Watershed Management Department    

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HISTORY

In January 1974, Republic Act 6395, the National Power Corporation (NPC) Charter, was signed to authorize NPC to undertake the development of hydroelectric generation of power and the production of electricity from nuclear, geothermal and other sources, as well as the transmission of electric power on a nationwide basis. Specifically, Sec. 3 (n) of the said statute authorizes NPC to exercise complete jurisdiction and control over watersheds surrounding the reservoirs of power plants or power projects. With this mandate comes the responsibility of maintaining the productive condition of the watershed in support of developing and generating cheap and reliable electricity for the nation.

Later on, the search for renewable and indigenous sources of energy became a national priority and some watershed areas were placed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Energy through the National Power Corporation by virtue of PD 1515 which was signed in June 1978 and was amended by PD 1749 in December 1980. With this pronouncement, the Watershed Management Group was created with five watershed areas under its management, namely: Ambuklao, Binga, Angat, Caliraya and Tiwi. Considering its huge investments in hydro and geothermal plants, the complete control and jurisdiction of these five watersheds with addition of Buhi-Barit and Makiling-Banahaw Geothermal reservation was vested to NPC by virtue of Executive order No. 224 which was signed in July 16, 1987. At present, a total of eleven (11) watersheds are being managed by NPC with the addition of two (2) watershed reservations namely Pantabangan and Magat under an area sharing scheme with National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and two (2) more watersheds, Lake Lanao-Agus and Pulangui Watershed Area under a Memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR).

VISION

Sustained production of resources particularly water and geothermal steam for power generation, global contribution to biodiversity and climate condition.

MISSION

• Sustain and prolong the lifespan of indigenous power facilities thru effective and appropriate watershed management.

• Reduce operating cost of power generation thru appropriate watershed management prescription.

• Enhance NPC generation plants and facilities and client image through watershed programs, projects and activities.

• Undertake watershed-responsible investments for ecological enhancement and protection.

GOAL

Efficient watershed management to support and sustain water-based electric power projects and global contribution to biodiversity and climate condition through forest protection, conservation, and resource management.

OBJECTIVES

1. Maintain and increase the forest cover of all watershed areas under NPC's jurisdiction and watershed areas with NPC generating plants;

2. Protect the remaining resources of the watersheds;

3. Rehabilitate eroded areas and/or stabilize slopes along waterways and reservoirs; and

4. Enhance participation of communities inside watershed.

A watershed is a topographically delineated area of land where rainwater collects and drains via a river system to a common outlet point which may be a dam, irrigation system or municipal water supply take off point, or where the stream discharges into a larger river, lake or the sea.

Watersheds provide water for drinking, power and irrigation. t also provides food and shelter for wildlife. Communities living within the watershed enjoy its bountiful resources and enjoy the lakes and streams for their beauty - and for boating, fishing and swimming. Hence, in order to enjoy the continued services and amenities being derived from the watersheds, proper management and conservation techniques are necessary. This is termed as "Watershed Management". It is the process of guiding and organizing land and other resource uses in a watershed to provide desired goods and services without adversely affecting soil and water resources. In NPC, watershed management strategies are being undertaken because of the following:

Benefits to Power generation

One of the many benefits of sound watershed management is the production of a continuous water supply. This is especially important for power generation. Almost half of the electricity produced in the country comes from hydroelectric and geothermal power plants. These power plants are being supported by watershed which play a very crucial and essential role in the life span of hydroelectric dams and operation of power plants. healthy watersheds provide a good hydrologic regime in an area. Without the rivers and streams flowing within the watershed, there would be no water to run the turbines of hydroelectric power plants. Thus, power plants rely heavily on the availability of these natural and renewable resources that is, water and steam, which are eventually converted into useful electricity. The sustained operational capabilities of hydro and geothermal plants therefore, depend on the productive condition of the watersheds. Hence, it is imperative that proper management of these watersheds is assured and more stringent measures are adopted for their protection, development. management and rehabilitation.

Some benefits of watershed management to hydroelectric and geothermal stations:

• Retained electricity generating capacity by avoiding reservoir siltation;

• Extension of the life of a hydropower scheme, (especially its ability to generate dry-season power);

• Avoidance of the cost of raising height of dam wall, with all that implies for extra inundation; or

• Avoidance of the cost of alternative generating capacity, plus savings in repairs and cleaning of turbines and intake works.

Benefits to Communities

Environmental Charge of the Universal Levy Charge

Consistent with Section 34 (d) of Republic Act 9136, also known as Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001,  NPC  is  mandated  to  administer the environmental charge which is equivalent to   PhP 0.0025 per kilowatt-hour sales (kWh) intended solely for the rehabilitation and management of watersheds nationwide. This is the portion of the Universal Charge as stipulated in Sec. 2 of Rule 18 of the said statute. This covers the supervision of activities in the eleven (11) watersheds where NPC hydro and geothermal plants are located.

Financial Benefits under ER-1-94 of the DOE

The EPIRA under Section 4 of Rule 29 provides for the granting of financial assistance to communities hosting power plants and projects. Twenty five percent (25%) of one centavo per kilowatt-hour (PhP 0.0025/kWh) of the total electricity sales is intended for reforestation, watershed management, health and environment enhancement projects. The evaluation of projects on reforestation and watershed management is passed on to Watershed Management Department by the DOE.

Community Development and Forestry Extension Program

NPC recognizes its responsibility to the community and to society as well as the important role of the people towards the realization of its watershed management goals. Thus, the improvement of the socio-economic condition of the people through introduction of variable and socially acceptable livelihood and development programs to sustain their participation in watershed management, development, and protection is regularly undertaken. The following are some of the activities being undertaken:

• Conduct of Livelihood training.

• Seedling and animal dispersal.

• Formation of people's organization

• technical assistance to LGU's and stakeholders.

In order to increase and enhance public awareness regarding the importance of the watershed and its resources including their protection, management and development, Extension and Community Development activities are being actively pursued. Activities include information, Education and Communication (IEC) programs such as the following:

• Conduct of film showing

• Conduct of school lectures

• Pulong-pulong / barangay meetings

• installation of billboards to strategic locations of the watershed

• preparation and distribution of posters and leaflets to watershed inhabitants.

 PROGRAMS

WATERSHED PROTECTION

Enforcement of forestry laws and regulation to protect the watersheds from all types of forest destruction by ensuring cooperation and proper coordination among NPC, DENR field personnel, LGUs and other agencies.

Strategies include:

• Community-based forest protection program

• Mapping of forest protection area

• Awareness program

• Forest structures

• Military assistance in the apprehension and confiscation of illegally-gathered forest products.

WATERSHED REHABILITATION

Rehabilitation and stabilization of open areas, sparsely vegetated areas and critically degraded of the watersheds either through vegetative or structural means.

Vegetative measures include:

	Reforestation
	Agroforestry
	Non-timber forest resources management
	Silvicultural treatment
	Production forest development.

Vegetative Erosion Control Measures:

Employment of rehabilitation measures using various vegetative schemes in erosion-prone areas through the following:

	Wattlings
	Fascines
	Hedgerows
	Planting of vetiver, tiger grass, etc.

This aims to stabilize soil condition, minimize soil erosion and transport of sediments. Target areas are the critical areas in the vicinity of the reservoir rim, stream banks, river channels, sloping terrain and road banks.

Reforestation

	Planting of trees in open, sparsely vegetated and degraded areas to arrest/minimize soil erosion and stabilize the soil and improve water yield.
	Target reforestation areas include open areas within the immediate vicinities of the reservoir, waterways, riverbanks and riparian zones.

Agroforestry

	The practice of raising forest tree species in conjunction with agricultural crops and/or livestock in a given area of land.
	This aims to increase vegetative cover while ensuring the sustainability and stabilization of upland farming system and avoid further abuse/destruction of remaining watershed resources.
	Target areas are those existing farmlands with moderately sloping to gently rolling areas in the watershed.

Non-Timber Forest Management

	Involves the establishment and management of non-timber forest resources such as bamboos, rattan, etc.
	Aims to improve and enhance the current stocks and increase yield and production of the area while promoting soil ad water conservation.
	target areas are those lands with moderately sloping to gently rolling areas in the watershed.

Silivicultural Treatment

	Involves activities and treatments adopted to improve forest stands.
	Open and sparsely forested sites of the watershed are being rehabilitated through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR).
	This aims to improve infiltration, reduce surface run-off and increase biological diversity.

Production Forest Development

	Involve establishment and management of woodpole plantation in NPC-acquired properties.
	Aims to develop lands while preventing the encroachment of squatters and developers.

WATERSHED DATA BASE UPDATING AND ACQUISITION

This aims to determine the areas for development, extent of areas needing immediate rehabilitation and the type of rehabilitation measures to be applied. Includes the following components:

	Inventory of watershed resources
	Socio-Economic profiling of watershed inhabitants
	Acquisition of Geographic Information System (GIS)-based data and equipment such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Satellite images, and latest software for GIS and remote sensing.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Aims to provide updated and reliable information and technologies necessary in the formulation of coherent policies and suitable watershed management strategies. Studies are based on identified problems and issues requiring both immediate and long term solutions. Some of the researches conducted include "study on the Effect of Specific Reforestation Species Planted Along the 5-meter Radius from the Rim of the Reservoir on Soil Erosion", "Field Trial Test on the Physical Growth Test and Performance Effectiveness of Some Reforestation Species in Selected Watershed Areas" and "Forest Resource Inventory in Angat Watershed.