Convergence-Building Towards Sustainable Management of Watersheds

KALIKASAN BCSD Knowledge Series SIX
CONVERGENCE-BUILDING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS

A CASE STUDY OF PANIGAN-TAMUGAN AND TALOMO-LIPADAS WATERSHEDS IN DAVAO CITY
ABOUT THE COVER PHOTO Different stakeholders work together to prepare the 3D Map of Davao Citys Watersheds, under the USAID-FPE project. The 3D Map, prepared with the help of PAFID and participants from local communities to educate Davaoeos on watershed issues, identifies the topography and resources found within the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan Watersheds. As an important tool for watershed planning, protection, and management, the map is now displayed at the Peoples Park in Davao City. (IDIS File Photo) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to thank the following people for granting their request for key informant interviews and for answering their guide questions: Armand Pacudan (FPE Mindanao Regional Unit Manager), Luzmila Didith Antiampo (NCIP XI Community Affairs Officer), Leonardo Happy L.A. R. Avila III (Officer-in-Charge of the City Agriculturist Office), Hon. Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio (Davao City Mayor), Imelda Magsuci (DCWD Spokesperson), Claudio Toto A. Ybaez (WMC Project Coordinator), Merlene Delos Santos(MTBKA President), Randy Legaspi (MTBKA Vice Chair), Joel Palabrica (MTBKA Project Committee Chair), Dominador Doming A. Lopez (WMCC President), Jean Marie Ferraris (External Evaluator of IDIS), and Dahlia Cervantes (DA-BPI Pesticide Analytical Lab Head).

APRIL 2013 Prepared by the Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) for the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) under the Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) project. DISCLAIMER This publication is made possible through the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the case study writers and IDIS, and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States government, or FPE.
MESSAGE FROM
DENR
In this emerging era of climate change, environment and natural resources (ENR) around the globe are threatened with destruction to an extent rarely seen in earths history. The mitigation of the pernicious effects of climate change compels government, particularly us in the DENR, to adapt an integrated approach to ENR planning and decision making. Constructive engagement, international partnerships, and collaboration with the different sectors of society are forged not only to brace up our limited resources, but more so to create an enabling policy environment that would enhance institutional and regulatory capacities. It is in this complicated and complex task of building partnerships with key stakeholders that we appreciate the role played by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE). A catalyst for cooperation, the FPE blazes trails in efforts to promote and encourage international and local cooperation among NGOs, business groups, and communities toward developing good policies and effective programs on biodiversity and sustainable management. The case studies presented in this publication bear testament to FPEs leading role in facilitating collaborations for sustainable development. Without the foundations assistance and effort to involve key stakeholders cooperation, appropriate assessments regarding the current conditions and trends of eight key biodiversity areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao would not have been made. Our success, hence, in establishing reliable bases for developing goals and strategies for future biodiversity and sustainable management interventions in these areas can only be ensured with support from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.
RAMON J. P. PAJE
DENR Secretary
MESSAGE FROM
USAID
The realization of our shared vision of broad-based and inclusive growth is greatly aided by enhancing environmental resilience and ensuring that the countrys bountiful natural resources and life-giving ecosystems services are sustainably managed while reducing the risk of disasters. The U.S. Government holds firm to its commitment to help the Government of the Philippines to achieve this goal. Expanding the network of environmental stakeholders and providing continued support to local governments and communities on proper natural resource management are crucial strategies to achieve this goal. With these in mind, our partnership with the Government of the Philippines has yielded a large network of partners that engages local communities and groups in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. We have helped empower our partners to be more involved in decision-making leading to better management and protection of natural resources that they depend on. This publication captures the key strategies applied through the years that Upscaling Forest Restoration Project attempted to scale up in the last two years in eight key forest areas of the country. Eight case studies feature committed forest guard volunteers, lessons from science-based forest restoration efforts with indigenous peoples, and partnership building among government, communities, and the private sector to restore forest habitats and watersheds. This collection of stories is a testament to the hard work of our partners, led by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment, which collaboratively worked with local stakeholders to ensure that the approaches employed, milestones achieved, and lessons learned from our forest restoration efforts are carefully documented. It is our hope that knowledge sharing through publications like this will become a staple element in how we sustain our efforts in forest management. There is wisdom from the grassroots, as we have valuably learned through our initiatives, which have significant impact at the national level. I invite you to read these stories and share them with your network and other organizations working towards biodiversity conservation and environmental resilience.
GLORIA D. STEELE Mission Director, USAID/Philippines
MESSAGE FROM
FPE
FPEs twenty-one years of working with partners to save forests and sustain life have borne fruit. Eight (8) case studies documenting the progress and challenges in expanding forest governance in key biodiversity areas (KBAs) are now available to the public. The cases relate, among others, how our partner in Negros Occidental transformed a silent subsistence community to active forest protectors; how planting native tree species revived dying forests and earned income for farmers in Leyte; how synergistic partnerships among various agencies accelerated watershed rehabilitation in Davao City; and how the concept of social fencing in the provinces of Quezon and Laguna deepened the communities collective resolve and shared responsibility in guarding their forests for life. These are testaments of progress in FPEs conservation support. But the mission of the foundation is none more relevant than today, as scarcity of natural resources worsens hunger, climate change brings collateral damage to conservation investments, and unbridled population growth threatens the carrying capacity of our remaining forests. In almost all USAID-FPE Up-Scaling Project sites, our partners continue to face the challenges of poverty, unsustainable economic development, and fragmented or uncoordinated conservation initiatives. Notably, this is the first time in many years that our long-time partners in conservation took the initiative of assessing and documenting what strategies worked and what could still work to sustainably protect our forests in KBAs. This is a conscious attempt to create tools and platforms for knowledge access and sharing. All these interesting case studies constitute the second set of Kalikasan (Kaalamang Likas Yaman) Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development series, one of FPEs regular publications. The first set describes the results of resource and socioeconomic assessments in selected KBAs. This second set combines best practices and lessons learned in forest restoration efforts under the USAID-FPE Up-Scaling Project. All Kalikasan BCSD series are packed with knowledge from projects and field experiences. FPE does not stop at merely making beautiful publications, but endeavors to translate knowledge into action towards improving our work and contribution to BCSD. Allow me to congratulate our project partners, the local government units in project sites, and USAID for making the case studies of the Up-Scaling Project possible. We hope our readers distill the lessons to guide future actions for more effective forest restoration and hunger alleviation.
NESTOR R. CARBONERA
Chair and CEO
MESSAGE FROM
IDIS
The publication of this case study, made possible through the generous support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE), attest to the gains made by the Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) through almost two decades of its engagement with urgent ecological issues in Davao. In the uplands of Davao City, where IDIS chose to locate itself, a few issues began to crystallize in the minds of the Board members and staff, including the impact of the aerial spraying used extensively in the banana plantations, the soil erosion and the landslides, the effects of the use of fertilizers on sustaining the farmlands fertility, and the consequences thereof on the peoples health. Realizing how the issues being confronted were no longer micro-projects which could be dealt with at a leisurely pace, IDIS spread its wings. It identified possible partners in the nascent environmentoriented civil society in Davao City and began the arduous task of networking towards spearheading collaborative work, in the hopes of being able to pressure local government to protect its citizens from environmental harm. To our delight, there arose a convergence among civil society organizations and grassroots communities with the Davao Citys LGU and government agencies. While this publication sought to document IDIS best practices and lessons learned in the area of partnership-building pertaining to watershed protection, conservation, and management, it is more than just this. It is a contribution to a body of literature that needs to be built up in the country today, one that celebrates success stories at the grassroots level. In the face of the recent calamities that have wreaked havoc on the lives of Mindanawons in the aftermath of Sendongs and Pablos wrath, we need to count our blessings embedded in stories. This is a story that needs to be told. This narrative is what builds a society that takes pride in the collective wisdom of a people who will not just sit back and do nothing in the face of continuing colonization of our world, which could spell disaster for the generations to come. Let it not be told by the future generations that we did not act today to arrest corporate greed and peoples apathy to the ecological destruction that is taking place right under their noses. To our children and our childrens children, we pass on the story of convergence-building that guarantee that what we borrowed from them will still be theirs to enjoy.
KARL M. GASPAR CSSR Founding Member of IDIS and BOT Chair 1999-2007
The BCSD Knowledge Series of FPE

Kaalamang Likas Yaman or simply, KALIKASAN, is the publication series of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development (BCSD). Kaalaman is the Filipino term for knowledge while Likas Yaman is the term for nature or natural resources. Kaalamang Likas Yaman literally means knowledge of nature. As FPEs main thrust is BCSD in key biodiversity areas of the Philippines, this series is essential in presenting and promoting valuable theories, case studies, site assessments, best practices, and other learning materials. As Atty. Danny N. Valenzuela, FPE Chair and CEO (2010-2012), explains, That the work of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development has gone a long way in the past twenty years cannot be overemphasized. In fact, it has become imperative for FPE to embark into an appropriate, meaningful and innovative knowledge management systems in order to preserve and properly utilize the significant learnings out of its various collaborations with partners in key biodiversity areas all over the country. As a major repository of the knowledge base of FPE and its partners, KALIKASAN will serve as a series of dynamic and enriching resource materials that will educate the readers, in particular those involved in the environmental protection of key biodiversity areas, and equip them with both theoretical and practical knowledge. Kaalamang Likas Yaman may also refer to the richness (yaman) of natural or intuitive knowledge (kaalamang likas). This is in recognition of the a priori knowledge of the people of local communities in FPE areas of operation and concern, especially among the grassroots communities and indigenous peoples, in environmental protection and conservation. KALIKASAN seeks to serve as a comprehensive BCSD reference and research source while tapping and augmenting the existing knowledge base of its partners, beneficiaries and communities. This is the legacy of the current FPE leadership to the next generation of Filipino environmentalists who will continue and further develop the current advocacies and endeavors of FPE and its partners.
KALIKASAN
IDIS
For more than two decades, FPE has been at the forefront of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the Philippines. FPE operates as a catalyst for cooperation, fund facilitator, and grant maker in order to save species, conserve sites, and sustain communities. Capitalizing on previous and existing forest restoration initiatives of its local site partners, FPE, in partnership with USAID, implemented the Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) project from 2011 to 2013. This project seeks to address the decline of the Philippine forests by strengthening the protection of approximately 170,000 hectares of forest habitats and reforesting a total of 480 hectares within 8 sites in the bioregions of Cebu, Negros, Leyte (Eastern Visayas), Luzon and Mindanao. The project has also instituted mechanisms to sustain conservation efforts and continuously affect a macro-level of consciousness among stakeholders. FPE supports its partners on sites in drawing lessons from projects and sharing results of research and experiences. FPE considers the knowledge gathered and lessons learned by the forest resource managers peoples organizations (POs), indigenous peoples organization (IPOs), forest guards and wardens, and the communities themselves as one of its strategic assets in improving methodologies, practices and systems toward BCSD. In the watersheds of Davao City in Mindanao, the Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) has been mobilizing local communities to protect the citys watersheds against forest conversion for mono-culture plantation expansion as well as chemical aerial spraying. The USAID-FPE project propelled IDIS to expand the scope of its convergence-building efforts. Existing partnerships with the communities have improved and new partnerships with the LGU, CSOs, and even the business sector have been established. This case study documents the organizations journey from being an advocacy-focused organization, passionate in protecting Davao Citys watersheds, to becoming a more proactive and direct player in forest restoration efforts for the conservation of Talomo-Lipadas ang Panigan-Tamugan watersheds.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACRONYMS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY CONTEXT THE AERIAL SPRAYING BATTLE: How CSOs, the Public, and the Government Fought and Won over the Major Threat to Davao Citys Watersheds ANALYSIS OF CONVERGENCE-BUILDING EFFORTS A VISION FOR CLEAN WATER AND HEALTH WATERSHEDS MAPPING OUT FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS CONCLUSION REFERENCES ANNEXES LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 - Appreciative Inquiry: The 4D Cycle Figure 2 - Tripartite Synergy Figure 3 - MTBKA Allocation of General Fund Figure 4 - Gender Distribution of MTBKA Membership Figure 5 - Gender Distribution of Rainforestation Training Participants Figure 6 - IDIS Long-Term Strategic Fit Model Figure 7 - What Makes up our Watershed? Figure 8 - Strategic Thrusts for Partnership-Building 5 15 22 26 26 31 33 35 6 14 27 29 36 37 38 1 3 4 5
ACRONYMS
A-NT CA CBFMA CLUP CRMF CSO DA-BPI DA-FPA DENR XI DCWD DOH DTI ECA ECC EIA FPE GODC GOM GPS GIS IDIS IEC IWRM IP IPRA IRR KAABAY KBA KAPPI KRA LGU LPRAT Agricultural-Agro-Forestry / Non-Tillage Conservation Area Community-Based Forest Management Agreement Comprehensive Land Use Plan Community Resource Management Framework Civil Society Organization Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry Department of Agriculture Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XI Davao City Water District Department of Health Department of Trade and Industry Environmentally-Critical Area Environmental Compliance Certificate Environmental Impact Assessment Foundation for the Philippine Environment Go Organic Davao City Go Organic Mindanao Global Positioning System Geographic Information System Interface Development Interventions, Inc. Information, Education, and Communication Integrated Water Resources Management Indigenous Peoples (or Lumads) Indigenous Peoples Rights Act Implementing Rules and Regulations Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan, Inc. Key Biodiversity Area Kinaiyahan Amumahon Panggaon ug Protektahan, Inc. Key Result Area Local Government Unit Local Poverty Reduction Action Team
ACRONYMS
MAAS MinDA MOA MTBKA NCIP NGO NGP NPA NTFAAS NRM PAFID PAN PCHRD PES PBGEA PCSD PMPI PO PTW RSEA SIFMA SIMCARRD TFM TLW U-CARE USAID US EPA WMC WMCC 3D Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spray Mindanao Development Authority Memorandum of Agreement Mt. Tipolog Bantay Kinaiyahan Association National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Non-Government Organization National Greening Program New Peoples Army National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying Natural Resource Management Philippine Association for Intercultural Development Pesticide Action Network Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Payment for Ecological Services Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association Philippine Council for Sustainable Development Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. Peoples Organization Panigan-Tamugan Watershed Resource and Socio-Economic Assessment Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement SIAD Initiatives in Mindanao for Convergence, Asset Reform and Regional Development Task Force Mapalad Talomo-Lipadas Watershed Up-scaling Community Action and Response (a USAID-FPE project: Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas) United States Agency for International Development United States Environmental Protection Agency Watershed Management Council Watershed Management Coordinating Council Three Dimensional
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the USAID-FPE project Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas, this case study sought to document IDIS best practices and lessons learned in partnership-building in the areas of watershed protection, conservation, and management. Appreciative inquiry was used as a lens for discovering IDIS core competence, in identifying its vision and mapping out its direction in the next five years. The first part of this report presents the context of IDIS watershed advocacy, delving into how CSOs, the public, and the government fought against and won over aerial spraying, the major threat to the watersheds of Davao City. One of the campaigns major successes was being able to translate the objectives to use in other related and relevant campaigns on watersheds, namely, the Watershed Code, the Water Code, and Organic Agriculture. Because of this, many other interest groups joined the campaign. Key lessons from convergence-building efforts are: Synergy among partner agencies and organizations is a critical factor for the success of sustainable watershed management; IDIS needs to capitalize on its track record and expand its circle of partners; Constant engagement with decision-makers is necessary for the effective implementation of environmental policies, such as the Watershed Code and the Organic Agriculture Ordinance; Watershed issues should be anchored on pressing issues to effectively mobilize multi-sectoral participation and support; The mass media are strategic allies for disseminating IEC campaigns for watershed protection and conservation; The capacity of PO partners needs to be capacitated not only organizationally but also in understanding the connections and impact of environmental issues to their livelihood; Davao Citys CLUP should be updated following standard watershed approach, and implemented in conjunction with the Watershed Code; Established sustainability mechanisms/strategies are key to effective implementation of policies in the long run; Propaganda against environmental advocacies should be corrected; and Women are active partners in community-based projects. IDIS vision is clear and simplefor Davao City to have clean water and healthy watersheds. To realize this, IDIS needs to pursue the following strategic directions in the next five years: Preparation and implementation of a sustainability plan to support the long-term implementation of the Watershed Code; Expansion of the scope of partnership-building; Push for the adoption of the watershed framework in the development plans of LGUs in the Davao region; Organization and capacity-building of grassroots-level partner communities for long-term sustainability; Utilization of effective knowledge management for watershed protection and conservation; and Integration of convergence-building efforts with IDIS five (5) Key Result Areas (KRAs).
Community members undergo training on rainforestation technology in preparation for reforestation activities done under the USAID-FPE project (IDIS File Photo).
INTRODUCTION
This case study is part of the USAID-FPE project entitled Up-scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), which aims to address the decline of the Philippine forest by enhancing existing forest restoration initiatives in key biodiversity areas, including the Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds in Davao City. Interface Development Interventions Inc. (IDIS), a sub-grantee of the USAID-FPE project in Mindanao, has been at the forefront of environmental conservation in Davao City. IDIS motto Clean water. Healthy watersheds, speaks volumes about its advocacy for the protection and sustainable management of upland watersheds in the city. This case study sought to document IDIS best practices and lessons learned in partnership building in the areas of watershed protection, conservation, and management, particularly in Talomo-Lipadas Watershed (TLW) and Panigan-Tamugan Watershed (PTW). Both watersheds provide for all of Davao Citys water needsTLW gives 99% of the water supply from groundwater and PTW gives 1% of the water supply from the surface water. The latter has been identified as the citys only remaining future source of drinking water, which will be tapped as a surface water source by 2013. Panigan-Tamugan is the upstream portion of the Davao River watershed, the biggest watershed in Davao City (IDIS, 2011). In terms of knowledge management, the development and production of this case studyalong with the case studies from other key project location sites in the countrywill hopefully provide a rich source of data about best practices and lessons learned on the ground regarding implementation of environmental projects. They can serve as vital inputs for mapping out future directions and mobilizing more support for forest restoration and watershed management efforts.
PAGE 4 | CONVERGENCE-BUILDING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS: A Case Study of Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds in Davao City
METHODOLOGY
This case study used appreciative inquiry as a lens for discovering IDIS core competence, in identifying its vision, and in mapping out its direction in the next five years (Figure 1)1. Figure 1: Appreciative Inquiry 4D Cycle
On 30 July 2012, a writeshop briefing was conducted by FPE for the case study writers in Mindanao. Guidelines for the conduct of the writeshop were provided, including the major components for the case report, namely: context, analysis, vision, and the next five years. On 14 August 2012, the case study writers conducted a case writing workshop with IDIS staff to identify the organizations proposed topics/themes for inclusion in the report. The proposed title Convergence-Building towards Sustainable Management of Watersheds: A Case Study of Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds in Davao City. Data gathering was conducted from 14 August to 12 October 2012. Secondary data pertinent to the case report and the U-CARE project were then reviewed and analyzed. Using the guide questions in Annex 1, key informant interviews were conducted with the following people: Armand Pacudan (FPE Mindanao Regional Unit Manager), Luzmila Didith Antiampo (NCIP XI Community Affairs Officer), Leonardo Happy L.A. R. Avila III (Officer-in-Charge of the City Agriculturist Office), Hon. Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio (Davao City Mayor), Imelda Magsuci (DCWD Spokesperson), Claudio Toto A. Ybaez (WMC Project Coordinator), Merlene Delos Santos (MTBKA President), Randy Legaspi (MTBKA Vice Chair), Joel Palabrica (MTBKA Project Committee Chair), Dominador Doming A. Lopez (WMCC President), Jean Marie Ferraris (External Evaluator of IDIS), and Dahlia Cervantes (DA-BPI Pesticide Analytical Lab Head). A validation workshop with partners was conducted on 12 October 2012 to ensure the soundness and validity of this report.
1 Lewis, Sarah. Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry. Web. <www.jemstoneconsultancy.co.uk/ai_mid/.../introduction_to_ai.ppt> (retrieved 14 October 2012).
Massive expansion of pesticide-infested banana plantations prompted IDIS to lead the campaign to stop this and protect Davaos watersheds (IDIS File Photo).
CONTEXT
The Aerial Spraying Battle: How CSOs, the Public, and the Government Fought and Won over the Number One Threat to Davao Citys Watersheds
Several years back, Davao City was confronted with the problem of massive expansion of banana and pineapple plantations in the upland watersheds. From the late 1990s to early 2000, there was a major campaign to stop this, with IDIS taking the lead. The campaign did not stop plantation expansion, but it raised the awareness of many Davaoeos on the importance of watersheds and the harms posed by pesticide-intensive monocultures. The campaign to stop aerial spraying soon followed the first campaign. The campaign to ban the aerial spraying of chemicals was a tactical move that cut across all the other campaigns to protect and save the watersheds of Davao City. For this reason, the campaign resonated with the people, gained ground, and collected strong support from many groups, including from the government. It was a dramatic turning point in the environmental protection advocacy in Davao City. The people involved in the advocacy found themselves trudging along a long arduous road that became rougher even after local legislation was passed by the city council. The passage of the local ban was already a victory spurred by many smaller victories, as shown by the overwhelming attention and support given to the campaign. However, the campaign hit a snag when the battle was brought to the high courts by banana industry players through the Philippine Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA).
Along the way, countless individuals and groups from civilsociety organizations and government institutions found themselves in various forums, lobbyings and meetings, agreeing on the reasons why the long-time agricultural practice needed to be abolished. IDIS spearheaded the campaign and consolidated the antiaerial spraying network, despite facing scarcity in financial resources or being confronted by limited human force. These factors never hindered the launch of the campaign until it was approved by the city council of Davao or even after the decision was questioned in the courts. The Compromise Whatever the organization lacked was compensated by the growing support it was getting from the anti-aerial spraying network. IDIS and partner groups continued the campaign and were very resolute in getting members of the city council to pass an ordinance to ban aerial spraying as a chemical practice in the city. It went on even if it meant going against a multimillion-dollar industry that apparently stood on the power of the money and unquestionable influence and provided food to many families and sent their children to school. The campaign saw no compromise. If it did, it believed that the ban was already the very compromise that had to be agreed upon by affected communities, the people of Davao, and civil-society groups working for the protection of the environment. Through careful planning and thorough implementation of these plans, the campaign gained ground, with media picking up the issue. The campaign to stop aerial spraying became very relevant, because it ultimately cut across efforts for the local government unit to pass and fully implement legislations on water protection, such as the Watershed Code, the Water Code, and Organic Agriculture. Because of this, many other interest groups joined the campaign (e.g., Panaghoy sa Kinaiyahan, Go Organic Mindanao, Pesticide Action Network, Ecowaste, Kinaiyahan Foundation).
How it all started For IDIS, the decision to take up aerial spraying as an issue and campaign was brought about by the appeals of Mr. Willy Mosqueda, who resides within the Daliaon plantation, part of the Lipadas Watershed. Affected by the aerial spraying of chemicals, he, on behalf of the affected residents, lobbied for support from groups who could take up the issue and educate the public about it. Mosqueda and his group wanted the government to act on it. IDIS validated this complaint in the community after hearing more complaints. The group met with Dr. Romeo Quijano, a toxicologist, who conducted a study on the effects of pesticides to people in 1997. Hearing him explain the dangers of pesticides, IDIS was convinced that aerial spraying was an important issue that must be acted upon. The Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying, or MAAS, was formed as a result of a massive information and education campaign on pesticides and aerial spraying. During the Earth Day Celebration in Barangay Wangan in April 2006, the affected residents of the villages of Dacudao, Sirib, Subasta, and Tigatto formally declared that they would form a group, which they called MAAS. Since then, IDIS supported the group and facilitated provision of technical and legal assistance. Around this time, the Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan, Inc. (KAABAY), a local health NGO, also released an assessment of the health status of people living in three Davao communities where aerial spraying was being conducted. MAAS, on the other hand, documented their experiences and submitted the report to then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The document became the basis of discussions during the deliberations of the ordinance. IDIS also rallied support from other non-government organizations, individuals from the academe and church, and experts. Dr. Romeo Quijano also found himself speaking in public forums, educating the people of Davao City about the effects of the chemicals used in the aerial spraying. Former head of the National Poison and Control Center, Dr. Lynn Panganiban, a clinical toxicologist, also addressed the city council and provided expert testimony on the need to ban aerial spraying.
Youth groups from the grassroots communities and schools, as well as position papers and statements of support, flooded the city council and the media. 2 On 7 February 2007, the Davao City Council, headed by Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, passed the ordinance that banned aerial spraying. It was the ultimate proof of the effectiveness of the lobbying and networking of the group. At the national level, IDIS started to link up with various groups and was able to organize the National Task Force Against Aerial Spraying (NTFAAS). It was a needed boost to the campaign which was facing a legal battle and which IDIS knew would eventually lead to Manila. On 3 November 2009, the Department of Health (DOH) adopted a resolution that declared aerial spraying of chemicals in public areas as hazardous and therefore must be stopped. The DOH urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to stop the agricultural practice until proof is presented that it is safe for people and the environment. The network-building even reached the walls of the Senate, with Sen. Loren Legarda filing Resolution 1277, directing the Senate committees on agriculture and food, as well as health and demography, to conduct an inquiry on the adverse health effects of aerial pesticide spraying on crops.
The watershed It is clear to the Local Government of Davao that the primary work of IDIS is tied to the protection of the watersheds of the city. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has noted that one of the main advocacies of IDIS is the protection of Davao Citys watershed in ensuring that the citys water source is always clean and abundant for the coming generations. IDIS, Mayor Duterte-Carpio recognized, has been an active member of the Watershed Management and Development Council since its constitution in 2004. They have extended assistance to the Council in terms of providing technical and logistics support. Among the support they have provided is a 3D map of the watershed area currently displayed at the Peoples Park. They have also assisted the city in the preparation and dissemination of IEC materials for the protection of the watershed areas, Mayor Duterte-Carpio said. The LGU helped mobilize participants from various local communities who assisted in identifying and validating key areas/components for inclusion in the 3D map, the production of which was mainly funded by the USAID-FPE project. Former City Councilor Leo Avila, who now heads the City Agriculture Office, recalled that the uproar for protecting the watersheds of Davao City against the destructive nature of monoculture plantations started in 2001, with IDIS taking an active role in the campaign. Avila said the engagement with the Watershed Management Youth Council was very emotional. The call was for the banana plantations to stop their expansion in the watershed areas pending the delineation of recharge zones.
2 Public awareness was generated nationally through Facebook, Multiply, and blogs. About 7,000 people signed the campaign, while a total of 1,263 people signed the online petition to end aerial spraying in Davao City, as of 15 January 2010. Statements of support came from 4 bishops; Bp Yniguez; 2 Austrian bishops; SEARICE; PAN; Masipag; GOM; and from Ecuador. Other groups that supported the campaign were ECOwaste Coalition; TFM; Sumilao; CBCP NASSA; Vincentian Seminary; Adamson University; Sta. Isabel College; Paco Catholic School; Ecology Desk, Archdiocese of Manila; Advocacy Desk, Archdiocese of Manila; Kaisahan; SLB; Holy Spirit; Caritas Manila; AtSCA; OSCI; SALIGAN; Vincentian priests; DC Sisters; AKKAP; Holy Trinity; PKSK; PAHRA; Ateneo Student Catholic Council; Philippine Solidarity Group-Netherlands; Stichting Vredesburo Eindhoven-Netherlands; Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc.; and FIAN-Philippines. Personalities who supported the campaign were Fr. Robert Reyes; CM Monsod; Atty. Tony Oposa; and four bishops. More lawyers were also involved in the campaign, particularly in coming up with new legal strategies, such as deposition before action. As a result, there was a marked increase in the number of policymakers who supported the call. Support from outside Davao City came from the U.S., the Netherlands, Asia, and Japan. NHK Japan featured a documentary on the aerial spray campaign, which was aired in 2 local areas in Japan.
TIMELINE
Aerial spraying in Davao was first practiced in the 1970s. In the 1980s, aerial spraying of chemicals was stopped in General Santos City because of the complaints raised by residents. In 1997, toxicologist Dr. Romeo Quijano and daughter, Ilang-Ilang, published the story, Kamukhaan: A Village Poisoned , about the village in Hagonoy, where residents suffered from various diseases attributed to the chemicals used in aerial spraying. In September 2001, the Provincial Board of Bukidnon passed an ordinance banning aerial spraying of chemicals in pineapple plantations in the province. In 2004, the provincial government of North Cotabato passed its Environmental Code, which banned aerial spraying in the banana plantations in the area. In 2005, IDIS launched the Stop The Toxic Shower campaign. The Mamamayaan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS) was organized. In 2006, MAAS started documenting the effects of aerial spraying in affected communities. The health non-government organization KAABAY also released the report, Health and Environmental Conditions of People Living in Three Communities of Davao City where Aerial Spraying of Pesticides is a Common Practice . In 2007, the Davao City Council passed the resolution banning aerial spraying as a chemical practice. Immediately, the PBGEA questioned the decision in a court in Davao City. The local court upheld the constitutionality of the ordinance but PBGEA elevated the case to the higher courts.
In 2008, Rep. Luz Ilagan of Gabriela Womens Party filed House Resolution 741, directing the Committee on Ecology and Health to conduct an inquiry on the possible alternatives to the controversial chemical application practice. In 2009, the Court of Appeals in Cagayan de Oro City said the Davao City Ordinance was unconstitutional. As a response, the city government of Davao and MAAS acted as intervenors on the case appealing the decision of the Appeals Court. On 7 August 2009, the Court of Appeals junked the motion for reconsideration filed by the city government of Davao and the intervenors.
MAAS staged a camp-out in front of the Court of Appeals until the year after. On 8 September 2009, MAAS, the National Task Force Against Aerial Spray (NTFAAS), and Christian Monsod held a dialogue with Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap. Yap promised to find a solution to the problem. On 7 October 2009, MAAS farmers marched from Caritas, Manila in Pandacan to deliver their letters to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Then Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III met them at the historic Don Chino Roces Bridge on Mendiola Street to receive their letters.
It was here that I got to know IDIS as they converged with other NGOs in relation to the issue. Since then, I have always encountered IDIS as consistently being at the forefront of issues related to the watersheds, banning of aerial spray, pesticides in rivers, and recently the formulation of the Watershed Management Council (WMC), Avila said. Avila, who himself is a known environmental protection fighter, also recognized that IDIS has concretely contributed by undertaking studies in TLW and PTW, community networking, printing handouts and brochures, and also the 3D watershed map project portraying both watershed areas. IDIS has shown its credibility as it engaged the city government of Davao through Mayor Sara Duterte in many issues where the mayor took their suggestions and recommendations positively. Last year, the issue of BT Talong has proven their capability to converge with other NGOs when together with Go Organic Davao City (GODC) and Go Organic Mindanao (GOM), they successfully lobbied for its stoppage here, Avila said. The Davao City Water District (DCWD), one of IDIS campaign partners looks at the organization as a staunch defender of the environment, particularly Davao Citys water resources. IDIS and DCWD worked closely together at the height of tug-of-war controversy over Tamugan River between DCWD and the Aboitiz-owned hydropower company Hedcor in 2009. IDIS has been present in the watershed communities to educate them about the importance of watersheds in the sustainability of drinkable and potable water for the city, giving emphasis on their roles as avant-garde of the watersheds in their respective communities.
The letters asked the President to issue an order banning aerial spraying. Sec. Bello promised to handdeliver the letters to the President and vowed urgent action on the issue. On 26 October 2009, groups supporting MAAS and the ban aerial spraying campaign held a national day of protest in Mendiola, with simultaneous rallies in Davao City, Davao del Norte, and Davao del Sur. Until today, the case is still awaiting decision from the Supreme Court. On January 22, 2010, the Commission on Human Rights released a human rights advisory calling for the shelving of the aerial spraying practice, citing the
precautionary principle and urging the President to issue an Executive Order stopping the practice. In March 2010, at the height of campaign elections, then Presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III pushed for a ban of aerial spraying, especially if there are no clear safeguards and testing, according to the Green Survey conducted by Greenpeace. In July 2010, MAAS sent a letter to President Aquino urging him to issue an Executive Order that would ban aerial spraying in the country.
It added, IDIS has been aggressively monitoring the state of water resources in the city, such as the presence of chemicals and contaminants in some rivers in the upland area that are suspected to be coming from agricultural plantations. They also play important roles in statutory coalitions/bodies created, such as the WMC. IDIS has also entered into several research engagements with a total of twenty (20) research partners, including NGOs, academic institutions, and government agencies. These research partnerships resulted in the following studies: 1. Pesticide Monitoring in Air and Water within Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan Watersheds (2011). The partners are Ateneo de Davao University, Bureau of Plant Industry-Pesticide Analytical Laboratory, Davao City Water District, Pesticide Action Network, Department of Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, Brgy. LGU of Tawan-Tawan, Brgy. LGU of Manuel Guianga, and Brgy. LGU of Daliaon Plantation. The study was funded by ADDU, IDIS, and DCWD. Other partners also poured in kind contributions. 2. Digital Mapping and Land Use/Cover Change Analysis of Agricultural and Forest Land in the 3rd District of Davao City Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing Technologies (2008). This was conducted with the University of the Philippines Mindanao. 3. Health Condition of Women in Selected Banana Plantation Areas in Davao City (2007). The study sites were Mandug, Tawan-Tawan and Baganihan in Marilog. The study was conducted with Brokenshire College, Davao Medical SocietyInstitute of Graduate School and Research, Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan, Philippine Medical Women, and University of Immaculate Conception.
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In August 2010, the NTFAAS sent a letter to Sec. Alcala urging the DA to issue an administrative order banning aerial spraying in all agricultural areas in the country, based on the DOH recommendation. The group sent a letter to President Aquino urging him to issue an EO on aerial spraying. IDIS sent a separate letter to the President, urging him the same. In September 2010, the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI), a network of more than 200 faith-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations (POs), and development associations issued a statement of support for the aerial spraying ban at the culmination of their 19th National Coordinating Committee Meeting NTFAAS once again asking President Aquino to issue an EO in November 2010. On 15, February 2011, five government agencies (DOH, DA-FPA, DENR, DTI, and PCSD) met and discussed the issue. It was hoped that they would be able to come up with a consolidated recommendation and position on aerial spraying. The agencies met again on 18 April 2011. However, all concerned agencies have yet to come up with a uniform recommendation and stand on the issue as indicated in the letter sent to IDIS by the PCSD dated January 30, 2012. On 7 February 2012, MAAS and other support groups commemorated the 5th Year Anniversary of the Davao City Ban Aerial Spray Ordinance. On 31 May 2012, the Presidential Management Staff Office asked for copies of various position papers issued by civil-society organizations on aerial spraying as requested by President Aquino. In October 2012, NTFAAS and MAAS sent follow-up letters to President Aquino and copy furnished all government agencies reiterating the call for the president to issue an Executive Order.
The Foundation for the Philippine Environment helped fund the project which was also supported by Brokenshire College and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD). 4. Health and Environmental Conditions of People Living in the Three Communities of Davao City Where Aerial Spraying of Pesticides is a Common Practice (2006). The study was undertaken with Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan. Survey on the Level of Pesticides within Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan Watersheds towards the Protection of Critical Water Resource Areas in Davao City (2006). The study was conducted with Ateneo de Davao University, Bureau of Plant Industry-Pesticide Analytical Laboratory, Davao City Water District, Pesticide Action Network, Panaghoy sa Kinaiyahan, and the Youth Advocates for the Watershed. The Foundation for the Philippine Environment funded the study. The Panaghoy sa Kinaiyahan, PAN, DCWD, and the Youth Advocates for the Watershed also contributed resources for this research.
5.
Brgy. Police Officers Rene Sulpico and Benny Palacio help prepare the seedlings of Brgy. Tawan tawans nursery, constructed to supply reforestation efforts in denuded areas of Talomo-Lipadas watershed, under the USAID-FPE project (Judy Ann Enriquez/IDIS).
ANALYSIS OF CONVERGENCE-BUILDING EFFORTS

1. Synergy among partner agencies and organizations is a critical factor for the success of sustainable watershed management. Segal-Horn and Blanchard (2004) defined synergy as follows: Synergy is two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable. In a technical context, its meaning is a construct or collection of different elements working together to produce results not obtainable by any of the elements alone. The elements, or parts, can include people, hardware, software, facilities, policies, documents: all things required to produce system-level results. The value added by the system as a whole, beyond that contributed independently by the parts, is created primarily by the relationship among the parts, that is, how they are interconnected. In essence, a system constitutes a set of interrelated components working together with a common objective: fulfilling some designated need. In the context of watershed management in Davao City, stakeholder agencies and organizations with cross-cutting mandates and interests need to work together to achieve synergized results. Highlighting the need for tripartite partnership among donor agencies (e.g., FPE), stakeholder government agencies and LGUs, and civil-society organizations, FPE Mindanao Regional Unit Manager Armand Pacudan remarked, Interplay and synergy among these three tripartite sectors is necessary, particularly in evolving and developing projects to ensure sustainability of watershed management. Synergy is indubitably important in getting high-impact results. The success, for example, of the signature campaign in 2006-2010which pulled together more than 60,000 Davaoeos signatures supporting the passage of Davao Citys anti-aerial spraying ordinanceis a concrete example of synergy at work. Needless to say, the victorious passage of the ordinance was a product of synergized efforts of various partner organizations. PAGE 14 | CONVERGENCE-BUILDING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS: A Case Study of Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds in Davao City
Figure 2. Tripartite Synergy
Synergy of multi-stakeholders is also necessary in undertaking a massive replanting program in Davao Citys watershed areas, which have a total land area of about 46,000 hectares. At present, only about 1,000 hectares (or 2.2% of the total watershed areas) have been replanted, said Dominador A. Lopez, president of the Watershed Management Coordinating Council (WMCC), a coalition of more than twenty (20) government and environmental organizations in the city. The current USAID-FPE Up-Scaling project seeks to contribute to the reforestation efforts in Davao City by reforesting 60 hectares of denuded areas in the Panigan-Tamugan watershed. 2. IDIS needs to capitalize on its track record and expand its circle of partners. IDIS track record in environmental advocacy has made it one of the most recognizable NGOs in Davao City. Proof of this is its selection as the official NGO representative to the WMC and other local bodies, like the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT). The high regard given to IDIS as a champion for watershed protection should therefore be fully capitalized in mobilizing support from both the public and private sectors. IDIS has in fact started to do this. It was able to steer all concerned agencies, including the city government of Davao, to share resources for the production of a watershed plan, working closely with the WMC, which is under the Office of the City Mayor. In June 2011, following IDIS active lobbying of the WMC was reconstituted. It is now composed of IDIS (as the official NGO representative), various LGU departments, the DENR, the academe, church, indigenous peoples sector, media, and the private sector, among others. IDIS is always at the forefront of all protection efforts for the watersheds of Davao along with the other environmental concerns. It even led in the pooling of funds just so the WMC would be convened. In the recent past, the government could not facilitate meetings because of budget limitations, so we decided to put up and contribute. Indeed, there is a need for enhanced partnership between CSOs and the government, said Mary Ann Fuertes, IDIS Executive Director. 15
The linkaging and networking by and among CSOs (NGOs and POs), government, academe, religious sector, media, and environmental groups in the city are excellently and consistently achieving results the past five years. The pivotal reason for such a success is the sincerity and sense of oneness of various groups in the city towards environmental protection and rehabilitation. IMELDA T. MAGSUCI DCWD Spokesperson
by initiating meetings, sending email updates and disseminating minutes of meetings. The organization acts as the coordinator, calls for meetings, follows up on scheduled activities, and reminds partners of schedules and meetings. Partnership-building can strategically be focused on two levels: (1) as a network of lowland government and private organizations and individuals actively supporting environmental issues; and (2) as a network of upland POs actively in protecting the environment. On the ground level, a more personal approach is necessary to get maximum community participation. Based on the recent experience in preparing the 3D map of TLW and PTW, communication to barangays should be signed by the mayor, since the signature of the local chief executive carries more weight in mobilizing support from the community. Future communications to community participants should be personally delivered by IDIS as the lead coordinating organization, so that it can effectively explain the project rationale to them, NCIP XI Community Affairs Officer Luzmila Antiampo pointed out. Linking with, engaging, and mobilizing LGUs at the city and barangay levels is an integral component of our organizing perspective. Our organizing work recognizes creative potentials at different levels of intervention and in different situations in reference to our PO partners, particularly MTBKA, MAAS, and KAPPI, said Arnold Vandenbroeck, IDIS Board Member, during IDIS recent strategic planning workshop. The openness of various stakeholder organizations (e.g., religious organizations and sects, the academe, and other local groups) to tie-up with IDIS is an opportunity that has yet to be fully seized and realized. As early as 2006, the organization has partnered with various NGOs and POs, government agencies, and the academe for its research and advocacies.
In the past five years or so, IDIS has been a major factor behind the passage of various environmental legislations and decisions of the LGU, particularly the enactment of the Watershed Code, the Water Code, and the Organic Agriculture Ordinance. It has actively lobbied and pulled agencies, groups, and individuals together to support passage of these laws. In terms of networking and coalition-building, IDIS has steered its local networks (e.g., WMC, GODC) into action and maximized the strengths of their members. Nonetheless, there is still room for improvement. IDIS should continue to steer other networks to take on more active roles and to expand their membership to include other key partners. It also needs to sustain transparency among its partner agencies and organizations to maintain their participation and support, Armand Pacudan, FPE Mindanao Regional Manager, pointed out. IDIS ongoing measure to sustain transparency includes providing regular feedback on the status of research or current engagements
Academe Ateneo de Davao University Brokenshire College Davao Association of Colleges and Schools Davao Medical SocietyInstitute of Graduate School and Research University of Immaculate Conception UP Mindanao
Government Agencies Bureau of Plant Industry - Pesticide Analytical Laboratory Davao City Water District Department of Education Department of Environment and Natural Resources Department of Health Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Barangay LGUs: Daliaon Plantation, Manuel Guianga, and TawanTawan
Non-Government Organizations Foundation for the Philippine Environment Kalusugan Alang sa Bayan Panaghoy sa Kinaiyahan Pesticide Action Network-Philippines Philippine Medical Women Youth Advocates for the Watershed
Peoples Organizations Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spray Kinaiyahan Amumahon Panggaon ug Protektahan, Inc. Mt. Tipolog Bantay Kinaiyahan Association
3.
Constant engagement with decision-makers is necessary for the effective implementation of the Watershed Code. The hurdles in implementing the Watershed Codelike the long-delayed delineation of environmentally-critical areas (ECAs) and implementation of buffer zonescan be overcome if decision-makers are properly engaged. Agencies, like the DENR, DCWD, and LGUs, have the personnel and resources that can be fully tapped for ECA delineation and buffer zone implementation. Hence, communicating with their heads about the urgency of responding to watershed issues is crucial. At present, there is a pressing need to engage the newly appointed DENR XI Regional Director, Joselin Marcus E. Fragada, and to follow up on his agencys earlier commitment to the release of P5.4 million for ECA delineation. The DENR has committed to being the lead agency in the ground delineation. It will provide technical support, including forester and GIS experts. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau, which conducted the terrain analysisnow the basis for the declared ECAs in the cityhas committed to help in reconciling data. Policy-makers and decision-makers have to be regularly provided with fact sheets, policy papers/briefs, position papers, and other relevant policy materials. Research partnerships with academic institutions and research-based organizations should also be nurtured to produce relevant research and policy papers.
4.
Watershed issues should be anchored on pressing issues to effectively mobilize multi-sectoral participation and support. Watershed issues appear vague, if not abstract, to ordinary people. Consequently, these issues need to be made more tangible and felt by various sectors.
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Linking watershed issues with other cross-cutting environmental issues directly affecting the public such as flashfloods, El Nio, health and environmental impacts of aerial spraying, climate change/crisis, food security, environmental threats, loss of biodiversity, unsustainable utilization of natural resources, and non-implementation of buffer zonesis an effective strategy to increase public awareness and rally public support and participation. In the recent past, several forums were conducted by IDIS on flashfloods, water pollution (including pesticide contamination), and non-implementation of buffer zones in plantations. During forums, responsible agencies were invited to respond to issues and to define areas of collaboration later. Information about these activities was provided to the public through the media and IEC materials. The interconnectedness of issues and their magnitude, severity, and impacts need to be underscored in future IEC campaigns to move various sectors into action. 5. The media is a strategic ally in disseminating information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns for watershed protection and conservation. IDIS is very brave in exposing environmental issues affecting our watersheds and in calling the attention of government officials to respond to these issues, remarked WMCC President Dominador A. Lopez. As always, the media has been IDIS strategic partners in exposing watershed issues, constantly covering IDIS advocacies and IEC campaigns. 6. IDIS is effective because it is very vocal and visible, to the consternation of detractors. Its engagement as an NGO member and secretariat of the WMC has placed it in the heart of the advocacy for sustainable watersheds. Its being chosen to represent the NGO community in the Council is enough proof of its positive impact on watershed-related issues. It is able to convey an image of a truly active and sincere advocate for
sustainable watersheds. As always, the enemies of the watersheds will try to discredit IDIS, but its consistency on the issues has insulated it, Leonardo Avila, OIC-City Agriculture Office, said. Faced with the backdrop of global warming, deforestation, and water and food scarcity, IDIS has helped expose the threats to the watersheds brought on by plantation encroachment, aerial spraying, petrochemical inputs, and government inattention. In doing so, IDIS has helped focus public attention on these issues and called into account these violators as well as the very agencies and officials tasked to preserve, conserve, and manage such resources. IDIS has proven its capacity to inform, educate, and mobilize those most affected by the threats to the watersheds. Its capability to organize and work with and through networks and representatives has proven to be an effective and generally acceptable practice that multiplies its reach and its forces quite quickly. The capability to translate and present complex relationships and unforeseen threats in simple terms through grassroots-based research, documentation, and training allows IDIS to confront counter claims on an even footing with the academe and experts, without alienating its more pedestrian audience. (Toralba, et. al., 2011) To reach far-flung areas in advocating for watershed protection, partnership with the media, particularly radio and TV, should be enhanced. Through mass media education, local communities can be active partners in monitoring and policing strict enforcement of environmental policies on the ground, e.g., organizing, training, regular updating, and strengthening the community-based Bantay Bukid volunteers program. The capacity of POs needs to be developed not only organizationally, but also in understanding the connection between environmental issues with their livelihoods and their impacts. IDIS has three (3) key PO partners, namely, the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spray (MAAS), Kinaiyahan Amumahon Panggaon ug Protektahan ug Irespeto (KAPPI), and the Mt. Tipolog Bantay Kinaiyahan Association (MTBKA).
MAAS played a pivotal role in pushing for the passage of Davao Citys Ban Aerial Spray Ordinance. In 2007, its members were the frontliners in various mobilizations, including rallies at the Regional Trial Court and Court of Appeals. In 2010, they spearheaded the mobilization in Manila to push for the issuance of an Executive Order (EO) for the aerial spray ban. MAAS has been a significant partner in bringing the aerial spraying issue to the national level and in getting the attention of the national media. Early in 2012, MAAS activists called on the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the ordinance. The organization, however, needs to be trained so that it can sustainably engage in other advocacies for watershed protection and conservation, as well as work in collaboration with other groups/stakeholders. Another PO partner of IDIS needing capacity-building is KAPPI, an environmental paralegal group of farmers, youth, and Lumads from the 3rd district of Davao City. This group advocates for the buffer zone implementation for the areas remaining forest, water resources, and communities adjacent to plantations. The third key PO partner of IDIS is MTBKA. MTBKA is different from the first two POs because it serves as IDIS model PO for concrete on-the-ground interventions of watershed management projects. In 2008, IDIS assisted MTBKA in fighting for the release of its CBFMA, a tenurial instrument granting the PO the responsibility of managing 626 hectares of forestland in Mt. Tipolog.3 The involvement of IDIS in terms of advocacy work started before 2008, beginning with the cancellation of the Industrial Tree Plantation Lease Agreement of Carmen Hills. IDIS assisted in registering the association to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), processing their CBFM application, and forming the Bantayo Aweg, a community-based water monitoring group.
3 Mt. Tipolog is the headwater of the Panigan-Tamugan riversDavao Citys future source of surface water.
Utilizing its advocacy framework that stresses building an upwelling of linked efforts from its networks, IDIS has generated responses from chief executives of corporations, agencies, and government units as high up as the President of the Philippines. It has helped gain the support and interest of key figures at the national legislature level, key sector representatives, and even served its pleading to the Supreme Court. RAUL TORRALBA, et. al.
In 2010, MTBKA, through the assistance of IDIS, received a small grant from FPE amounting to P200K, which was utilized for the preparation of its Community Resource Management Framework (CRMF), conduct of IECs, training and capacity-building, and promotion of rainforestation. In 2012, MTBKA became IDIS key PO partner in implementing the USAID-FPE Up-Scaling Forest Restoration project in Mt. Tipolog. In terms of organizational growth, however, MTBKA still needs further capacity-building. We need capacity-building for our organization, like the preparation of project reports and financial reports, to make sure that we are compliant with the requirements of funders. For example, for the small grant, we still have a receivable of about P70K from FPE. But we cannot get this until all our financial documents and reports are in place. We hope that IDIS can help us sort these out for the release of the
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Students from Maria Christina Belcar Agricultural High School of Brgy. Tawan tawan Baguio District help in constructing the 3D map of Davao Citys watersheds (Judy Ann Enriquez/IDIS).
remaining balance, said Merlene Delos Santos. As for IDIS, the MTBKA has already been helped on this matter extensively, even assigning a staff person to give the treasurer one-on-one mentoring. The recommendation of IDIS is to look for a second-liner treasurer, preferably a student, who can effectively follow the process of financial report preparation. MTBKA needs organizational development and capacity-building to ensure sustainability. Unity and cooperation among members and strict implementation of organizational policies are needed. More importantly, proper values should be instilled. For projects involving natural resources management, MTBKA members should look beyond the incentives provided for their participation in forest restoration efforts, MTBKA Vice Chair Randy Legaspi emphasized. In values formation, the dramatic transformation of some individuals like Eddie Bolasito, the former local logger who has become a forest nurturer, is worth noting. People in the community have been bombarded with inputs. Theyre too knowledgeable about the things that we advocate. Really, there is a need to form their values. Maybe they have to un-learn to learn, said Chinkie Golle, IDIS Policy Advocacy Specialist. In capacitating PO partners, Bagadion (2006) offers eight (8) principles of dynamic fit, particularly in steering community-driven projects for environmental protection, as follows: The strategy must be based on the fusion of community needs and the interests of external environmental protection
bodies. The capacity of the implementing organization, or its choice of a partner organization must be congruent with the action plan. A project can be effectively carried out only when the stakeholders have trust and confidence in each other. The project must have a capacity or mechanism to respond to evolving situations. This capacity relates to the flexibility of the management and the timeliness of its interventions. The people must develop a sense of ownership over the project. The action plan must be broken down into small, doable segments around which people can mobilize and do things by themselves. Inputs must be congruent. A dynamic leadership must steer the project to ensure equilibrium among all the variables of project implementation.
Indeed, for NRM projects to be successful, they should be responsive to the needs of local communities. In the case of MTBKA, addressing its members lack of livelihood is important. As MTBKA Project Committee Chair Joel Palabrica put it, We need livelihood assistance so that we can be effective partners in protecting, managing, and conserving the watershed. Pacudan pointed out resource-based livelihood as a significant NRM component, so upland communities can be effective partners in conservation efforts. 21
The U-CARE project has come up with a scheme for sustainable livelihood programs for each of MTBKAs clusters. In July 2012, IDIS facilitated the preparation of MTBKAs Operations Manual, stipulating, among others, the following provisions on sustainable livelihood: For every peso benefit derived by MTBKA members from the U-CARE project, 30% goes to their organization as part of a general fund, which shall in turn be allocated to organizational development (35%), general livelihood for all members (35%), and cluster livelihood (30%). Each cluster may submit livelihood proposals for funding under the Cluster Livelihood Fund, e.g., cattle dispersal. A portion of income derived from these livelihood projects shall revert back to their Cluster. The Livelihood Fund shall sustain Cluster-level livelihood and the growth of the organization. The 70%-30% formula may be used for income -sharing, i.e., 70% goes to the farmer, and 30% goes to the General Livelihood Fund. The General Livelihood Fund may be used to fund capacity building/livelihood trainings for all members, such as non-forest product processing and development. Microfinancing (or pautang) shall not be allowed to ensure the sustainability of the organization.
In addition, capacity-building entails partnerships with relevant organizations with expertise to address community needs. Partnerships with the Task Force Mapalad (TFM) and the SIAD Initiatives in Mindanao for Convergence, Asset Reform and Regional Development (SIMCARRD) have been facilitated. The former has committed to help MTBKA in marketing its agricultural produce, particularly cacao. The latter has agreed to provide capacity-building on sustainable livelihood and social enterprise. Promoting resource-based livelihood projects, such as the production of non-timber forest products, is also being considered for MTBKA.
Cluster livelihood, 30%
Figure 3. MTBKA Allocation of General Fund
Organizational Development, 35%
General livelihood for all members, 35%
7. Davao Citys Comprehensive Land Use Plan should be updated following watershed approach4, and implemented in conjunction with the Watershed Code. Despite the enactment of Davao Citys Watershed Code on 23 January 2007 and the approval of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on 15 October 2008, the Code has been hardly implemented. The WMC, a policy-making body headed by the mayor, has been reactivated only recently. The Code regulates the use of about 34,000 hectares of watershed areas that are classified into conservation areas (CAs), agricultural-agro-forestry / non-tillage (A-NT) areas, and prime agricultural lands. Infrastructural development and monocrop plantations are banned in both CA and A-NT areas. However, thorough ground survey, delineation, and demarcation of these areas have not been implemented, causing delays in the implementation of the ban.
4 Please refer to item 6.3 for details of watershed approach.
The Davao City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), which should provide the necessary guidelines for proper zoning, has yet to be approved by the City Council. In the absence of an approved CLUP, projects not rationally aligned with proper zoning will continue to pose danger to the citys watersheds. Corollary to the aforementioned issues are conflicting land uses within watershed areas (e.g., A&D within timberland areas). There is a need to reconcile the maps of the LGU, DENR, and NCIP on tenurial instruments issued within TLW and PTW. Geo-referenced maps are also necessary for proper delineation. Engaging all stakeholders is necessary for the collective and harmonious resolution of these geopolitical issues. When the LGU, DENR, and NCIP are ready and available, the 3D map produced through USAID-FPE project can be the base map or reference map where we can plot all the tenurial instruments approved by DENR and NCIP. Also, we can reflect the environmentally critical areas and the watershed boundaries identified in the Watershed Code as part of the additional improvement in the 3D map, IDIS Executive Director Ann Fuertes explained. 8. Sustainability is the key to the effective implementation of policies in the long run. Since environmental policies are already in place, firm execution and implementation of these policies are needed. Among the challenges encountered are data gaps, funding, economic issues (like alternative livelihood for communities engaged in timber poaching), insufficiency of forest guards in watershed communities, and non-observance of bufferzones in plantations, remarked DWCD spokesperson Imelda Magsuci. Resources, which are limited at present, could put a strain on the multi-sector monitoring teams sustainability in ensuring strict enforcement of the Watershed Code on the ground.
Grassroots POs should see things beyond money beyond the material benefits. They should see themselves as stewards and managers of watershed resources. Organizational mechanisms should be functional so that their members will have community ownership of NRM projects. ARMAND PACUDAN Mindanao Regional Manager Foundation for the Philippine Environment
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On the part of IDIS, it has committed to providing materials for the delineation of ECAs by donating equipment, like GPS and laptops, and other materials needed for the actual fieldwork, like flashlights, batteries, raincoats, and hammocks. The DCWD has likewise provided PhP800K assistance, while DENR XI has provided technical assistance in leading the ground delineation. The city government also approved the amount of PhP800K for this activity. Canvassing materials, forming of the survey teams, and finalizing of schedules were already done. The IDIS, DCWD, Davao City government, and DENR signed a memorandum of agreement for the ground delineation on 22 October 2012. Definitely, partner agencies and organizations need to put their resources together to get things done. The required delineation of ECAs will entail costs for boundary location and demarcation. Other funding sources, possibly to be generated through innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., collection of water users fee or environmental users fee for use of natural resources5) should be explored to sustain the implementation of the Code. The provision in the IRR of the Watershed Code regarding environmental tax states: An annual Environmental Tax shall be imposed on all agricultural businesses, both principals and growers, operating in the Agro-Forestry/Agricultural Non-Tillage Areas and Prime Agricultural Areas of not less than 50 hectares at The rate of Twenty Five Centavos (P0.25) per square meter, payable upon the renewal of the annual business permit. The IRR further states that this environmental tax shall be utilized solely for the purpose of the implementation of this ordinance, the operational expenses of the Watershed Management Council and all its instrumentalities, and the watershed protection, conservation, and management programs and projects. Sustainability can be achieved when all stakeholders are united in the vision of a healthy watershed for Davao City, and when together, they participate and contribute their resources. The CSOs and the city government have already jointly stood together. The challenge is how to get the business sector to actively participate and contribute their resources. This, I believe, would be a challenge, Avila pointed out. The DCWD has an adopt-a-site-and-replant program which seeks to attract support from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs of private companies. Nonetheless, it has yet to take off in terms of getting substantial support from the business sector. 9. Women are active partners in community-based projects. Women are active in environmental advocacies. In fact, several NGO members of the WMCC are womens organizations. Women are leading community-based
5 Also called payment for ecological services (PES) in the current parlance being promoted and developed by conservation organizations on sustainable financing mechanisms.
Divina Sasi from Cluster Gading of Brgy. Tawan-tawan tends to the seedlings in their community nursery, in preparation for reforestation efforts under the USAID-FPE project (Judy Ann Enriquez/IDIS).
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environmental projects, indicating their empowerment in environmental work. At present, there are around forty (40) women and environment in the barangay (WEB) organizations and one (1) network of womens organizations (Womenyt) that are members of the WMCC. On the ground, women members of the MTBKA, which is led by a woman president, are also active in the USAID-FPE Up-Scaling project for the reforestation of Mt. Tipolog using rainforestation technology. Out of the 145 active members of MTBKA, 68 are women, representing 47% of its total membership. In terms of gender distribution of the rainforestation training participants, 60 are women (or 48%) while 66 are men (or 52%).
Males, 53% Females, 47%
Figure 5. Gender Distribution of Rainforestation Training Participants

Females, 48%
Males, 52%
Figure 4. Gender Distribution of MTBKA Membership

A discernable observation in the field is the distinct segregation of roles between men and women. Men tend to group together in doing more difficult tasks, like grass-cutting, plowing of the field, and preparation of chambers for the nursery. On the other hand, women (with some children in tow) work together on lighter tasks, like preparation of seedling bags. A deeper gender analysis of womens active involvement, however, may reveal gender hierarchy, pointed out IDIS staff Lorna Calimutan during IDIS case writing workshop. Although the Philippines faired relatively well in the gender equity index compared to other Asian countries, gender issues are still prevalent particularly in rural areas. These gender issues include, among others, gender stereotypes, women having multiple burdens (e.g., doing domestic chores, taking care of children, and at the same time working in the farm), and being victims of physical and verbal abuse committed by their husbands. Delos Santos, MTBKA president, was emphatic about physical abuse committed against some women in their community. IDIS considered this issue as another challenge needing a response by strengthening the gender and development component of its intervention. As a start, its community organizing efforts have already included gender sensitivity analysis training workshops to improve the knowledge of the PO partners about their basic rights and gender roles. IDIS believes that, before peoples behavior can change in terms of gender issues, they need to realize and accept first that it is an issue and be reminded of their rights. 10. Propaganda against environmental advocacies should be corrected. Propaganda against environmental advocacies has been identified as a challenge in Mt. Tipolog. The 84th infantry assigned in our barangay is linking our involvements with NGOs, like IDIS, to the leftist movement, particularly at the height of our rallies for the immediate release of our CBFMA. This should be corrected, an MTBKA leader explained. To resolve the problem, IDIS has talked with the military officials assigned in the area and, as a result, a partnership/ collaboration has been forged between IDIS and the military, particularly in the construction of the 3D map. PAGE 26 | CONVERGENCE-BUILDING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS: A Case Study of Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds in Davao City
When we heard about the allegations of the military in Tawan-Tawan about IDIS being part or supporters of the NPA, we raised the issue to the LGU and suggested to invite the military for a dialogue. It was during that time that all the allegations were clarified. We explained that rallies or mobilizations are not forbidden by law, and that it is part of our right to public assembly and freedom of expression. All the rallies/mobilizations we did with the members of the community were about environmental issues and not political in nature. From then on, they have had a different perspective of what we do, and a better understanding of our work. Thus, during the 3D map construction, they helped us secure the area for the participants and guests, and even donated a sack of rice for the volunteers. They now invite us whenever they have community meetings/ activities, IDIS Executive Director Mary Ann Fuertes elucidated.
Female members of the MTBKA participate in the preparation of seedlings for outplanting used in reforestation activities (IDIS/Judy Ann Enriquez).
A VISION FOR CLEAN WATER AND HEALTH WATERSHEDS

The vision of IDIS is clear and simple: For Davao City to have clean water and healthy watersheds. In its Vision-Mission Statement, IDIS was very clear that it wanted to contribute to and advocate for living arrangements where: All human beings are equal, with an equal right to a good life in a healthy environment. Everyone has a duty to protect the environment and all forms of life. Each of us should live in ways that do not harm the uplands and should share
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Upland communities must be given political space to contribute to the development of policies on watershed implementation. JEAN MARIE FERRARIS NGO Worker
good examples of such living with each other. The upland resources, the air, the water, the land, the plants, and the animals have to be protected because this is for the good of all living beings now and the future. Uplands should not be abused. We must use them intelligently and in such a way that everybody benefits. What we have received from our ancestors, we want to pass on to our children and their children but in a better, not worse state than we found it. We must put an end to pollution, erosion and environmental degradation and invent better ways of living by showing respect for all living creatures, without waste and without poisoning nature. It will make us all healthier and happier people.
Fuertes has recognized that this vision shall be realized when both upland and lowland stakeholders own the responsibility of taking care of their watersheds. Healthy watersheds do not only guarantee the sustainable supply of water, but they also ensure that the citizens are protected from
calamities.
One of the key strategies to reaching this vision was articulated by Jean Marie Ferraris, an NGO worker who was part of a team that evaluated the work of IDIS in 2010. She noted that upland communities must be given political space to contribute to the development of policies on watershed implementation. It is imperative, she pointed out, for the policy-governing bodies to be circumspect about those directly-affected needs of communities (e.g., forest-dependent communities) and address these needs strategically. According to Ferraris, among the things that must be done are: review all the relevant laws and policy frameworks and identify potential conflict areas; identify guiding principles in watershed management and partnership-building; map out stakeholders interests to determine the nature, character, and parameters of bilateral and multilateral partnerships; take into account power relations and balance; and, clearly define roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities of stakeholders.
Overall, she noted that the objective of achieving sustainable watershed management in Davao City should be part of a larger endeavor to develop and implement a sustainable land use plan. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also said that sufficient supply of water for future use is desired and stressed that the sustainability of the supply of clean and safe water can be attained by coming up with programs and activities that will protect, preserve, conserve, and maintain the cleanliness of the citys watersheds. Duterte-Carpio stressed that the most important strategy is to have multi-sector participation and support to ensure that all possible concerns will be discussed and addressed through innovative and effective programs and projects.
MAPPING OUT FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

1. Prepare and implement a sustainability plan to support the long-term implementation of the Watershed Code. The major challenge in Watershed Code enforcement is the lack of budgetary appropriation. The LGU should be able to identify a sustainable funding source for its implementation, such as the collection of an environmental users fee, or payment for ecological services. Also, considering that resources are limited, resource mobilization among WMC partner agencies may be pursued. As Ybaez put it, Each agency of the WMC should be able to contribute based on their institutional mandate and interest. We need more partners and volunteers. Watershed management, protection, and conservation should be everyones concern. To do this, the respective mandates and concerns of various WMC member-agencies (e.g., NCIP, DENR, LGU) can be interlinked vis--vis watershed management, protection, and conservation for more efficient and effective utilization of resources, NCIP Community Affairs Officer Luzmila Antiampo added. Innovative financing mechanisms (e.g., collection of water users fee) should be explored as well. This strategy will not only instill consciousness of the need to conserve water, but also more importantly, generate the needed resources for watershed management. This approach should be pursued in partnership with the DWCD and the WMC in the next five years. With a water levy, an environmental users fee, or compensatory accountability for water usage, it is hoped that
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this scheme will have a lasting impact on the communities, especially because the generated funds will be able to make programs and projects self-sustaining (e.g., rehabilitation of watersheds) and not reliant on external funding. Extensive IEC to educate the public about the need to charge environmental fees is necessary, so that they will feel more responsible and accountable for their water use. The success of this strategy lies in the increased public consciousness for watershed protection, and of course, in the political will of the LGU. Compared to ordinary households, extractive industries, like bottling companies, should be charged higher environmental users fees owing to their impact on water resources. Other innovative financing mechanisms should also be explored, such as: Collection of pollution fees, charges, taxes, and other related environmental fees, particularly for large-scale, commercial monocrop plantations within watershed areas (imposition of fines is mandated by the IRR of the Watershed Code); and Private sector support through CSR programs of private companies.
Existing models and best practices in other areas for possible application in Davao City should be studied.
2. Expand the scope of partnership-building. In the recent years, much focus was given to TLW and PTW. Since Davao City has eight (8) watersheds, expanding the coverage of watershed protection and conservation to the other six (6) should be pursued in the next five years, particularly Matina Watershed where thirty (30) people died during the flashflood in 2011. Each watershed area should have a watershed plan that should be thoroughly implemented on the ground and closely monitored by the WMC. The production of the watershed plans for TLW and PTW is ongoing. IDIS is spearheading this activity (with financial support from USAIDFPE) in partnership with the WMC, another collaborative partnership to implement the Watershed Code.
Also, considering that eight (8) out of the eighteen (18) major river basins in the country are located in Mindanao and because the island has a total of 262 rivers that need to be protected (Colina, 2012), IDIS may want to also set its sights on up-scaling its convergence-building efforts regionally, if not Mindanao-wide, in the next five years. Strategically, together with the LGU of Davao, it has actively worked with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which recently launched a program dubbed MindaNOW: Nurturing our Waters.6 MindaNOW is a flagship program of MinDA, with sets of development interventions anchored on sustainable development framework that aims to integrate, harmonize, and rationalize plans, programs, policies, mechanisms, and processes. Adopting riverbasin and watershed as key platforms for planning, the program aims to set guidelines for Mindanao that will emphasize the importance of water as the most critical resource for human survival and optimize the potentials of riverbasins and watersheds without compromising their carrying capacity. (MinDA, 2012) Consequently, partnership-building needs to be expanded to include various sectors and stakeholders. IDIS should strategically widen the coverage for watershed management initiatives at the local, regional, and national levels. Being at the forefront of watershed protection, conservation, and management will require gathering the support of the WMC, CSO partners, and other vital stakeholders, so that collectively, they can have meaningful impact at the regional level in the next five years. Sharing Magsucis point, Avila emphasized, Partnership can only be strengthened when a common vision is shared and acted upon. There must be continued dialogue and engagement of all sectors. IDIS should engage the economic sector, as it has an impact on the state of our watersheds. It should never cease in seeking out potential partners and supporters. Inclusiveness, not exclusivity, must always be considered because, after all, we will always be in this together. A consistent and visible campaign, whether through media, schools or other fora, must be maximized.
Figure 6. IDIS Long-Term Strategic Fit Model

There must always be a shared vision or a common goal. These can be addressed through dialogues and workshop activities. Constant coordination among all stakeholders, maintaining harmonious and amiable relationships with one another, and focusing towards the attainment of set objectives are necessary. Stakeholders should attend meetings and religiously perform their assigned roles, Magsuci emphasized.
6 The WMC is already engaging with MinDA on this program, but has committed only for the Davao River Basin, where the WMC will take care of the upland portion of the Davao River within Davao City, while the delta will be overseen by the Save Davao Gulf Movement. The Bukidnon groups will be in charge of the Bukidnon group of the Davao River.
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Commitment contracts may be established to institutionalize the review and updating of initiatives, Mayor Duterte-Carpio pointed out. In terms of research, the academe and other research-based institutions can play an active role in conducting research on the quantity and quality of water and in disseminating knowledge materials for effective policymaking and watershed management. 3. Push for the adoption of the watershed framework in the development plans of LGUs in the Davao region. The USA EPA (2008) defines the watershed approach as a coordinating framework for environmental management that focuses public and private sector efforts to address the highest priority problems within hydrologically-defined geographic areas, taking into consideration both ground and surface water flow. The watershed approach to development is necessary to addressing interrelated environmental and development issues, such as, discharge of pollutants into the air, lakes, rivers, wetlands, estuaries, coastal waters, and ground water; urban, agricultural, or other forms of polluted runoff; landscape modification; depleted or contaminated ground water; changes in flow; overharvesting of fish and other organisms; introduction of exotic species; bioaccumulation of toxics; and deposition or recycling of pollutants between air, land and water. (US EPA, 2008) 4. Organize and empower grassroots partner communities for long-term sustainability. The existing PO partners of IDIS (MTBKA, KAPPI, and MAAS) need capacity-building and organizational development, so that they can be more effective partners in watershed protection, conservation, and management. MTBKA officials cited the need to strengthen and develop their organization and to train second-line PO leaders. Organizational development needs to focus on strenghtening up policies and ensuring their strict enforcement, instilling proper values among members, and uniting them towards a common vision. Development interventions should also focus on bottom-up approaches, so that PO members will have ownership of NRM projects. Resource-based livelihood has to be considered for upland watershed communities as well. The DENR and LGU should sustainably provide assistance to our forest guards (e.g., SSS and PhilHealth coverage), so they can actively participate in the protection of Mt. Tipolog through the National Greening Program (NGP) and other NRM projects, Legaspi remarked. Only actual occupants of forest areas should be issued tenurial instruments. Hence, in terms of paralegal work, MTBKA has to be trained to fight for the cancellation of the Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement (SIFMA), a tenurial instrument covering 300 hectares in Mt. Tipolog, issued by the DENR XI to Baywood Plantation Association, Inc., whose members are purportedly not actual occupants of the area. Aside from PTW and TLW, grassroots communities in the other six (6) watershed areas in Davao City should be organized as well, so that they can serve as effective partners in guarding the forestlands.
An integrated environmental approach is necessary to address the aforementioned issues. Existing air, waste, and pesticide management, water pollution prevention and control programs, and other related natural resource programs are excellent foundations on which to build a watershed approach(US EPA, 2008). In the case of Davao City, its proposed Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) should be consistent with the watershed approach. Its 1996 Zoning Ordinance should likewise be updated and anchored on watershed development framework. Other LGUs in the Davao region should be trained to do the same. Convergence-building among LGUs located within contiguous watershed areas need to be pursued starting 22 March 2013 in time for the Watershed Summit.
Figure 7. What Makes up our Watersheds?7
7 Kali-Jul, Joehaima & Kunso, Czarina M. Watershed Connections: What Makes up our Watersheds? Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1751609112517& set=t.1245049554&type=3&theater (visited last 17 September 2012).
5. Utilize effective knowledge management for watershed protection and conservation. Knowledge management is defined as the creation, extraction, transformation, and storage of correct knowledge and information in order to design better policy, modify action, and deliver results. (Horwitch & Armacost, 2002, cited in Kanagasabapathy, K.A., et. al.) In the case of Davao Citys watersheds, insights and experiences in watershed management should be regularly documented and disseminated to improve policy implementation.
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To facilitate knowledge management, best practices and lessons learned should be documented through case studies. Cross-referenced materials based on exchanges and on-the-ground experiences are needed. For rural areas, dissemination of knowledge may be done through videos and other IEC materials. For urban areas, knowledge materials may be disseminated through tri-media and the Internet. Donor agencies and policymakers may be tapped to pursue these, Pacudan said. The 3D Map of TLW and PTW, now displayed at the Peoples Park in Davao City, is a valuable IEC material and planning tool. It needs to be regularly updated to reflect changes in land use and the effects of climate change (e.g., changes in river flow and direction). Its utilization has to be linked with resources located within TLW and PTW. Future updating should incorporate cultural resources, like sacred grounds of Lumads located within the watershed areas, including their indigenous knowledge system and practices, Antiampo suggested, adding that some cultural practices of Lumads, like hunting, need to be reconciled with the provisions of the Watershed Code. Mayor Duterte-Carpio identified the following knowledge management strategies for the next five years: set up a multi-stakeholders core group with permanent WMC technical staff to ensure continuity and follow-through of talking and/or action points regarding watershed management efforts; comprehensive identification of resources, including creation of databases, for every access and reference point for management consideration by stakeholders; and, continuous capacity-building of existing technical staff and implementation of knowledge management systems using IT or non-IT based tools to share information with other concerned offices and agencies.
6. Tie up convergence-building efforts with IDIS five (5) Key Result Areas (KRAs) in the next five years. To realize IDIS tagline Clean Water. Healthy Watersheds, partnership-building needs to be tied up with IDIS five (5) KRAs, namely: implementation of the Watershed Code, Organic Agriculture Ordinance, and Green Davao City Programme; environmental impact assessment of plantations; and, reinvigorating the anti-aerial spray campaign. Gathering multi-sector and multi-stakeholder support is needed for the effective implementation of ground delineation and buffer zones within watershed areas. It is also necessary to block efforts of some interest groups to amend the Watershed Code. In terms of alliance-building, expanding the GODC network and pushing for the implementation of diversified organic farming on the ground should be pursued. In the next five years, Davao should be transformed into a green city with clean and healthy watersheds and with programs supporting a healthy environment (e.g., riverbank protection) and a healthy lifestyle (e.g., green corridors and bicycle lanes for the general public). Early in 2012, IDIS launched the Lunhaw Awards, in partnership with the Davao Association of Colleges and Schools (DACS), the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, the City Agriculture Office, and the Davao City Water District. The Lunhaw Awards aims to recognize green initiatives in Davao City and to encourage more Davaoeos to do the same.
Figure 8. Strategic Thrusts for Partnership-Building
Green initiatives at the household level, community, and institutional level will be recognized and widely promoted for the general education of the public. With the support of the academe and other research-based organizations, environmental impact assessment (EIA) of plantations should be conducted. The DENRs 100-hectare requirement for the issuance of Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) needs to be investigated and removed or changed, as it can be used by large-scale, commercial plantations to circumvent provisions of the Watershed Code. IDIS has already facilitated the drafting of an alternative law to DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 30. The draft DAO revises the current IRR of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System. Legal consultations and public presentations of the draft have been conducted. The next step is for it to be presented to other stakeholders in Manila and to get more support for its adoption. Meta-legal strategies may be employed to urge the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of Davao Citys AntiAerial Spraying Ordinance, which remains unimplemented since its passage in 2007. Finally, red flags should be raised, because the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD)tasked by President Benigno Aquino III in 2011 to consolidate the different positions of various stakeholders on aerial spraying failed to include representatives coming from the affected communities in Davao City.
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A child curiously observes the 3D map of Davao Citys watersheds, publicly displayed at the Davao City Peoples Park (FPE File Photo).
CONCLUSION
The initial successes of IDIS environmental advocacies over the past ten years would not have been possible without the support of its partner agencies and organizations. Consequently, for IDIS to continue to have meaningful impact on watershed protection, conservation, and management in the next five years, it should enhance and expand its scope of convergence-building efforts. In addition, IDIS needs to prepare and implement a sustainability plan to support the long-term implementation of the Watershed Code, utilize effective knowledge management for watershed protection and conservation, and push for the adoption of the watershed framework in the development plans of LGUs in the Davao region. To realize its vision of Clean Water. Healthy Watersheds, partnership-building should be tied up with its five (5) KRAs, namely: implementation of the Watershed Code, Organic Agriculture Ordinance, and Green Davao City Programme; environmental impact assessment of plantations; and reinvigorating its anti-aerial spray campaign. Finally, on the ground level, grassroots partner communities should be organized and empowered for long-term sustainability of watershed management.
REFERENCES
Bagadion, Benjamin C. Jr. (2006).Windward: Steering Community-Driven Projects for Environmental Protection: A Case Book of Asian Praxis. Asian Institute of Management Center for Development and UNDP. Blanchard, Benjamin (2004). System Engineering Management. Colina, Antonio L. IV (2012). Rivers, watersheds must be part in Mindanao development plans. Retrieved from http://www.sunstar. com.ph/davao/local-news/2012/06/06/rivers-watersheds-must-be-part-mindanao-development-plans-225390 (visited last 14 September 2012). Davao City Executive Order No. (2009). Creating and Constituting the Watershed Management Council, the Barangay Watershed Management Councils, and the Watershed Multipartite Monitoring Teams. Davao City Watershed Code (2007).City Ordinance No. 0310-07. Davao City Watershed Code - Implementing Rules and Regulations (2008). Godof, Villapando T. Jr. (2011, October 5). USAID-Funded Up-scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas Partners Meeting [PowerPoint Presentation]. IDIS (2011).U-CARE FOR DAVAO WATERSHEDS: Up-scaling Community Action and Response for the Protection and Management of Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds in Davao[Project Overview and PowerPoint Presentation]. IDIS (2010).Things I Should Know about the Davao City Watershed Code. Retrieved from http://www.idisphil.org/things-i-shouldknow-about-the-davao-city-watershed-code/ (visited last 07 March 2012). Kanagasabapathy, K.A., et. al. (undated). Empirical investigation of critical success factor and knowledge management structure for successful implementation of knowledge management system A case study in process industry. Retrieved from http:// hosteddocs.ittoolbox.com/kkrr41106.pdf (visited last 17 September 2012). Lewis, Sarah (undated). Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry. Retrieved from www.jemstoneconsultancy.co.uk/ai_mid/.../introduction_ to_ai.ppt (visited last 14 October 2012). MinDA (2012). MindaNOW!: Nurturing our Waters [leaflet]. Segal-Horn Susan, ed. (2004).The Strategy Reader. The Open University. Great Britain. Simpol, Lourdes (2009). Survey on the Level of Pesticide Contaminants Within Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan Watersheds. Research Presentation during a Civil Society Conference on Agri-Business Plantations: Our Health, Our Environment at Stake, 15-16 April 2009, Davao City. Torralba, Raul, et.al. (2011). IDIS External Evaluation. US Environmental Protection Agency (2008). Need for Watershed Approaches. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/ framework/ch4.html (visited last 17 September 2012). US Environmental Protection Agency (2008). What is a Watershed Approach? Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/ framework/ch2.html (visited last 17 September 2012).
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ANNEX 1 GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS

Convergence-Building towards Sustainable Management of Watersheds: A Case Study of Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watersheds in Davao City GUIDE QUESTIONS NAME OF INTERVIEWEE: ____________________________________ Position: _______________________________________________ Organization: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________________________________________ Interviewed by: ___________________________________________
GUIDE QUESTIONS 1. CONTEXT: Based on your engagements with IDIS on watershed management, please give us some inputs or backgrounder on the following: Period when IDIS started its convergence-building efforts Concrete initiatives spearheaded by IDIS pertaining to watershed management and - Natural resource management (NRM) - Knowledge management (KM) - Sustainability of watershed management Vital role of IDIS in these initiatives 2. ANALYSIS How would you assess the convergence-building efforts on watershed management the past five years? What are the positive aspects of these partnershipbuilding initiatives? Kindly identify the positive impacts of these initiatives in achieving sustainable watershed management in Davao City. What aspects should be enhanced for future initiatives? What have been the challenges? How have these been addressed? 3. VISION What do you think should be the collective vision of stakeholders in the next five year in achieving sustainable watershed management in Davao City? What do you think should be the role of CSOs, particularly IDIS, in achieving this vision? 4. NEXT 5 YEARS What are the lessons learned in partnership-building? How can these be addressed in future watershed management initiatives? What concrete steps would you recommend for: - Partnership-building - Natural resource management - Knowledge management How can stakeholders collectively work together to sustain watershed management efforts?
ANSWERS
ANNEX 2 - KEY INFORMANT INTERWIEWS

Donor Agency: Armand Pacudan Mindanao Regional Unit Manager Foundation for the Philippine Environment LGU and Government Agencies: Luzmila Didith Antiampo Community Affairs Officer National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) - Region XI Leonardo Happy L.A. R. Avila III, MPA OIC-City Agriculturist Office Davao City Hon. Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio City Mayor, Davao City Dahlia Cervantes Head, DA-BPI Pesticide Analytical Lab Imelda Magsuci Spokesperson, Davao City Water District (DCWD) Claudio Toto A. Ybaez Project Coordinator Watershed Management Council (WMC) NGO/PO Partners: Merlene Delos Santos President Mt. Tipolog Bantay Kinaiyahan Association (MTBKA) Randy Legaspi Vice Chair Mt. Tipolog Bantay Kinaiyahan Association (MTBKA) Dominador Doming A. Lopez President Watershed Management Coordinating Council (WMCC) Joel Palabrica Project Committee Chair Mt. Tipolog Bantay Kinaiyahan Association (MTBKA) Other Respondent: Jean Marie Ferraris External Evaluator of IDIS
CASE STUDY WRITERS

ALLAN VILLANUEVA is a Mindanao-based program management, policy, and peace and development specialist. He graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a degree in Political Science, and pursued graduate studies in industrial relations at the UP School of Labor and Industrial Relations. Recently, he finished his masters degree in peace and development at the Ateneo De Davao University. His current areas of interests are environmental conservation and protection, sustainable development, health policy, and conflict studies and management. JERRY TUPAS is the editor and founder of www.newsdesk.asia, an independent initiative of freelance journalists in Mindanao. He is a B.S. Development communication graduate from University of Southern Mindanao. Since then, he ventured into mainstream media, working as a correspondent for Philippine Daily Inquirer and up until recently as news desk editor for TV5 Davao Bureau. He has also worked as a Media Advocacy Specialist for IDIS from 2005-2008. He has been a consultant and mentor for the for the International Organization for Migration on IEC materials production workshop and training and has been a trainer/writer/documenter for Mindanao Rural Development Program of the Department of Agriculture, Act for Peace Programme and Canadian International Development Agency. He has also garnered awards for having Most Outstanding Stories on Indigenous People for the Story Enchanting Adventure in Agusan Marsh and Runner up for Best Feature in Mindanao Peace Journalism Awards (2003).
FPE MANAGEMENT TEAM
USAID-FPE PROJECT TEAM

Maria Felda S. Domingo NATIONAL PROJECT COORDINATOR Rosalie G. Pasibe LUZON REGIONAL COORDINATOR June Arthur P. Banagodos VISAYAS REGIONAL COORDINATOR Joseph Thaddeus R. Rabang MINDANAO REGIONAL COORDINATOR/ NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Cherylon A. Herzano NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (Sept 2011-June 2012) Michelle D. Alejado PARTNERSHIP BUILDING SPECIALIST Ma. Rhodora C. Veloso KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (Feb-Sept 2012) Florence C. Baula KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST Constancia S. Bacolod PROJECT ASSISTANT Carina Dacillo/ Charity Marces/ Anita T. Tungala BOOKKEEPER
The American people, through the United States Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for over 50 years. In the Philippines, USAID works in partnership with the national government in creating a more stable, prosperous and well-governed country through programs that promote broad-based and inclusive economic growth, increase peace and stability in Mindanao, and reduce risks from natural disasters. For more information about USAIDs programs in the Philippines, visit http://philippines.usaid.gov.
FPE is the first and largest grant-making organization for civil society environmental initiatives in the Philippines. Its support went primarily to protecting local conservation sites and strengthening community and grassroots-led environmental efforts in more than 65 critical sites through more than 1,300 projects grants. The establishment of FPE on January 15, 1992 was meant to abate the destruction of the countrys own natural resources. As many as 334 NGOs and grassroots organizations, along with 24 academic institutions, helped set its course through a process of nationwide consultations. Subsequently, Philippine and United States government agencies and NGOs raised the foundations initial $21.8-million endowment through an innovative debt-for-nature swap. Today, FPE remains committed in fulfilling its roles as a catalyst for cooperation, grant maker, and fund facilitator for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. For more information about FPE, visit http://www.fpe.ph.
Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) is an environmental advocacy NGO dedicated to the protection and sustainable management of the upland watersheds in Davao City. It opposes the intensive pesticide use inherent in mono-crop agribusiness as pollutant destructive of water resources, the health of people and the environment. It supports sustainable ecological farming and commits to empower Davaoeos in defense of their rights to life, in a clean and healthy environment. IDIS also wants to contribute and advocate for a sustainable way of life through its LUNHAW AWARDS, a search for best green initiatives, believing that as more people are involved in green initiatives, the better it will be for the health of watersheds. For more information about IDIS, visit http://www.idisphil.org/.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines

Annex 2 Building U.S. Embassy 1201 Roxas Boulevard 1000 Ermita, Manila Philippines Fax: (02) 301 6213
Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE)

77 Matahimik Street Teachers Village, Diliman Quezon City 1101 Philippines Telephone: (02) 927 2186/ 926 9629/ 927 9403 Fax: (02) 9223022
Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS)

263 Circle A Phase I Ecoland Subd. Matina, Davao City 8000 Philippines Telephone: (082) 299 4552 Fax: (082) 299 4552

Convergence-Building Towards Sustainable Management of Watersheds

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Convergence-Building Towards Sustainable Management of Watersheds

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KALIKASAN BCSD Knowledge Series SIX

CONVERGENCE-BUILDING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS

CONVERGENCE-BUILDING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS

GLORIA D. STEELE Mission Director, USAID/Philippines

The BCSD Knowledge Series of FPE

ANALYSIS OF CONVERGENCE-BUILDING EFFORTS

Figure 2. Tripartite Synergy

Figure 3. MTBKA Allocation of General Fund

Organizational Development, 35%

General livelihood for all members, 35%

Figure 5. Gender Distribution of Rainforestation Training Participants

Figure 4. Gender Distribution of MTBKA Membership

A VISION FOR CLEAN WATER AND HEALTH WATERSHEDS

MAPPING OUT FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

Figure 6. IDIS Long-Term Strategic Fit Model

Figure 7. What Makes up our Watersheds?7

Figure 8. Strategic Thrusts for Partnership-Building

ANNEX 1 GUIDE QUESTIONS FOR KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS

ANNEX 2 - KEY INFORMANT INTERWIEWS

CASE STUDY WRITERS

FPE MANAGEMENT TEAM

USAID-FPE PROJECT TEAM

CONVERGENCE-BUILDING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines

Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE)

Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS)

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