Formulation/Updating of the Integrated Bicol River Basin Management and Development Master Plan

Started: October 12, 2022

Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) Nos. 510 and 816, the River Basin Control Office (RBCO) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was created as the lead government agency for integrated planning, management, rehabilitation, and development of the country's river basins. To achieve this mandate, the agency developed a national master plan addressing several problems besetting the different river basins in the country, such as flooding, land degradation, and decreased ecosystem services, among others. The plan also ensures a sustainable water supply for the Philippines.

For. Atty. Roberto Oliva during the stakeholders workshop in Daraga, Albay

The Bicol River Basin (BRB) is one of the 18 priority river basins identified by the RBCO. In 2015, an Integrated Bicol River Basin Management and Development Master plan (IBRBMDMP) was formulated following the integrated water resources management (IWRM) approach. This planning framework ensures that the basin's situation is viewed holistically and that the interconnections between upstream and downstream activities are considered. IWRM provides the context for harmonizing various stakeholders' individual and collective resource management actions and improving the river basin's overall governance system.

The DENR V engaged the CELPA, Inc. in updating the BRB's existing IWRM Plan into a climate-responsive integrated master plan.