MinDA Champions Mandulog River Basin Unity: Forging Iligan's Resilient Watershed Future

COURTESY: Mindanao Development Authority

Mindanao Development Authority actively supports Mandulog River Basin Collaborative Initiative. Stakeholders converge at MSU-IIT Board Room in Iligan City. They forge a powerful path toward climate resilience and environmental security. Consequently, isolated efforts transform into coordinated, science-driven action across Iligan's interconnected river systems.

EnP. Lordilie S. Enjambre leads MinDA's Northern Mindanao Area Management Office. Together with MSU-IIT's WE CARE Office, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, LGU-Iligan City, and dedicated faculty teams, they institutionalize an Integrated Watershed Governance Framework. This bold framework embraces all eight major watersheds: Dalipuga, Mandulog, Iligan, Tominobo, Abaga, Agus, Iponan, and Cagayan basins. Therefore, fragmented approaches finally yield to unified, ecosystem-based management.

Breaking Silos: Why Iligan Demands Integrated Watershed Governance

Flood dynamics, sedimentation, upstream land-use changes, and coastal impacts relentlessly cross basin boundaries. Typhoon Sendong and Typhoon Basyang brutally exposed these vulnerabilities years ago. However, past watershed initiatives operated in isolation. Now, stakeholders decisively reject that outdated model. They embrace interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle forest degradation, flood risks, and fragmented planning head-on.

Dr. Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit spearheads the Mandulog River Basin Program with unwavering focus. The initiative institutionalizes a unified governance mechanism. It aligns institutional priorities, strengthens inter-agency coordination, and integrates Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment, Forest Land Use Plans, and Community-Based Monitoring Systems into one centralized technical repository. Moreover, participatory ecosystem mapping identifies high-risk zones. As a result, vulnerability-informed planning drives long-term sustainability for Iligan's communities.

Building the Roadmap: Next Steps Toward Lasting Resilience

The collaborative team strengthens institutional alignment with regional and national partners. They develop a consolidated watershed governance roadmap. Simultaneously, they advance policy and technical engagements to unlock sustainable financing and robust implementation mechanisms. MSU-IIT Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan firmly reaffirms the university's commitment. It pledges academic leadership, technical expertise, and research support to champion resilient watershed systems.

This groundbreaking initiative signals unbreakable unity. Stakeholders protect ecosystems, reinforce governance, and safeguard Iligan's future. Indeed, the Mandulog River Basin Collaborative Initiative marks a decisive stride toward a truly resilient and sustainable Iligan.

Rising Above the Waters: Cagayan de Oro City's Comprehensive Flood Control Initiative

Introduction: A Community's Resilience

COURTESY: (JAKA/PIA-10)

The resilience of communities vulnerable to flooding is being fortified through a significant initiative by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Particularly, areas like Sitio Cabula in Brgy. Lumbia are witnessing transformative changes as a multi-phase flood control project unfolds. This initiative aims to mitigate risks and safeguard homes from the recurrent threat of flooding, a concern that has haunted residents for years, especially following the devastating effects of Typhoon Sendong in 2011.

The project, funded under the Marcos administration’s flood mitigation initiative, specifically targets areas adjacent to riverbanks in the city’s 1st district, which have historically suffered severe flooding. Bryan Bayker, a long-time resident and survivor of Typhoon Sendong, expressed gratitude for the government’s intervention. His words resonate with the sentiment of many: “Mapasalamaton mi nga naa kani nga proyekto sa gobyerno kay ang baha kusog gyud og flow ug kato wala pa ning flood control ang yuta gakahinay-hinay na og ka hugno” (We are grateful that this government project exists because the floodwaters flow strongly, and before this flood control, the land was slowly eroding).

Project Details: A Strategic Approach

Implemented by the DPWH-Cagayan de Oro City 1st District Engineering Office (DPWH-CdeO 1st DEO), the flood control program comprises two major components designed to enhance the area's resilience against flooding. The first phase, which commenced in 2024, spans an impressive 244 meters and has a total contract amount of P95 million. In contrast, the second phase, initiated in 2025, covers an additional 144 meters with a budget of P73 million. 

Project engineer Denrichmeyer Bactong provided insight into the construction's progress, noting that the 2025 phase has been segmented into three distinct components, with completion rates currently at 70%, 70%, and 60% respectively. The project is on track for completion by March 2026, although there is optimism for an earlier finish. In total, the upstream and downstream flood control measures in the area are set to receive approximately P350 million, covering a substantial length of 1.244 kilometers.

Despite facing challenges, particularly concerning right-of-way negotiations in agricultural zones near papaya plantations, the DPWH-CdeO 1st DEO has demonstrated effective coordination with local barangay officials. This collaboration has proved instrumental in addressing landowner concerns, ensuring that the flood control project proceeds without unnecessary delays.

A Vision for the Future

As Cagayan de Oro City embarks on this ambitious flood mitigation initiative, it reflects a long-term commitment to protecting families and infrastructure from the devastating impacts of flooding. With additional projects in areas like Dansolihon and Mambuaya, which received P75 million, and the Iponan flood control project, allocated P25 million, the city is taking significant strides towards a more secure future. The ongoing efforts underscore the importance of community resilience and proactive planning in the face of natural disasters, ensuring that the people of Cagayan de Oro can thrive amid environmental challenges.