By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Water is an indispensable liquid that is vital in sustaining life and nourishing communities around the world, thus the need to protect and look after water reservoirs is paramount amid mounting repercussions of climate change and global warming.
Such was the case with the Mag-asawang Tubig Watershed in Oriental Mindoro, which is under threat from deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) took notice of the problems plaguing the 6,434.72 hectare watershed, and is now pushing for its revival to protect the reservoir under the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD).
Also among the agencies involved in the initiative are the Department of Agriculture (D.A.), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
The Mag-asawang Tubig Watershed provides irrigation to 1,890 hectares of farmland, supports the livelihood of 627 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), and provides potable drinking water for 48,000 residents within the area.
DAR-Mimaropa Regional Director Marvin Bernal said of the project: “Ang aming misyon ay hindi lamang tungkol sa pamamahagi ng lupa; binibigyan namin ng kapangyarihan ang aming mga ARB ng mga kasangkapan at suporta na kailangan nila upang maging matatag na tagapangalaga ng lupaing ito para sa mga susunod na henerasyon.”
Meanwhile, DAR has distributed land titles to 755 ARBs in the area, providing them with legal security towards long-term investments on their respective farmlands.
Through the agency’s Program Beneficiaries Development Division, it is also delivering support services through the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project, which provides advanced training to farmers to aid in uplifting their livelihoods amid challenges brought about by climate change.
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