LGU MANOLO FORTICH PARTNERS WITH NBSC FOR THE SAGIP SAPA PROJECT

Sagip Sapa Project

June 27, 2024 - The Local Government of Manolo Fortich, through the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), headed by MENR officer Sharon Tacbobo, in partnership with the Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC), conducted the Sagip Sapa Project Forum at the NBSC Student Council Building, Brgy. Tankulan, Manolo Fortich.

The forum aimed to educate the Purok Leaders/officers about the concept of the Sagip Sapa Project, why it’s crucial, and the importance of their role in the implementation of the project. One of the environmental issues of the municipality of Manolo Fortich is the pollution of rivers and streams, specifically the high level of fecal coliform, as assessed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Board (DENR-EMB). Authored by MENR officer Tacbobo during the Capability Development Program on Environmental Governance and Management for Resiliency and Future Readiness of Local Government Units, she conceptualized the Sagip Sapa Project and found commonality with NBSC’s NATURES (Nurturing and Advancing Terrestrial Upland Restoration through Ecosystem Services) program under the Research and Extension office with Mr. Alven Gomez as Project Leader. The commonality lies specifically on the aspect of Behavioral Change through Capability Development, CEPA (Communication, Education, & Public Awareness), and Research. With that, the LGU Manolo Fortich through MENRO and NBSC Research and Extension Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on June 26, 2024, at the Municipal Gymnasium, during the second day of the 2nd Environment Summit. Together, both parties collaborated to bolster the Sagip Sapa Project, which focuses on the restoration and preservation of local bodies of water.

Participants included over 90 active Purok/Zone leaders and officers from Barangays Tankulan, Dicklum, and San Miguel. The forum was hosted by NBSC, led by NBSC President Dr. Catherine Roween C. Almaden. “I dreamed nga pag-abri nato sa atong faucet kay diretso nata muinom ana nga tubig, from the tap. Amazing kaayo nga ang imong imnon coming from a natural filtration system. We are blessed to have a lot of river systems, and yet we weren’t able to utilize these water systems.” Dr. Almaden also expressed her desire for the municipality's water bodies to revert to their former state, citing the cleanliness of those bodies of water in the past.

The speakers at the forum included Environmental Management Specialist Ma. Theresa Dampal, who tackled the Clean Water Act of 2004, or Republic Act 9275, which states, “An act providing for comprehensive water quality management and for other purposes. This Act provides for the abatement and control of pollution from land-based sources and lays down water quality standards and regulations.”

The water quality of the rivers in Manolo Fortich was then discussed by MENRO Staff Zyrin Repel, which, as previously mentioned, has an alarming concentration of fecal coliform due to households lacking toilets. Following that, MENR Officer Tacbobo took charge of discussing the idea behind the Sagip Sapa project. “Out of the many nga mga environmental issues nato, water is important gyud kay na-emphasize na gyud og maayo ni Dr. Cathy ganina, Manolo Fortich is so unique nga we are the only one I think in Bukidnon who is traversed by two river systems. It is so critical sa ato nga namuyo dinhi because what we are giving downstream is affected by what we do upstream.” stated Tacbobo. The goal of the project is to reduce the fecal coliform level by 50%.

Also in attendance despite her hectic schedule is Sangguniang Bayan Member Committee Chairperson on Environment Coun. Rina E. Quiño who emphasized the importance of their roles as the Purok leader/officer. “Tanan mga lakang ni LGU, tanan mga ordinansa, walay bili kung walay maga-tutuk ana. So thank you sa atong mga Purok Leaders, sa atong Barangay Council, ug uban pang nga volunteers kay sila gyud na ang manguna sa pag-monitor, pag implementa sa atong mga proyekto sa lungsod.”

One of the participants was 62-year-old Minda Baconguis Boyles, who is a Purok Officer from barangay Tankulan. “Dako akong pasalamat sa panahon ato nga seminar tungod kay nakadugang usab kato kanamo og kahibalo isip usa ka purok officer dinhi sa Tankulan. Among mapahimangnoan ang mga lumulupyo sa barangay, labina gyud katong naa duol sa sapa nga di gayud nila hugaw-hugawan ang sapa. Dili labayan sa mga basura, ug kelangan aduna sab kitay tarong nga mga kasilyas sa panimalay.” stated Boyles.

A municipality's overall level of water pollution can have a significant impact on Manolo Fortich, which has achieved a great deal in recent years. The most significant attempt at addressing this gap is the Sagip Sapa project.