APAYAO-ABULUG RIVER BASIN




Location



Area               : 3,776 sq. km.
Region           : CAR, I, II
Provinces      : Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Abra
Towns/Cities : 14
Barangays      : 225
Outlet             : Babuyan Channel
Est. Pop’n       : 347,283 (2010)
RBO                 : Apayao-Abulug River Basin Management Council
RDC Reso.       : Joint RDC 2 - RPOC 2 Reso. No. 02-69-2015
Forestland       : 3,044.55 sq. km.
A&D                  : 1,038.03 sq. km.
NGP Area         : 91.43 sq. km.

VISION

“A river basin whose ecosystem the benefitted stakeholders could proudly proclaim to their ancestors as being managed, maintained and developed for the present and succeeding generations." ”.

MISSION

“To be a leading river basin organization with the widest active constituent support and dynamic participation effectively and efficiently managing and developing the ecosystem of the Apayao-Abulug River Basin for the present and future generation.”

CRITICAL WATERSHEDS
  1. Apayao-Abulog Watershed
KEY BIODIVERSITY AREA
  1. Apayao Lowland Forest (KBA)
ECOTOURISM

  • Blue Haven
  • Agamata Park
  • Dacao Irrigation Intake
  • Jamboree Site
  • Turod View Deck
  • Swan Hilltop view Mt. Solo
  • Lizardo Brooks
  • Proposed Panay Airport Site
  • Negritos Village
  • Various Water Falls of Different Sizes along Apayao River

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

  1. Poverty Incidence
  2. Low Productivity
  3. Inadequate Infrastructure Support Facilities and Utilities
  4. Incompatible Land Uses
  5. Under Utilization of Resources
  6. Unbalanced Local Economy
  7. Thematic Issues and Problems

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

  • Rainfall : 3595.5
  • Surface Run-off: 1972.59 mm/year
  • Shallow Groundwater Recharge: 339.74 mm/year
  • Total Water Yield: 2499.76 mm/year
  • Evapotranspiration: 855.40 mm/year

  • Rice : 96,689 metric tons for Apayao (2010) 616,321 metric tons in Cagayan (2010)

  • Copper and manganese in Calanasan
  • Raw materials for cement manufacturing are found in Luna
  • Gold ores resources are found in Cabugao
  • Limestone deposit is also explored in Butao, Calanasan
  • Non-metallic resources such as limestone, sandstone, gravel, siliceous sands and guano

  • Apayao- Abulug River Irrigation System- covers the towns of Flora, Pudtol, Luna, Sta. Marcela in Apayao and the towns of Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Pamplona, and portion of Aparri in Cagayan.
  • In 2013, there are 11 small irrigation systems in the river basin : five (5) in Cagayan, six (6) in Apayao. Out of these, nine (9) are SWIP (Small Water Impounding Projects) and two (2) DDs (Diversion Dams)

  • Three species of rats are found in the ALF KBA (Apayao Lowland Forest Key Biodiversity Area). Two of these are endemic while only one is introduced
  • 13 species of bats in the ALF KBA: Fruit Bats, False Vampire bats, Horseshoe, Leaf nose Bats, Evening bats
  • A total of 22 species of herps (11 amphibians and 11 reptiles) are present in ALF KBA.
  • There are 31 bird families with 91 species. Of the 91 species, 38 are endemic, seven are migratory and the rest are residents of the area.

STRATEGIES


Structural

  • Flood Protection/ River Control
  • Irrigation/drainage
  • Hydropower
  • Domestic/Industrial water supply
  • Others (SWIPs, farm bridges and roads, water river tourism)
Non-structural
  • Hydrometeorological stations
  • Research and Development
  • Institutional Development

  • Rehabilittation, maintenance of the watershed areas thru tree planting and other activities geared towards addressing the issue
  • Establishment of industrial and agro-forestry crops for reforestationand livelihood (i.e. rubber, cacao, etc) for 25,000 ha of grassland areas at 20,000 php /ha/yr
  • Introduction of Renewable Energy system (i.e. solar, biomass, wind)
  • Institutional Development: IEC for advocacy , strengthening of law enforcement and capacity buildingspecially to the LGU

  • Structural
    Flood Control/Weirs, Slope/River Protection, Evacuation Centers, AWSs/ARGs, SWIPs
  • Non-structural
    Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Systems, Research and Development (Vulnerability Assessment, cropping calendar, drought-tolerant crops, agroforestry/windbreaks)

  • Policy and Institutional Strengthening and Development
  • ICRM and Biodiversity Conservation with Research and Development
  • Enterprise Development and Income Diversification
  • Social and Environmental Services
  • Inland/Coastal Solid Waste Management
  • Research and Development

River Basin Organization

Apayao Northwestern Cagayan Rivers Sustainable Development and Management Council

VISION

“To be a leading river basin organization with the widest active constituent support and dynamic participation effectively and efficiently managing and developing the ecosystem of the Apayao-Abulug River Basin for the present and future generation.”

MISSION

“To serve as the primary arm of government in preserving and managing the development in the Apayao-Abulug River Basin.”

GOAL

“To stabilize the AARBO and solidify its management responsibility over the river basin.”

FUNCTIONS OF THE AARBO
  • Role: Managing and regulating RB resources: Water, Watershed, Forest, Land, River & Coastal Areas
  • Functions:
    - Flood mitigation;
    - Disaster risk reduction and management of water-related and geo-hazards
    - Improvement of watershed, forest, river and coastal area management
    - Ensure sustainability of groundwater/aquifer
    - Improvement of water quality monitoring and management
    - Enhance institutional capacity
    - Establish an effective and people-oriented information system
    - Establish a center for coordination and management