Bukidnon: Our River Runs Through It

No thanks to global warming and climate change, more people are now aware of the interconnection between various components of an environment which together make an ecosystem.

A prime example of this is the Cagayan River, often erroneously called the Cagayan de Oro River. Lately, it has figured highly in the people´s radar as its rampaging flood waters ran amok in Cagayan de Oro, similar to the floods which ravaged Metro Manila a few days ago due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Ondoy.

Mainly because of this, more people are now aware of how factors external to its ecosystem can affect everyone and everything along its course as it meanders from its headwaters in the Kalatungan Mountain Range in the central portion of Bukidnon, traversing the municipalities of Talakag, Baungon and Libona, before it empties about 90 kilometers downstream into the Macajalar Bay.

Cagayan River drains an area of approximately 1, 521 square kilometers with about eighty percent of the drainage basin located in Bukidnon and the rest in Lanao del Norte and Cagayan de Oro City with three main tributaries: the Kalawaig, Tagite River and Bubunawan River.

The geographical coverage of the Cagayan River Basin is the main reason why it was included in the territory to be policed by the proposed Cagayan de Oro River Basin Development Authority under House Bill No. 5908 authored by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City´s second district.

It is unfortunate that the Bukidnon provincial board chose to see the matter differently, passing a resolution in a special Sept. 9 session in response to Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr.´s request "strongly opposing, protesting and objecting to the inclusion of the water resources and territorial boundaries of the province of Bukidnon into the proposed Cagayan de Oro River Basin Development Authority under House Bill No. 5908".

In his explanatory note, Rodriguez cited the need for more comprehensive flood controls and drainage along the Cagayan River, its tributaries and natural waterways, following the consecutive weekend floods of January 2009. The proposed Cagayan River Basin Development Authority would oversee the preservation, protection, and development of the waterways flowing into it, he added.

Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri of Bukidnon has expressed his objection to the bill since it would "transfer control over the water resources and areas of Bukidnon" to another entity. The Cagayan River has its head waters in the Kalatungan Mountain Range of Bukidnon.

The SP also cited in the resolution that the country´s natural resources are vested by the Constitution on the State through its instrumentalities, including the Natural Water Resources Board. They said the proposed body cannot legally regulate the water resources that are found in the province without amending the pertinent provisions of the Civil and Water codes, and the 1987 Constitution.

Upon receiving his copy of the resolution, Rodriguez immediately declared his willingness to add Bukidnon officials as co-equal members of the proposed authority, as well as change its name to something more appropriate which is more reflective of its trans-territorial nature.

Former Bukidnon First District Rep. Nereus Acosta concurs, having an intimate, first hand experience of growing up with the Cagayan River ecosystem during his boyhood in Manolo Fortich, and later as congressional representative of the district which comprise a main portion of its basin for three consecutive terms.

As an innovative legislator, Acosta is more than qualified to explain the intricacies of a complex ecosystem like the Cagayan River and its drainage basin. Besides serving as Chairman of the Committee on Ecology during his term in Congress, Acosta is the principal author of many environmental laws in the Philippines, including the groundbreaking Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, and the Biodiversity Protection Act.

More important, he continues to live his environmental advocacy as a member of the Boards of the Earth Council of the Philippines, and the Population, Health and the Environment (PATH) Foundation. He is also an active member of the Partnership for Clean Air, Philippines, and the Founding Director of E-LEAD (Center for Ecological Governance, Leadership and Development). Acosta recently served as Lead Convenor of The Philippine Climate Imperative, an initiative that aims to engage the private sector in drawing up a proposal that will address the issues of climate change.

Acosta believes the local government units of Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and their component LGUs at the municipal and barangay levels should come together through the proposed authority to manage and police the Cagayan River ecosystem. This means not only the river itself and its tributaries and waterways, but the watershed and aquifers through which the water cycle which gives life to its entire river basin moves in its endless circle of life and rebirth.

With the authority in place as the unifying force between entities which have diverse and often conflicting agendas, Bukidon and Cagayan de Oro can act together to prevent tragedies similar to the January 2009 flash floods which ravaged the latter, as well as deal impartially with fair and swift dispatch on issues such as the proposed bioethanol which many perceive to be a threat to the river´s ecosystem, particularly the city´s aquifers and ground water resources.

In recognition of his contributions to policy-making, education, and advocacy work,Acosta was included in NewsBizAsia's 100 Most Influential Filipinos (2002), and was cited by Asiaweek as representing the "youthful, hopeful change for the country." He was also selected as one of The Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) - Asia Pacific by the Osaka, Japan Junior Chamber in 1995.