Mati City, Davao Oriental – To address the growing challenges that climate change poses to water resources, social and environmental safeguards officers of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) in Mindanao participated in an intensive training on Integrated Water Resources Management from March 18 to 21, 2025.
The training, spearheaded by the Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Unit of the DA-PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) in Mindanao and the Regional Project Coordinating Office (RPCO) XI, aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity in ensuring the sustainable management of water resources amid climate change impacts.
PRDP-Davao Project Director Marie Ann Constantino underscored the vital role of SES officers in project implementation, from identification to completion. She emphasized that the SES unit provides a crucial check and balance, assessing the environmental impact of each project and its broader effects on communities.
“The meticulous role of the SES unit plays a crucial part in ensuring the long-term sustainability of our PRDP projects. It provides a vital check and balance, not only assessing the environmental impact of each project but also evaluating its broader effects on the communities it serves,” said Constantino.
The four-day training focused on the principles of Environmental and Social Standard (ESS) 3, also known as Resource Efficiency and Pollution Prevention. This framework promotes the efficient use of resources such as water, energy, and raw materials while minimizing pollution and waste. Ensuring responsible water usage under these guidelines is critical to protecting ecosystems and benefiting local communities.
Participants also gained insights into strategies that could be applied to PRDP subprojects related to water systems and irrigation. The knowledge gained from the training is expected to contribute to the more effective implementation of rural development initiatives that require sustainable water management practices.
The event featured experts from the DA-PRDP PSO-Mindanao, Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), IGaCoS Water District, and representatives from the local government units of Davao Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.
With climate change continuing to pose significant risks to water resources, DA-PRDP remains committed to equipping its personnel with the necessary knowledge and skills to safeguard the sustainability of rural development projects in Mindanao.
