South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes and Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu receive the award on behalf of the Alliance on February 12, 2009. Photo by Allen M. Mariano/Galing Pook. (www.mindanews.com)

South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat Alliance

“The major river systems traversing the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato are both a blessing and a curse to the people. The rivers are a blessing because they provide abundant water for the adjacent rice and corn fields. But they become a curse when the water levels rise and inundate the farms,” so goes the introduction of the Allah Valley Alliance building for Landscape Development (AVLDA) project.

Massive changes in the 252,034-hectare Allah Valley watershed have resulted to two major flashfloods.

“The intermittent flooding and siltation cost an estimated P5 million of damages to productive rice lands yearly. These problems affect 65 barangays along the Allah and Banga rivers as well as 30,000 hectares of irrigated rice land. And the risk posed to productive rice lands and public infrastructure facilities have worsened because of the erratic climate conditions,” the GP magazine added.

Among the human-induced factors are massive tree cutting and land clearing in the uplands and agricultural production along riverbanks, coupled with a low level of community awareness about the importance of protecting upland areas and river systems. 

“The only way to reverse the damage was to institutionalize watershed management and bring stakeholders together to implement the required changes. This was achieved when the Allah Valley Landscape Development Alliance (AVLDA) was created in 2003.

The AVLDA brought together two governors, nine mayors, five regional directors of national government agencies, and the chair of the Coalition of Social Development Organizations in South Cotabato. Together with two Sangguniang Panlalawigan representatives, they compose the Board of Directors of AVLDA and they meet every quarter.

The AVLDA was created to address the pressing problems being experienced in the Allah Valley in a cooperative and coherent manner. Its primary function as an alliance is the protection and management of the Allah Valley Landscape through interventions anchored on environmental, economic, social, cultural and organizational development and institution building through an integrated approach.

A Program Management Office (PMO) serves as the Secretariat of the AVLDA and is tasked to oversee the day-to-day operations and pursue the implementation of the Environmental Management Plan and annual operation plan.

In the ensuing years, the AVLDA employed technical and social methods to address environmental problems. It developed critical thematic maps based on the 2002- 2005 satellite images as well as from the 1,000 aerial photos it took.

These maps formed the basis for environment, socio-economic and comprehensive land use planning.

The AVLDA also conducted information and education campaigns in 70 LGUs and undertook a flood hazard assessment. It has also mobilized the private sector and involved the communities in project planning and assessment, project site studies and observation, disaster management, forest and upland management, and river management.

Its most popular project is the Riparian Zone Revegetation, which entailed the planting of bamboo stalks along the banks of major rivers. The project aimed to protect rivers and streams from erosion, improve water flow, and minimize siltation. This project elicited support from 19 Barangays, one banking institution, two water districts, two electric cooperatives, two mining companies, one agro-industrial company, four agricultural cooperatives, four NGOs and two civic groups.

The program resulted in the planting of 15,000 bamboo hills on a 30-kilometer stretch at the banks of major rivers. The AVLDA also pursued the construction of dikes at critical sections of the rivers and the re-channelling of water flow to save prime lands, settlements and infrastructure facilities. Other projects include the Reforestation and Upstream Resource Management program which aims to improve forest land cover, reduce river siltation and provide livelihood opportunities to upland dwellers.

The AVLDA has encouraged closer cooperation among the leaders despite their differing political inclinations. In fact, from the original LGU membership of 11, the alliance now has a total of 13 LGU members. The mayors formulate and implement similar policies and strategies at interconnected areas to create a substantial impact. Regular meetings, discussions, planning and assessments led to a better understanding of issues and problems and to the development of common solutions and strategies.

The program since its inception, involved many LGUs, NGOs/POs, civic groups, private businesses, and community members in coming up with situation analysis, project planning, project implementation, monitoring and assessment.

“The program can easily be replicated in other areas which are experiencing similar problems and issues. But the key stakeholders and local leaders must agree to come to terms and draw up one common agendum,” the GP magazine said. 

South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes and Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadatu received the award. (MindaNews)