Binay wants clear guidelines on watershed management

Senator Nancy Binay said there is a need to address the current overlapping functions of government agencies and the private sector in managing watersheds.

Binay recently filed Senate Resolution 566 urging the Senate Committee on Energy to revisit the mandate, powers, and functions of the National Power Corporation with respect to the management and rehabilitation of watershed areas.

In her resolution, Binay cited how there is an overlap in the functions between the NPC and the National Greening Program (NGP) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with regards to watershed management.

"We need to address overlapping functions among various government agencies implementing watershed management projects, programs and activities," Binay said.

Binay said both the DOE and DENR raised concerns on the outdated watershed management function of the NPC considering that privatization has led to the transfer of maintenance and management of the watersheds to private companies.

She added that during the recent hearing on the proposed budget of DOE, it was discussed that aside from government agencies, watersheds are also being maintained and managed by private companies that have contracts with the government.

"We need to introduce reforms which will enable NPC to set its priorities and optimize the use of its resources consistent with present circumstances," Binay added.

According to the NPC's official website, it manages eleven watershed areas with a total land area of 485,199 hectares through its Watershed Management Department.

These watersheds, which support power generation, domestic water supply and irrigation, are managed through rehabilitation, protection and resources development.

Apart from this, the NPC is also a part of the NGP, a program led by the DENR that aims to rehabilitate 1.2 million hectares of denuded forest lands by 2022 and the maintenance and protection of existing forests.