OTTAA-Philippines Signed the Co-Management Agreement with the BKRWASAI

Mar 12, 2013

Under the MDGF-1919: Enhancing access to and provision of water services with the active participation of the poor program of the national government, the Salin Tubig Project selected Barangay Kirang in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya as recipient because of the availability of water source due to the existence of a well maintained watershed area.

On the 22nd of February, a Co-Management Agreement (COMA) was signed between the OISCA Technical Trainees Alumni Association (OTTAA) and Barangay Kirang Rural Water and Sanitation (BKRWASAI) for the protection and maintenance of the water source.

Prior to the COMA signing, OTTAA spearheaded a community organizing and seminar conducted by a specialist from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), involving all the residents of the community to be members of the established Kirang Community Forest Tree Growers and Livelihood Association. Members of the association will be responsible on the maintenance of the watershed including the planting, weeding and fertilizer application.

Through the seminar, the following objectives were met:

To emphasize the importance of community involvement in the maintenance of the watershed.
To discuss each and everybody`s roles and responsibilities.
To discuss the benefits and advantages of the well-maintained watershed.
To emphasize the importance of enriching biodiversity through planting of local species of trees.

Since 1993, the OISCA Technical Trainees Alumni Association (OTTAA) has been initiating annual reforestation activities in the watershed area in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), local residents and Japanese volunteers for the recovery of the 500 hectares denuded forests in Kirang.

The results of almost two decades of reforestation activities are gradually being observed as manifested on the availability of flowing water all year round and increase of vegetation cover as well as species biodiversity.

Starting this year, with an objective of improving species biodiversity, a two-year project of planting indigenous species of trees supplemented with planting of fruit-bearing species of trees in between the secondary-growth fast growing species of trees will be implemented supported by Toyota Environmental Activities Grant Program.