Northern Mindanao || X Dads seek law to protect province’s watersheds
Dads seek law to protect province’s watersheds
Friday, 03 February 2012 00:00
THE provincial board has called on Congress to consider passing a law that woud declare several areas in the province as protected watersheds and river basins. The Misamis Oriental legislature approved the resolution, authored by Vice Gov. Norris Babiera who noted that "the large-scale transformation" of forest cover into "non-forestry purposes, coupled with inappropriate Land use practices" resulted in cases of accelerated soil erosion, siltation of rivers and valuable reservoirs. Babiera also said the river basins of the province that need protection are the Gahub and Odiongan rivers in Gingoog City, Balatukan river in Balingasag, Cabulig river in Jasaan and Alubijid river in Alubijid.
He said there are also river basins in the municipalities of Manticao and Naawan. Babiera said Land conversion has increased incidence and severity of floodings and decreased the supply of potable water in the province. "These situations caused considerable reduction in the productivity of the forest, agricultural Lands and fisheries, and decreased returns from major investments in hydroelectric power generation and irrigation systems," he said.
Babiera asked the provincial board's committee on environment to initiate a move to convince the province's two congressmen--Reps. Yevgeny Vincente Emano and Peter Unabia-- to author the proposed law to declare areas in Misamis Oriental as protected watershed areas and river basins. "Once this law is passed, these areas will be protected by the government. Local governments will be mandated to follow what is in the law," Babiera said.
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