The project is pushed by the Philippine government-hosted Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture in collaboration with the Climate Change Commission, and the Municipality of Boston in Davao Oriental.
The project called “Community-based Waterways Clearing Project as an Adaptive Measure to Reduce Flooding” is an initiative of the Asian Development Bank and CCC called “Climate Resilience and Green Growth in Critical Watersheds (TA8493)” funded by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., Searca head, said they are expecting to complete the clearing operation by mid-April 2017 on a three-kilometer waterways running through Barangays Carmen and Cabasagan, as well as the Poblacion, in Boston.
“We have tapped workers from the local community organizations to dredge and clear the waterways as part of Searca’s mandate to build capacities of individuals and institutions working in the broad area of agricultural and rural development for the past 50 years,” Saguiguit said.
He said Searca is also offering assistance to Boston in the preparation of the feasibility study of its project proposal covering the sea wall, mangrove rehabilitation, and eco-tourism development.
Judith Castres, executive assistant at the Office of the Mayor of Boston, expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by ADB, CCC, and Searca Consortium to their municipality.
“The people of Boston town is also hoping that the CCC will further extend its support to the municipality,” Castres said.
On the other hand, the community representatives expressed commitment to support the municipality as they have done the same with the previous rehabilitation projects with the United Nations Development Programme and International Labor Organization after Boston was ravaged by Typhoon ”Pablo.”
Alexis Lapiz of CCC said the Boston local government can submit a proposal to access the People’s Survival Fund for its priority climate change adaptation initiatives.
Lapiz said the CCC gives premium to community-based and people-oriented projects, particularly those that deal with environmental conservation and protection, livelihood and enterprise development, and climate change adaptation.