraga, Mt. Iriga, Mt. Mayon, Ragay Hills and Bicol National Park contain
the remaining 10,175 hectares of closed forests and the 18,310 hectares of open forests in
the river basin, including their associated biodiversity resources. The vegetation types
generally consist of grasslands, lowland dipterocarp forests, and montane forests with small
patches of mossy forests in higher elevations.
A comparison of the 2003 and 2010 land cover map of the BRB indicates that closed canopy
forests has increased by 83% from 5,576 hectares to 10,175 hectares. However, in the same
period, about 5,636 hectares of open canopy forests were also lost, indicating that some of
the open forests in 2003 have developed into closed canopy forests with about 1,037
hectares lost to other lower quality vegetation.
Land Cover within the Bicol River Basin, 2010
About 35% of the forestlands covering
13,527 hectares are already CADT and Land Cover (2010) Grand Total % of BRB
Annual Crop 123,860 39%
tenured lands. CADT lands are 6,491
Built‐up 8,721 3%
hectares while 7,036 hectares are Closed Forest 10,178 3%
community‐based forest management Fishpond 149 0.05%
agreements. At least four protected areas Grassland 6,881 2%
are located in the BRB: Bicol National Park, Inland Water 7,282 2%
Mangrove Forest 2,106 1%
Mt. Isarog Natural Park, Mayon Volcano Marshland/Swamp 378 0.1%
Natural Park, and Libmanan Caves Natural Open Forest 18,304 6%
Park. These protected areas hold Open/Barren 689 0%
hundreds of terrestrial species of wildlife Perennial Crop 119,939 38%
Shrubs 16,471 5%
and serve as sanctuary to endangered
Wooded grassland 1,846 1%
species. Outliers 299 0.1%
Total 317,103 100%
Source: 2010 Land Cover Map, NAMRIA
Surface and Groundwater Resources
The Bicol River Basin is drained by a network of rivers and lakes that occupy an estimated
area of 7,309 hectares. The lake ecosystem is an important resource of the river basin. The
three major lakes within the BRB are Lake Buhi, Lake Bato and Lake Baao. Lake Bato is the
seventh largest lake in the country. The Sinarapan is found in this lake as well as other
economically important fish species like tilapia, carp, freshwater shrimp, catfish, and climbing
perch.
The highest annual rainfall observed within the BRB is in San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Sur with
mean annual rainfall of 6,610 mm for the period 2000‐2012. Annual rainfall for Legazpi City
(southeast of the basin) and Daet, Camarines Norte (north of the basin) are 3,822 and 3,957 mm,
respectively, for the same period. The average rainfall scenario represents most of the flat
central areas (Lower and Middle BRB); the mean annual rainfall in these areas is 2,503 mm.
There is ground water recharge of up to 4.3% of rainfall in areas where there is average to
high rainfall or when the average rainfall is at least 2,500 mm per year. In areas with low
rainfall, ground water discharge is experienced on an average of 5.3% of rainfall/year. The
water balance computations also indicate that about 50% of the annual rainfall becomes
surface runoff. Runoff drops significantly in low rainfall areas as the soil moisture storage is
rarely saturated. Combining the surface runoff and ground water recharge, the estimated
available water in the BRB is about 9.22 million cubic meters (MCM) per day. The recharge
areas are concentrated in the upper section of the Libmanan‐Pulantuna sub‐basin in the
vicinity of Mt. Labo and the Bicol National Park. Under a climate change scenario, the
available water in the BRB will slightly increase to 11.31 MCM per day. With a projected
water demand of 11.387 MCM per day in 2030, there will be a water deficit of about 0.068
MCM per day in 2030.
Summary of Annual Water Balance in the Bicol River Basin
Mean Mean Surface Actual Evapo‐ Ground Water
Rainfall Model Units
Precipitation Run Off transpiration Recharge
High mm 3,957 2,409 1,378 169
% of P 61% 35% 4.30%
Average mm 2,511 1,217 1,293 1
% of P 48% 51% 1%
Moderate mm 3,175 1,712 1,387 76
% of P 54% 44% 2.40%
Low mm 1,921 778 1,245 ‐102
% of P 40% 65% ‐5.30%
Water demand in the Bicol River Basin is generally categorized according to its major uses: (a)
municipal for domestic, commercial and industrial uses, and (b) agricultural for irrigation,
fishery, poultry and livestock uses. Irrigation uses will dominate the water requirements in
the BRB by 2030, amounting to 94% of the total water demand. The domestic water
requirements will only comprise 2.2% of the total. The projections are based on a 2002 study
under the World Bank financed by the River Basin and Watershed Management Program,
with further adjustments to current data and water requirements.
According to the water quality study commissioned by the DENR Environmental
Management Bureau in 2010, the common sources of pollution in the water are rural runoff,
urban runoff, domestic sources, market sources, and industrial and commercial sources. The
Libmanan, Pulantuna and Bicol rivers are classified as Class A waters. The Naga River is
designated as a Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) and classified as Class C. The
Pawili and Quinale rivers are also Class C; the Waras River is unclassified. Lake Buhi is also
designated as a WQMA and classified as Class B. The Libmanan River has the lowest
estimated pollution load at 967.5 MT BOD/year. The Naga and Quinali Rivers have the
highest pollution load at 7,696.8 MT BOD/yr and 10,116 MT BOD/yr, respectively.
It is recommended that monitoring of groundwater for fertilizer and pesticide contaminants
be put in place to better assess the quality of water supply, the large section of the BRB that
is devoted to rice farming being the potential source of these contaminants.
Coastal Resources
The coastal resources of the Bicol River Basin are located in San Miguel Bay (SMB) where the
Bicol River and the Libmanan River drain. The study by Sumalde and Pedroso in 2001 cited
that San Miguel Bay has three significant coastal habitats: coral reefs, mangroves and soft‐
bottom communities.
Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities in the BRB. The main farm product is
rice followed by corn, coconuts, abaca, and root crops. Parts of the BRB are sources of the
pineapple “Formosa” (also called the Queen Pineapple), which the Bicol Region is known for.
The town of Mercedes in Camarines Norte is a major fishing center that exports fish, crabs
and shrimp to Manila. Livestock production is primarily on small‐scale basis and mostly
backyard farming. However, Baao in Camarines Sur is noted for egg production, being the
biggest source of eggs in the region. Naga City is the region’s center of commercialization
and industrialization. Parts of the Bicol River Basin also serve as good sources of non‐metallic
minerals such as diatomaceous earth (white clay), sand, gravel and boulders.
Majority of the municipalities in the BRB get water supply services from LGU‐run water
systems. Only 13 municipalities have water districts; on the average, they serve about 20% to
40% of households in their respective service areas.
Various irrigation infrastructure had been constructed in the BRB, mostly serving rice farms.
These consist of either the pump or gravity irrigation systems managed by the national
government, the Irrigators’ Associations or by private individuals. The total service area of
these irrigation structures is about 40,527 hectares. The other existing river and related
structures are: a) road bridges; b) irrigation system diversion weirs and barrages; c) flood
diversion spillways; d) flood embankment dikes; e) riverbanks revetment work; f) seawalls
and g) drainage outlet structures in the tidal zone.
The competitive goods and services common to the sub‐basins are rice, and coconut in the
cultivated lands, water for irrigation and domestic use in forestlands and protected areas
including biodiversity resources and existing forests, which can be enrolled under the REDD+
program (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation). Aside from this,
the Quinali, Naga‐Yabo, Pawili, Waras‐Lalo, and Quinali sub‐basins have comparative
advantages in terms of recreation and tourism because of the presence Mt. Isarog, Mt.
Masaraga, Mt. Mayon and Lakes Buhi and Bato.
Vulnerabilities to Hazards
The ecosystems within the BRB and their associated biodiversity resources will be impacted
by climate changes. Areas in higher elevations, particularly in the upper slopes of Mt.
Mayon, Mt. Isarog and Mt. Labo, will be most vulnerable to temperature change. Data
indicates that the sea‐level rise, combined with more frequent and severe storms and
flooding affects low‐lying communities during storm surges. Based on the current projection
for sea level rise at one meter, around 6,978 hectares of land, including farmlands, will be
inundated, located along the southern rim of San Miguel Bay covering the Bonbon, Cabusao,
Calabanga, Libmanan, Magarao, Sipocot and Tinambac.
The BRB is also considered as high‐risk to rainfall pattern changes. Although generally, the
area has no pronounced wet and dry season, changes in rainfall pattern will have an impact
on water supply. The projections made for the region indicate that rainfall will decrease
during the dry season by 11% to 18% for 2020 and rising through 40% by 2050. This will
cause intense competition to water resources. Aside from the deficit in the estimated supply
from precipitation, salt water intrusion due to rising sea levels will contaminate water supply.
Higher concentration of salts in irrigation waters will affect soil fertility.
Locations of Irrigation Dams and Flood Control Structures in the Bicol River Basin
Stakeholders
The identified stakeholders in the BRB are Farmers’ Groups and Irrigators’ Associations;
Fisher folk (lake, river, estuary and coastal/marine fishers); Agta IP;, Water Districts and
Waterworks groups; PA Supervisors, PA Management Boards (PAMB) and associated POs and
NGOs; CBFM/CSC/ISF holders; BRB LGUs; private enterprises; and NGAs operating in the BRB.
Current Institutional Arrangements
From 2010 to present, the BRB Watershed Management Plan remains the basis of
development and management initiatives in the BRB for most DENR and LGU‐driven projects,
promoting and implementing the IWRM/Integrated Ecosystems Management (IEM)
approach. The BRB Management Committee (BRB MC) was established as a permanent
special committee of the Regional Development Council in 2012. A July 2012 DENR Region 5
Special Order created the BRB Program Coordinating Office (PCO) to provide the technical
and administrative support to the BRB MC and its Technical Working Group (TWG). But the
BRB PCO may need a more interdisciplinary staff complement, particularly if the IEM
approach will be determinedly pursued in the BRB.
Locally‐based resource management structures have also been established in the BRB in
compliance with policies providing for localized, site specific management of water and other
natural resources and as part of efforts to address local water‐related issues and concerns.
The Libmanan‐Pulantuna Watershed Management Council (LPWMC) was established in April
2008. The LPWMC was replicated in the Quinali sub‐basin, which is also a pilot site for
National Convergence Initiative. It is also pilot site of USAID’s Biodiversity and Watersheds
Improved for Stronger Economy and Ecosystem Resilience (B+WISER) Program and the Bicol
Agri Water Project (BAWP). It is still early to tell which of the two management models is
more responsive and effective in addressing the issues and concerns in the sub‐basins.
Area‐ and program‐based management bodies also exist that have management jurisdiction
over specific portions of the BRB. These are the PAMBs, WQMA Governing Boards, Fisheries
and Aquatic Resource Management Councils (FARMC), Multi‐Sectoral Barangay ENR
Management Committees in the Libmanan‐Pulantuna watershed, and the Metro Naga
Development Council.
4.0 DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
The various resources within the Bicol River Basin have great potential for sustaining and
enhancing the economic development of the LGUs found within. Enhanced development of
its vast agricultural areas can support livelihood of a large segment of the population who are
traditionally dependent on farming as their primary source of income. The lakes and rivers, if
properly managed, can continue to provide additional livelihood opportunities to
communities living near these resources through fishing. These lakes and rivers can continue
to supply the irrigation water requirements of most of the rice production areas in the basin.
Unfortunately, because of environmental and institutional constraints/limitations,
opportunities within the basin are not effectively harnessed. The typhoons that pass the
region annually damage developed agricultural lands, infrastructure and properties. Apart
from climate‐related constraints, development within the BRB is constrained by other issues,
such as the following:
a) Forest cover continues to decline;
b) The production capacity of agricultural lands, particularly the irrigated rice lands, is
still constrained by deteriorated irrigation systems;
c) Declining fish catch in the lakes and rivers;
d) Saline water intrusion into the Bicol River; and
e) From the institutional perspective, insufficient funding, inadequate logistical support
and trained manpower, and the fragmented interventions within the basin have
constrained efficient management of BRB.
Taken together, the situation has resulted in continuing poverty in rural areas, contributing
further to the degradation of the Bicol River Basin as local communities adopt more resource
extractive practices.
5.0 VISION, GOAL, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES
Vision
Based on previous studies, the assessment of the biophysical conditions, the stakeholders
and institutions working within the BRB, the agreed vision statement is as follow:
A sustainably managed Bicol River Basin with high ecosystem biodiversity,
providing stable, dependable, and sustained high quality water supply for
agricultural, domestic and industrial use and contributing to the socio‐
economic development of local communities.
Goal
Reduce poverty in local communities such that those within the Bicol River Basin are able to
sustain their livelihoods without resorting to environmentally destructive practices and
empower them to become co‐custodians of the river basin.
Purpose
Sustain the increase in income of farmers and fishers.
Outputs
1) Sustain and enhance agricultural productivity.
2) Increase income from diversified NTFP‐based livelihood opportunities as a result of
the recovery of forest biodiversity.
3) Increase fish catch as a result of rehabilitated marine ecosystems and improved
water quality.
4) Secure the lives, shelter and sources of livelihood through relocation to safe
communities.
The objectives within 10‐15 years to achieve the vision and goal of the BRB Master plan are
the following:
1)Increase productivity of major crops and commodities.
2)Increase of and protection of remaining forest cover.
3)Improved water quality of major rivers and lakes in the BRB.
4)Rehabilitated mangrove areas.
5)Reduced losses due to natural disasters and hazards.
Furthermore, the following immediate objectives of the BRB Master plan are aimed to be
realized:
1) Minimize incidences of flooding through improved storage capacity of rivers and
lakes by constructing 12 flood control structures, by 2030, in strategic locations
within the BRB;
2) Provide sufficient irrigation facilities through rehabilitation and upgrading of existing
facilities or construction of new systems for an additional 31,000 hectares of irrigable
land within the BRB;
3) Rehabilitate at least 18,000 hectares of degraded forestlands and develop at least
100,000 hectares in A and D lands through multi‐storey agroforestry plantations;
4) Improved waste disposal by developing sanitary landfill facilities in seven cluster LGUs,
establishing wastewater facilities in government offices and in 28 markets/abattoir or
priority LGUs, and developing septage treatment facilities in 14 priority LGUs;
5) Resettle at least 6,000 families in high disaster risk areas, particularly those informally
settled in river easements;
6) Comprehensively identify vulnerabilities and corresponding adaptation actions for
communities within the BRB by completing detailed vulnerability assessments and
adaptation plans for 43 LGUs within the BRB by 2017.
Key Strategies
The general approach adopted in this master plan is to properly align land uses from ridge to
reef so that activities undertaken in one ecosystem do not adversely affect the other
ecosystems. Thus, zoning of the entire BRB was undertaken for this purpose as indicated in
the table below:
Management Zones in the BRB
Boundary Hazard Production Protection Settlement Grand
Sub‐basins
Outliers Zones Zones Zones Zones Total
Libmanan‐Pulantuna 122 6,388 40,609 23,457 3,841 74,416
Naga‐Yabo 973 6,289 730 847 8,840
Naporog 25 10,426 315 45 10,812
Pawili River 3,037 27,367 8,351 686 39,441
Quinali 16,883 34,465 1,144 7,059 59,550
Ragay Hills 11,084 32,568 8,193 548 52,393
Thiris 13,068 11,508 2,990 121 27,687
Waras‐Lalo 8,043 25,839 2,830 7,252 43,964
Grand Total 122 59,501 189,071 48,011 20,399 317,103
The identified strategies for the BRB also address the root causes of the problems as
indicated in the problem tree to achieve the vision, goals and objectives. They include the
following:
Strategies to Promote Resilience of Ecosystems and Communities to Climate Related Hazards
The range of ecosystems services provided by the BRB is threatened by human induced activities
such as kaingin making, timber poaching, mangrove conversion, and over fishing, among others.
The adverse effects of these unsustainable resource practices will be aggravated further as
climate change intensifies. Hence, it is imperative to adopt measures and strategies that will
strengthen resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate related hazards.
1) Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Planning
2) Protection of Existing Natural Forests
3) Rehabilitation of Degraded Forestlands and Protected Areas
4) Management of Mangroves, Wetlands and Coastal Resources
5) Improvement of Flood Control Structures
6) Management of River Easements, including resettlement planning and
implementation
Strategies to Promote Investments in Production Areas to Meet Demands for Ecosystems
Goods and Services
The following are the comparative advantage of the Bicol River Basin:
1) It has vast areas of plain agricultural lands comprising about 87% of its total area,
which can be developed to support the food requirement of its growing population.
The irrigated rice lands alone represents 58% of the total irrigated rice lands in the
province of Albay and Camarines Sur, supplying significant percentage of the rice
requirements of these provinces.
2) Its inland water bodies (rivers and lakes) and coastal resources in San Miguel Bay
contain rich fisheries resources providing livelihood to local populations.
3) It has water resources (surface and underground) which if managed properly, can
continue to provide water to communities for domestic and agricultural purposes.
4) Its existing natural forests contain non‐timber resources which can be enhanced
further to support handicraft making in selected communities and provide additional
sources of livelihood.
With increasing population, demand for rice, water, and fisheries resources will
correspondingly increase. Communities will also require more livelihoods to support the
basic needs of their families. As such, it is necessary to enhance the productive assets of BRB
to meet the increasing demands for ecosystems goods and services. The master plan has
identified strategies to encourage private sector investments so that increasing demands for
various goods and services can be met.
1) Upgrading of Irrigation Facilities
2) Management of Rivers, Lakes and Ground Water Resources to Ensure Water Quality
3) Development of Sustainable Livelihood
Proposed Management Zones
Settlement Zone
Existing Road Systems within the Bicol River Basin Relative to Production Areas
Strategies to Improve Local Governance of BRB
Governance of the Bicol River Basin has been complicated by the existence of a number of
organizations and inter‐agency environment and economic development councils and groups
at different levels with closely related or seemingly overlapping mandates. With many on‐
site stakeholders and institutions operating in the BRB, collaborative management becomes
the most appropriate governance mechanism at the basin and sub‐basin level. The
establishment of collaborative management structures can potentially resolve many of the
operational issues arising from overlaps in institutional mandates, and allow various agencies
and institutions, communities and stakeholders to work together and clarify roles and
responsibilities in the management of the basin.
The Bicol River Basin Management Committee (BRB MC) under the RDC will remain as the
regional and basin‐level coordinating and management body for the BRB and as a special
committee under the RDC 5. A mandated function of the BRB MC is the formulation of a BRB
strategic management plan that incorporates climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster
risk reduction management (DRRM).
In relation to the implementation of the master plan, its functions will be expanded and
made more specific to include the following tasks: a) review and monitor strategic action
plans of national agencies and LGUs in BRB that support or can be integrated into the BRB
management plan; b) promote public and private investments to identified priority
interventions or areas in BRB; c) define the investments and uses of BRB resources that need
to be regulated or disallowed in BRB; d) facilitate resolution of program implementation
issues and resource‐related conflicts that may arise among LGUs and BRB stakeholders; e)
spearhead advocacies and campaigns that will promote good practices in resource and
biodiversity conservation, DRRM, solid waste management and pollution control; f)
formulate and implement a comprehensive and gender sensitive technical assistance and
capacity development program for LGUs and other stakeholders; g) set up a database for
BRB; and h) set up a results‐based monitoring and evaluation system for BRB, with clear
performance indicators, reporting flows and feedback mechanism.
The BRB Program Coordinating Office (PCO) will continue to provide the technical and
administrative support to the BRB MC. It will need to be strengthened through the
assignment of a full‐time team. Among its key functions are: coordination and networking,
capability‐building and IEC, and database and M and E.
Sub‐basin management councils will be set up for each of the seven sub‐basins and these will
be reporting to the BRBMC. The sub‐basin management councils will serve as the
implementation planning and coordination body for the sub‐basin. Key members of the sub‐
basin councils should include: LGUs, field units of national implementing agencies, PAMB,
water districts, academe, business sector, FARMC, representative farmer PO or irrigators’
association, relevant NGOs, CADT holder (in the sub‐basin with CADT), head of WQMA Board,
other inter‐agency/multi‐sectoral bodies in the sub‐basin. It is recommended that the sub‐
basin management councils are headed by the Provincial local chief executive with the DENR
PENRO as co‐chair.
At the area level, there are three key actors that have mandates to manage certain areas of
the BRB based on existing national laws and policies. These are the LGUs, national
implementing agencies and CADT and tenure holders. They will be the ultimate
implementing units of the BRB master plan, with the support of their partners from the
public, private and non‐government sector.
Proposed Structure for Implementing the BRB Master plan
In addition to the operations of the BRB MC and PCO, several vital activities are also critical
to improving BRB governance: (a) training and capacity building, (b) IEC and social marketing,
(c) M and E, and (d) database development. These are to be continuously carried out
throughout the duration of the plan period but more intensively during the initial years.
These will require resources to implement, thus were considered in the master plan
investment requirements. These activities will cover LGUs, DENR, NCIP and other
implementing agencies and local resource management units to improve their capability to
lead and implement the BRB master plan. The training and capability building required will
range from values formation, gender sensitivity, and leadership to very specific crop production
or forest rehabilitation technologies.
6.0 INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS
Over a 15‐year planning period, the total investment requirement to implement the BRB
master plan is about Php31.332 billion. The first five years of implementation will require
Php8.46 billion while Year 6 to Year 10 year would need Php13.95 billion. The last five years
up to Year 15 year requires Php8.93 billion. About 62% of the proposed budget or Php19.5
billion will support programs to promote investment in production areas, mostly designed to
improve irrigation facilities (29% of total costs). The program on enhancing resilience of
ecosystems and communities would require 34% of the total estimated cost of the master
plan or Php10.7 billion, which is almost equally divided into the watershed management,
DRRM enhancement and flood mitigation programs. The governance‐strengthening program
would require Php1.1 billion, representing 3% of the total estimated costs.
LGUs would need Php9.6 billion (31% of the total budget) to enhance their capabilities in
DRRM, update their CLUPs, implement waste management and support other livelihood
activities. The rehabilitation and restoration of irrigation facilities and development of new
irrigation systems by NIA account for 29.2% of the investment requirement or Php9.2 billion.
Implementation costs of other infrastructure projects to be sourced from DPWH total Php4.6
billion or 14.7% of total costs. Other major funding sources would be the DENR, Department
of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Housing and Urban
Development Coordinating Council.
Summary of Costs for Implementing the BRB Master plan
Cost (Php’000) Implem. Fund
Plan component Target Location
Yr 1‐5 Yr 6‐10 Yr 11‐15 Total Agency Sources
A. Programs to Enhance Resilience of Ecosystems and Communities
1. Disaster risk management enhancement program
a. Vulnerability assessment 43 All LGUs 21,500 0 21,500 43,000 LGUs LGUs
and adaptation planning
b. CLUP updating (integrating 43 All LGUs 43,000 0 43,000 86,000 LGUs LGUs
FLUP, BRB master plan, PA
plans, CCA and DRRM plan
and other related plans)
c. DRRM training, EWS, 43 LGUs 238,000 21,500 21,500 281,000 LGUs LGUs
rescue equipment
d. Automatic weather 67,500 7,500 7,500 82,500 PAGASA PAGASA
stations (AWS)
e. River easements mgm’t: 43 LGUs 45,100 0 0 45,100 LGUs LGUs/
Mapping and demarcation sourcing
of river easements and
resettlement planning
f. Resettlement of settlers of 6000 families 0 1,125,000 1,575,000 2,700,000 LGUs/ HUDCC/
river easements DILG sourcing
2. Watershed Management Program
a. IEC and capability 43 LGUs 172,000 129,000 64,500 365,500 LGUs LGUs
strengthening
b. Natural forests protection 30,595 a 15,298 15,298 15,298 45,894 DENR DENR
and conservation project
c. Rehabilitation of degraded 18,000 b 270,000 270,000 0 540,000 DENR DENR
forestlands and protected
areas
Agency/Sector Cost (Php’000) %
LGU 9,641,150 30.77%
NIA 9,152,200 29.21%
DPWH 4,610,450 14.71%
DA 3,500,000 11.17%
DENR 1,915,894 6.11%
HUDCC/DILG 1,372,550 4.38%
BFAR 809,000 2.58%
DTI 129,000 0.41%
DOT 120,000 0.38%
PAGASA 82,500 0.26%
TOTAL 31,332,744.00 100.00%
7.0 ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
The proposed interventions in the BRB master plan have a total financial cost of Php31.33
billion. The economic value of each of the programs and components were determined by
adjusting costs according to the shadow exchange rate factor of 1.10 for costs with foreign
currency requirements; and shadow wage rate factor of 60% of the nominal wage rate for
unskilled labor. Based on these adjustments, the total economic cost of all BRB master plan
interventions were valued at Php31.63 billion. It was determined that, overall, the proposed
interventions are economically viable by satisfying the hurdle rates of a positive (greater than
nil) net present value for benefits, at Php4.43 billion, and at least 15% internal rate of return,
which was computed to be 22%.
The proposed investments yield both market and non‐market benefits. Among the
environmental benefits will be improved ecosystem resiliency, better ecological stability,
improved water quality, improved biodiversity, among others, which are all public benefits.
The investments in flood control such as the retarding basins were also studied from the
perspective of its public benefits, especially in reducing damages from floods. Sensitivity
analyses of (1) a 10% increase in investment costs, (2) 10% decrease in benefits, and (3)
combination of 10% increase in costs and 10% decrease in benefits indicate that the
proposed interventions are still economically viable.
8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF PROPOSED PROJECTS
The proposed project investments aim to optimize the quality and use of BRB’s water
resources. The wastewater treatment facility plants will help improve the water quality of
surface waters in the downstream area and will have positive impacts on communities that
are adjacent to the public markets. The construction of a retarding basin will address the
flooding hazards in the BRB. However, the investment will have positive and negative social
and environmental impacts during and after construction. These and other proposed
investments are provided with a preliminary assessment to serve as basis for more detailed
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Studies to be undertaken and submitted to DENR‐
Environmental Management Bureau once the plans are finalized.