ILOILO-BATIANO RIVER SYSTEMS INITIATIVES
PROGRAM BRIEF
Background
Iloilo and Batiano Rivers traverse along two local government units in Iloilo, namely, the
City of Iloilo and the Municipality of Oton, with a total combined length of approximately
27 kilometers. Their respective mouths are in Iloilo City and both rivers meet in the
Municipality of Oton (Refer to map). Historically, both rivers played a very important part
in the socio-economic development not just of the two LGUs, but also to the rest of the
region. Even before the Spanish period, both rivers were used as channels of trade to
early settlements in the area. Being a rich fishing ground, settlements soon sprouted
along its banks, and at the same time provided safe anchorage sea-going vessels.
During the Spanish era, Iloilo became the seat of the Spanish government when it
established the Fort San Pedro in the 1700’s along the mouth of the Iloilo River. Soon,
additional communities further sprouted along the banks of the rivers. In 1855, the rapid
economic growth of the area led to the opening of the port of Iloilo to world trade and
soon became the biggest center of trade in the Philippines, second only to Manila.
British and Spanish firms began to crowd the marshy area along Iloilo River. They built
warehouses, permanent offices and shops in the streets parallel to the river in the
1850’s and 1860’s while Chinese trade concentrated mostly in Batiano River.
The development however, carried a hefty price. Decades of neglect has turned the
once vibrant rivers into dying rivers. The rivers and its tributaries served as the area’s
natural sewerage, septic tank, and garbage dumpsite of residential, commercial,
industrial, and institutional establishments and agricultural outfall greatly affecting its
water quality. It became heavily silted as informal settlers from other parts of the region
inhabited the banks, contributing further to the degradation of the rivers when they
utilized unsustainable fishing practices for livelihoods. The abuse of the rivers likewise
contributed greatly to perennial flooding in the communities beside the rivers. With
apparent lack of responsive and effective policies, the rivers gradually deteriorated.
Importance of the Iloilo-Batiano Rivers
Both rivers are biologically productive with high biodiversity index; it serves as a habitat
and nursery to very important marine species. Iloilo River is home to 22 different
mangrove species including one rare species, while Batiano River has 16 also including
one rare species. Migratory birds are a regular sight in the rivers. Economically, the
Iloilo River plays a very crucial role in the region’s development. Last year alone, the
port of Iloilo City served more than 9,000 ship calls, and 1.6 million passengers. The
total annual catch and harvest of fisher folks and the 634 hectares, of fishponds was
estimated at almost USD 2 million. There are almost 3,000 business locators in the
estuary area with a combined total investment of USD 176 million
The Initiatives
The Iloilo River Development Council represents the constituent of Iloilo City in
overseeing the natural resource and environmental concerns of the Iloilo River. The
Council’s conservation plan is hinged on the belief that the sustainable use of Iloilo
River can be achieved through collaboration, awareness raising, public participation,
transparency and accountability. On March 5, 2011 the council organized the first Iloilo
River Summit. It was attended by Senator Franklin Drilon, Congressman Jerry Trenas,
Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog (the Council Chairman), members of the Council and its
Technical Working Group, members of the media and invited guests and stakeholders.
During the summit, council members from different sectors presented programs and
projects aimed to address a particular problem or issue. The event demonstrated the
practice of an integrated approach in managing a body of water.
The mandate of the City Government in managing various issues in Iloilo River is limited
and often not very clear, but nonetheless the City also demonstrated its leadership in
managing these issues through collaboration and more importantly the city promoted
the idea that the integrated approach needs a local government to resolve the complex
process of coordination.
After the summit, the Iloilo River Development Council headed by the City Mayor and
strongly supported by Senator Franklin Drilon and Congressman Jerry Trenas resolved
to direct and intensify its effort towards the following priorities:
a. the removal of derelicts, sunken ships, illegal structures, and fish pens
b. the relocation of informal settlers
c. the improvement of water quality through strict implementation of
discharge permits and the anti-littering ordinance, clean-up drives, and
the realization of a city-wide septage management program
d. the conduct of information and education campaign with the end view
of making Iloilo River the centre of Urban Biodiversity Program of the
city
e. the construction of esplanade along the river bank in response to the
need for more public access to the river
f. the dredging of identified areas of the river where overflowing
frequently occurs
Objectives of the Iloilo-Batiano River Program
Over-all, the program aims to rehabilitate, protect, and conserve the rivers. Specifically,
the initiatives aimed to:
a) Improve water quality and increase biodiversity of both rivers
b) mitigate flooding risk
c) enhance economic activities along the rivers
Strategies and Approaches
To realize such goals, the following strategies were utilized:
1. creation of an Iloilo River Development Council and later re-organized into the
Iloilo-Batiano River Development Council. The management approaches are:
a) multi-sectoral and participatory
b) combination of bottom-up & up-down planning
c) integrated decision - making & management relating to:
- water quality
- biodiversity
- informal settlers
- public safety
- land use management
- transportation
- fishery regulation
d) emphasis on natural resource conservation
2. multiple education and communication strategies to build wide base support
Positive Results and Impacts
1) Improved Water Quality
Dredging of Areas Prone to Flooding
A dredging program covering 13 villages prone to flooding
Removal of Derelicts
16 sunken ships, derelicts removed
Decongestion Of Navigable Areas
38 ships queuing for repairs transferred to the Fish Port
2) Increased Biodiversity
Scientific Study
Soil erosion and sedimentation studies conducted
Dredging of Navigable Areas
1 km, 240,000 cu.m. removed
3) Program to Promote Public Safety Included Relocation of Informal Settlers
Housing
Development of 998 housing to accommodate 4900 informal settlers
USD 8 million approved budget from NHA, DSWD, & Office the President
4) Greater Public Access to the River
Development of Iloilo River Esplanade:
Linear park featuring landscaped areas, kiosk, al fresco dining, and viewing deck.
Project cost amounting to USD 1.63 million
5) Enhanced Public Awareness on the Importance of Protecting and Conserving the
Rivers – greater political and public awareness on the need to protect rehabilitate
and conserve Iloilo River was observed
6) Winning of a Gold Award in the Livable Communities Award in Chicago, Ill., USA
– initiatives to promote water quality, urban biodiversity, heritage conservation
recognized by the Livecom International Award as evidenced by the Gold Award
conferred to the Iloilo River Development Project, Chicago USA, October, 2010.
7) Winning of Special Award Project Award in the Livable Communities in Songpa,
South Korea- initiatives to promote inter-agency cooperation and the adoption of
a new integrated approach in managing Iloilo River recognized by the Livcom
International Award as evidenced by a special project award conferred to the
Iloilo River Development Project, Songpa Korea, November, 2011
8) Organized and hosted the 1st Philippine International River Summit, May 30 –
June 1, 2012
Which policies and strategies are doable and which are not and what institutional
arrangement is practical, these are the issues that can be resolved by learning
from the best practices of others and from lessons learned from demonstration
projects. Such knowledge generation is not only evidence-based but is a
practical capacity building exercise that will benefit the Iloilo River Development
Council.
The Iloilo River Development Council in September 2011 has therefore proposed
to organize and host an International River Summit. The event which was held in
May 30, 31 and June 1 2012 brought together 1300 particapants and
representatives from river councils, foundations, authorities, LGU’s and private
sectors for information exchange, dialogue and networking, including 80 foreign
delegates from 20 countries.
A unique occasion, the participants have the
opportunity of listening and sharing in three side events (May 29) and four
parallel sessions (May 30). The side events were organized into three areas of
interests relating to river management namely : the Scientific Forum, the Disaster
Risk Reduction Forum and Integtaed Water Resources Forum. On the other
hand the four Parallel Sessions held in May 30 were organized into four thematic
areas namely : River Governance, Water Quality Management, Biodiversity and
Ecotourism Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Management. There
were all in all 45 speakers most of which are from other countries – Canada,
USA, Czech Republic, Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Nepal
At the end of the summit, there was a general consensus from the participants
that the Summit was very successful, in that it was able to accomplish its
expected output:
-
enriched knowledge in governing bodies of water
common understanding of issues and problems
enhanced networking and partnership
Promotion of People’s Participation and Empowerment
The rehabilitation of the Iloilo and Batiano Rivers did not happen overnight. It was
during the tenure of former Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas that there was a conscious
effort by the city government to address the ever worsening condition of the Iloilo River.
Under his leadership, the Iloilo River Development Council was created with the
singular task of rehabilitating and protecting the river. Realizing that government alone
cannot save the river, the private sector was invited to cooperate and took a very large
role to play, in the sense that it drafted the Iloilo River Development Master Plan.
Likewise, the council was comprised of national government agencies, such as the
DENR, BFAR, PPA, and the DPWH, local bargangay officials, people’s organizations,
academe, media, and religious and private professionals. It was also during this time
that the all-volunteer, multi-sectoral Bantay Suba (River Watch) was established. Handin-hand with these, the city government through its City ENRO embarked on an
intensive social marketing effort in schools and communities to heighten awareness of
the river. Activities along the river greatly helped increase awareness. These paid hefty
dividends for the river as soon enough, barangays along the river took it upon
themselves to protect the river, particularly from garbage disposal and waste water
discharges. Institutions along the river likewise on their own contributed to saving the
river. Schools participated in the regular clean-up and mangrove reforestation of the
river, hospitals installed their mandatory wastewater treatment facility.
The Innovation
The city made use of creative advocacy approaches to draw more sectors and
stakeholders to bring focus to the Iloilo and Batiano Rivers. One is by using art. Painting
and photography competitions, with the river as the subject, were successful in bringing
young and old alike to the rivers. Sports activities like the fun run, the river walk, and the
regular aerobics near the river brought in surprising results in terms of river awareness
and advocacy. Another is the festivals such as the Iloilo River Week, Dinagyang
Festival in Iloilo City, and Katagman Festival in the Municipality of Oton, which became
the medium of the advocacy campaign. The environment summit and the Batiano River
Summit likewise increased the level of awareness when it was attended by all sectors.
Perhaps the biggest factor in the campaign to rehabilitate the rivers is the involvement
of an Ilonggo Senator Honorable Franklin Drilon who himself has grown up within the
area, championed the campaign for the rivers. His singular passion to rehabilitate the
rivers required national and local government agencies to set projects and activities that
benefitted the rivers.
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