Coron, Palawan  |  August 5-9, 2019

Building on the success of water management strategies in the pilot barangays of Tara, Buenavista and Malawig (TBM), the local government of Coron hosted an inter-LGU learning exchange with representatives from Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Bantayan Island Group of Municipalities (Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos), and Claver and Guigaquit in Surigao del Norte, with special participation of the Climate Change Commission. The learning exchange was facilitated by Rain Foundation and included an experts lecture on the Recharge, Retention and Reuse (3R) strategies and its implementation in various fields and a visit to Barangay Malawig’s watershed for first-hand experience. The event concluded with a workshop to allow each LGU to brainstorm on possible applications of these strategies in their respective communities.

Guiuan explored the options for mini-dams, road-side trenching for additional recharge, and rainwater harvesting to increase groundwater in the absence of upland watersheds. The municipalities of Surigao discussed the use of rock-wall gullies, gabions and bamboo planting, and contour farming to mitigate flooding and reinforce riverbanks. The Bantayan Island group explored rainwater harvesting and infiltration pits to provide alternatives to their saline and dried deep/dug wells, and beach reforestation and tree planting strategies as well.

Five (5) of the seven LGUs, who had accomplished their CCAFs, agreed to collaborate on a joint proposal for the Green Climate Fund’s Simplified Approval Process (GCF-SAP). The concept note focused on the improvement of community-based water management across the LGUs, and was later titled “Ensuring Water Resilience through Locally-Driven Water Resource Management in Coastal and Small Island Regions in the Haiyan Corridor, Philippines”.