The province of Nueva Vizcaya is considered the watershed
haven for the entire Cagayan Valley Region. It is home to
the 429-hectare Borobbob mini-watershed, which partly supports
the regional hydropower system, provides irrigation to almost
400 hectares of lowland farms in the adjoining municipalities
and supplies potable water to at least 2,000 households.
A 1969 Presidential Proclamation placed the watershed
under a “critical watershed status”, imposing
numerous limitations that the local DENR and LGU have had
to contend with. Approximately 135 families occupy the watershed
area. But because of the lack of security of tenure, the
occupants are discouraged from cooperating in the conservation
efforts of the government. Some even went as far as to destroy
government investments in irrigation and reforestation.
Not paralyzed by the legislative ambiguity, the LGU
saw the opportunity to advocate a co-management arrangement
with the occupants through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
Instead of treating the forest occupants as squatters who
have to be relocated, they were considered as stakeholders
and were given security of tenure for 25 years.
Through this move, the LGU was able to harmonize
opposing interests in the watershed resources. The different
barangays actively participated in the community resource
mapping to clarify and resolve conflicting interests. As
a result, the occurrence of forest fires significantly stopped.
Timber poaching was 100% eradicated. Vegetative cover was
enhanced. There is now a guaranteed supply of irrigation
and potable water to the farms and households. Forest cover
noticeably increased in the whole province.
The program has successfully addressed issues in
security of tenure and food security. It has brought together
the entire local community in active participation in the
government’s efforts to create a more focused and
sustainable approach to watershed management.
