Surigao Sur to establish watershed development and management program
by Nora CL Molde
BUTUAN CITY (October 23) -- The provincial government of Surigao del Sur will soon establish the Awasian Watershed Development and Management program in partnership with Tandag Municipal government and Tandag Water District.
Tandag Water District found out the during dry season it is difficult to supply water in the elevated areas of the town while the irrigators could also hardly irrigate 50 hectares out of the 98 hectares of their irrigable area. Because of that findings, TWD applied for a declaration of community watershed for the Ihawan Spring Watershed inorder to address the difficulty of water supply in the area.
The realization of the project will surely improve the services of the district. quality of water services in Surigao del Sur particularly Tandag, the capital town of the province. TWD services will also be extended to other barangays in the municipality.
During the Regional Development Council (RDC) Full Council meeting held recently, the proposed establishment of the said project has been endorsed by the committee with a total budgetary requirements of P20,500,000.
Awasian River is one of the major river systems of Tandag. Its watershed area covered an estimated 909 hectares forestland that extends to three barangays. The Ihawan and Andanan Creeks which are tributaries to Awasian river is currently the source of water supply for the TWD concessionaires and irrigation requirement in the downstream area of the watershed. (PIA-13) [top]