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Water Levy for Watershed Development |
These days, clean water is becoming more expensive than fuel; a situation brought about by the pollution and degradation of watershed areas. And if something is not done to reverse the trend, clean water could soon become scarce. But the rehabilitation of watershed areas is also costly, and raising funds could prove difficult. Then again, it may not be as difficult if the whole community pitches in as demonstrated by the San Carlos City government and its residents.
Large portions of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental are critical watersheds which cover 5,017 hectares. These are the main water sources that supply both domestic and agricultural consumers in and around the city. To address denudation of the watershed areas, the city government designed a Watershed Development and Rehabilitation Project using an innovative financing scheme to rehabilitate the denuded watersheds. The local government convinced its constituents to pay a water levy of seventy five centavos per cubic meter of water that they consume. The water levy generates 1.2 million pesos annually, which goes to a Trust Fund that is managed by the San Carlos Development Board. This Trust Fund, together with additional contributions by other organizations and stakeholders, guarantees resource availability for future use and expansion purposes and is being used as leverage to get additional funding. This unique system for raising financial resources for rehabilitation sets apart this local government initiative.
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Foundation to hold tree-planting activity IN SAN CARLOS |
The JF Ledesma Foundation Inc. will hold San Carlos City’s 2009 Planting activity tomorrow as a highlight of the Charter Day anniversary of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, a press release from organizers said.
The tree-planting will be held at the Agricultural Productivity Training Center 2 in Brgy. Prosperidad in San Carlos.
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