COGNIZANT of its obligation to ensure that the environment is protected and the natural resources is sustainably managed for the benefit of the future generation, the city government will share the responsibility of restoring, protecting and managing our natural water resources with the private sector and other appropriate government agencies.
This, after the City Council enacted an ordinance providing for the Promotion of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation Network, creating the Ecological Services and Protection Committee (ESPC) and for other purposes, this week.
Authored by Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, the ordinance provides that the city shall enter into an environmental agreement with any and all sectors covered for the conservation, protection and restoration of the Cagayan de Oro River Basin and six major river watersheds and its three sub-watersheds within the city, as well as in the establishment and maintenance of urban greening projects/green spaces such as shaded walkways, maintenance of medians and islands, green pockets, including the protection of natural forest and forest tree seedlings maintenance and care, among others.
The environmental agreement may be in the form of adopting-a-watershed within the identified High Risk Areas within the watersheds of the city and the Cagayan de Oro River Basin, conducting annual tree-planting activity in these areas and financial grant or aid by individual philanthropist, it further stated.
Academes, POs, NGOs, CSOs and other groups/individuals intending to conduct research through the Ecological Services and Protection Fund shall submit a proposal to the TWG subject to the approval of the ESPC.
The ESPC or the Special Body shall be headed by the city mayor and co-chaired by an Environmental NGO. Its members shall include the chairperson of the City Council committee on environment, manager of COWD, City Treasurer, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay and representatives from the National Water Resources Board, water sector, business sector, religious sector, DENR-CDD and the SK Federation.
The TWG shall be composed of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) as the head, with the academic institution as the co-chair. The members include the City Planning and Development Office, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, City Agriculture Office, DENR-CDD, City DILG, Cagayan de Or River Basin Management Council, Environmental Expert, Hydrology Expert and a representative from the Oro Youth Center.
The TWG shall serve as the Secretariat of the Special Body, develop and recommend monitoring and evaluation system measures for consideration of the Special Body.
A Special Project fund in the amount of P5 million in the annual budget of Clenro shall be made available for the implementation of the ordinance.
The legislation was endorsed by the committees on finance, budget and appropriations, environment, planning and development and on laws and rules respectively chaired by Councilors Edna Dahino, Enrico Salcedo and Ian Mark Nacaya. (sp)
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