A new responsibility was given聽 to Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
The head of the Cebu archdiocese聽 was chosen by stakeholders yesterday to head the newly formed Central Cebu River Basins Management Council (CCRBMC).
Stakeholders chose the prelate, who will lead聽 the Catholic Bishop鈥檚 Conference of the Philippines starting December聽 as they need a neutral leader who can build consensus, said Fr. Mar Alingasa, SVD of the Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW).
Alingasa and other stakeholders signed a memorandum of cooperation at Montebello Hotel to solve Cebu鈥檚 water woes and manage its water resources.
Architect Soccoro Atega, also from CUSW said that they will lobby for President Benigno Aquino III to empower the council through an executive order.
鈥淭his is a major concern for a thirsty Cebu,鈥� she told reporters.
In a pastoral letter, Palma called on the Cebuano flock to participate in the management and sustenance of the river basins.
鈥淲e need to actualize an action-reflection-action praxis towards integrated water resources management,鈥� Palma said.
The prelate scored Cebuanos鈥� failure to be sensitive and conscientious聽 to the wtaer crisis.
鈥淐omplacency has no room for a long overdue homework,鈥� Palma added.
He also called for river聽 council members to transcend personal interests.
鈥淐ooperation and collaboration will be effective if each one understands their role and can undertake responsibility for their specific function,鈥� he added.
Alingasa said the clergy would endorse programs and 鈥減rovide the extra push鈥� for their implementation.
鈥淭he church has a smooth relationship with the local government and business sector so all can be directed work together.鈥�
Alingasa said the technical aspects of the council would be assigned to other groups like the Departmtnet of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas which co-chairs the council.
The council will use an聽 鈥渆cosystems approach鈥� to river management that considers聽 interdependent factors like forest cover and socio-economics, Atega said.
A careful study of the organization is needed so that it can work as an independent council with the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), she said.
She said the council will work with the CCPL. However, the PAMB will聽 deal with infrastructure within Cebu鈥檚 forests.
Cebu鈥檚 water problems have been neglected for many years, said聽 Vicente Tuddao, director聽 of the DENR鈥檚聽 River Basin Contol Office.
He said Cebu is in danger of floods due to the low flow of rivers caused by siltation, improper management of solid waste and the presence of illegal settlers along the rivers. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya