A renewed push to protect communities living along the Mindanao River Basin is underway as government agencies adopt a Unified Master Plan aimed at strengthening flood control, watershed protection, and climate resilience across one of the country’s most vital river systems.
The plan was formally adopted by the Mindanao River Basin Management Council (MRBMC) during its Executive Meeting on May 12 at the Greenleaf Hotel, General Santos City, bringing together national government agencies, local government units, and development partners under a single framework to address flooding, environmental degradation, water resource challenges, and the growing impacts of climate change.
The Mindanao River Basin, the second largest in the Philippines, stretches across multiple regions and sustains millions of Filipinos through irrigation, livelihood, and ecological services.
But it is also increasingly exposed to deforestation, illegal logging, rapid urban expansion, and more frequent climate-related disasters that place communities at risk.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said the unified approach is designed to prevent overlapping government efforts and ensure better use of public resources.
Magno stressed that the goal is not only coordination but actual impact on the ground for river basin communities.
“We will make sure that resources are not wasted, that projects are implemented properly, and that the people of Mindanao see the results in improved flood control, watershed protection, and climate resilience,” he said.
The initiative supports the food security agenda of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has consistently described Mindanao as the country’s food basket.
The master plan is expected to improve irrigation systems, secure water supply, and strengthen flood protection to sustain agricultural productivity across the island.
It also aligns with the Marcos administration’s infrastructure and climate resilience priorities through the integration of flood mitigation projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and climate-responsive programs of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), reflecting a broader push for disaster preparedness amid worsening climate conditions.
The study “Mindanao River Basin – Landscape Risk Assessment” conducted in September 2024, evaluated the basin’s vulnerability to climate change and natural hazards.
The assessment found a significant rise in flooding linked to environmental degradation, particularly in upper watershed areas such as Upper Pulangi and other headwaters.
It highlighted how deforestation, slash-and-burn farming, and rapid urbanization have reduced natural water absorption, intensifying flood risks in downstream communities.
The study also flagged deteriorating water quality in the Pulangi River system, noting increasing fish kills, declining aquatic biodiversity, and higher turbidity levels driven by agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and soil erosion.
Researchers further identified emerging landslide-prone areas within the basin, attributing them to forest clearing and unsustainable farming on slopes that weaken soil stability and disrupt natural drainage systems.
The study emphasized that safeguarding the Mindanao River Basin will require sustained reforestation, stronger land-use management, expanded community engagement, and tighter coordination among agencies to ensure that development does not come at the expense of environmental stability.
