GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

Development of Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) for Highly Urbanized Water Constraint Cities;
specifically for Cagayan de Oro and surrounding areas

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1

2.0 CITY PROFILE OF CAGAYAN DE ORO ................................................................ 1
3.0 CURRENT WATER USAGE CONDITIONS ............................................................ 2
3.1 Water Sources and Groundwater Extraction .......................................................... 2
3.2 Key Issues .............................................................................................................. 3
4.0 THE PLAN .............................................................................................................. 4
4.1 Plan Components ................................................................................................... 4
4.1.1 Engineering Components........................................................................................ 5
4.1.1.1 Drilling of Monitoring Wells ...................................................................................... 5
4.1.1.2 Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment............................................................... 5
4.1.1.3 Metering of Major Production Wells......................................................................... 5
4.1.1.4 Proper Closure and Plugging of Abandoned and Salt Water Intruded Wells ........... 6
4.1.2 Soft Components .................................................................................................... 6
4.1.2.1 Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign.................................. 6
4.1.2.2 Institutional Strengthening (Capacity Building) ........................................................ 6
4.1.2.3 Legal Strengthening and Enforcement .................................................................... 6
4.3 Implementation Schedule and Fund Sources .......................................................... 7

List of Tables

Table 1: Table 1: Matrix of current GWM Problems, Causes, Recommended Solutions and
Issues ..................................................................................................................... 3
Table 2: Summarized Features of the Proposed Monitoring Wells ........................................ 5
Table 3: List of Proposed GWM Plan Projects ....................................................................... 7

List of Figures

Figure 1: Location Map of Cagayan de Oro City showing the major watersheds ................... 2
Figure 2: Diagram of CDO Groundwater Management Plan .................................................. 4

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 GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
Development of Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) for Highly Urbanized Water Constraint Cities;
specifically for Cagayan de Oro and surrounding areas

ACRONYMS

CDO Cagayan de Oro

CDOWD Cagayan de Oro Water District
DENR Department of Environmental and Natural Resources
GEOSPHERE GEOSPHERE Technologies Inc.
GMP Groundwater Management Plan
IEC Information, Education and Communication
LGU Local Government Unit
MCM million cubic meters
NSO National Statistics Office
NWRB National Water Resources Board

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 GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
Development of Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) for Highly Urbanized Water Constraint Cities;
specifically for Cagayan de Oro and surrounding areas

1.0 INTRODUCTION

GEOSPHERE Technologies Inc. (GEOSPHERE) has been commissioned by the National

Water Resources Board (NWRB) to undertake the preparation of the Groundwater
Management Plan (GMP) for Cagayan de Oro and surrounding areas. This draft GMP has
been prepared, in accordance with the requirements of the Contract between NWRB and
GEOSPHERE.

The GMP focuses on actions to be undertaken by the LGU over the next 15 years to address
the issues that currently affect the extraction and usage of groundwater in the City.

This GMP was prepared for the NWRB and key stakeholders on groundwater for the
following purposes:

1. Develop and implement a realistic groundwater management program in

accordance with the requirements of the Philippine Water Code and the Clean
Water Act
2. Provide the basis for prioritizing and programming investments in GWM; and
3. Develop appropriate institutional arrangements which will facilitate efficient and
sustained implementation of groundwater management projects.

The plan was prepared from the analysis of the data gathered from key stakeholders,
hydrogeological studies and groundwater modeling.

2.0 CITY PROFILE OF CAGAYAN DE ORO

Cagayan de Oro is a first class city corresponding to the capital of Misamis Oriental. It is
located along the central coast of northern Mindanao (Figure 1). It is bounded on the north
by Macajalar Bay, by the municipalities of Opol to the west; Tagoloan to the east, and
provinces of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte to the south. It covers an area of 488.86 km2.

The City is drained by 12 river systems which originate from the slopes of Mt. Kitanglad.
These rivers collectively form 5 major watersheds. From west to east, these include Iponan,
Cagayan Oro, Culambog, Cugman-Agusan and Alae. These watersheds serve as sources of
water of the City.

Based on records of the National Statistics Office (NSO), its 2010 population stood at
602,088 which is distributed into 57 urbanized and 23 rural barangays.

The city's economy is largely based on industry, commerce, trade, service and tourism.
Together with its local population, these activities require the provision of adequate amount
of water.

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 GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
Development of Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) for Highly Urbanized Water Constraint Cities;
specifically for Cagayan de Oro and surrounding areas

production wells identified in this study shall be updated through the conduct of a citywide
inventory to be led by the engineering department of the LGU in coordination with the
NWRB. In the same inventory, all abandoned and saltwater intruded wells of the city shall be
identified and mapped.

4.1.1.4 Proper Closure and Plugging of Abandoned and Salt Water Intruded Wells

These will be done by the respective well owners under supervision of the LGU and in
coordination with the DENR and NWRB.

4.1.1.5 Tapping of Additional Surface Water Sources

This will be undertaken over the long term possibly through the participation of the private
sector

4.1.2 Soft Components

4.1.2.1 Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign

An IEC campaign on basic groundwater principles and practices shall be launched and
undertaken by the LGU in coordination with the DENR and key stakeholders. The results of
this study shall serve as the basic materials for the IEC. This component shall utilize a
combination of at least three (3) communication platforms—print media, electronic media,
and face-to-face events—for sharing information, enabling feedback, encouraging
participation, building consensus and mobilizing community support for the GWM Plan.

4.1.2.2 Institutional Strengthening (Capacity Building)

The existing institutional arrangements of the LGU CDO shall be utilized to oversee the
implementation of the GWM Plan. The engineering department shall be strengthened to
include a functional group that will specifically handle water resources management. This will
need capacity building to improve both its technical skills and number of personnel that will
be engaged in the LGU’s GWM Plan. Key personnel under the engineering department shall
undergo relevant training on groundwater management, environmental monitoring and
compliance monitoring.

4.1.2.3 Legal Strengthening and Enforcement

The City of Cagayan de Oro shall be encouraged to pass local ordinances which require the
following:

1. Submission of basic data regarding their existing wells and water sources
2. Regular (monthly) submission of production and measurements of static and pumping
water levels to the engineering department of CDO
3. Submission of well drilling applications to the LGU for assessment
4. Installation of water meters for all major production wells