SIXTEEN local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo and Capiz covered by the Panay River basin are strengthening their alliance on river basin planning for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in Western Visayas is spearheading the LGUs with a recent strategic planning workshop aimed at identifying and defining points for collaboration and synergizing and building strategic alliance on river basin planning.
The municipalities covered in the province of Iloilo are Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Bingawan, Calinog and Lemery.
In the province of Capiz, the municipalities covered are Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Ivisan, Jamindan, Maayon, Mambusao, Panitan, Cuartero, Sigma and Tapas.
The Panay River Basin is one of the three important river basins in Western Visayas, and to achieve the objectives of the activity, lecture discussion workshops and action planning were carried out.
The strategic planning-workshop was conducted in three phases, namely: Forging Alliances for Phase I, Strategic Planning for Phase II and Phase III with the signing of Memorandum of Agreement.
Participants for Phase I included chief executives of the LGUs along the Panay River Basin. Participants in Phase II were Disaster Risk Reduction Management officers, planning officers, Municipal Council members and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources officers.
The workshop provided a venue for these LGUs to have a clear direction on matters concerning the preservation and use of the Panay River Basin and ultimately, institutionalize their alliances. (Sunnex)
