GENERAL SANTOS CITY―The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is bent on pushing for a comprehensive master plan for the Mindanao River Basins.
It urged concerned national agencies, local government units and other stakeholders to support the revitalization of the Mindanao River Basin and Management Council (MRBMC).
MinDA, which serves as secretariat, said working together was crucial to restart the MRBMC, a body responsible for managing issues and overseeing the implementation of the plan to protect at-risk communities, improve disaster readiness and support lasting peace and development in Mindanao.
The initiative also supports the Philippines’ broader commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable development under the country’s 2026 ASEAN chairmanship, especially in advancing climate resilience, food security, environmental protection and inclusive growth across Southeast Asia.
During the MRBMC meeting held at the Greenleaf Hotel in General Santos City on May 12, MinDA chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno stressed the urgent need for collaboration among national government agencies, stakeholders and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The meeting has sought to address the issues of flooding and environmental risks impacting major river systems in Mindanao.
He cited the importance of regularly convening the MRBMC, as he called on all agencies to unite in support of the council, particularly in addressing budgetary and logistical concerns.
“We are not just managing a river. We are protecting livelihoods, keeping communities safe and building the kind of stability that Mindanao truly needs to move forward,” Magno said.
The Mindanao River Basin spans several major tributaries: the Pulangi, Malitbog, Allah, Banga, Libungan, Kabacan, Maridagao and Buluan rivers, supporting agriculture, fisheries, transportation and communities across several provinces in Mindanao.
Mindanao is home to eight major river basins, namely the Agus River, Cagayan de Oro River, Tagoloan River, Agusan River, Mindanao River, Tagum-Libuganon River, Davao River and Buayan-Malungan River.
Magno said the issue goes beyond environmental management, noting that recurring floods from these major river basins continue to devastate rice fields, damage infrastructure, disrupt businesses and worsen poverty among farmers, fisherfolk and families in geographically isolated communities.
“Mindanao is not just a regional concern. It is the heart of what this country wants to become―a nation that grows together and a nation that lives in peace,” he said, citing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for inclusive development.
Magno said the initiative gained urgency after MinDA elevated concerns regarding the Cotabato-Davao road corridor to the Office of the President last year, following threats of river overflow that nearly affected major infrastructure.
He recalled that national government intervention, through directives from the Office of the Executive Secretary, prompted agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government and MinDA to coordinate in a more integrated approach to river basin management.
“This will remain a recurring problem if we do not address it,” he said.
The proposed Integrated Mindanao River Basin Master Plan seeks to harmonize engineering interventions, flood mitigation measures, watershed management, irrigation systems and environmental protection initiatives, which are implemented separately by various agencies.
Magno noted that fragmented efforts could hinder long-term effectiveness, especially if upstream deforestation and environmental degradation remain unchecked while downstream flood-control structures are being built.
“We should work together. Building flood walls in one place while forests upstream continue to be cut down will not solve the problem,” he said.
As part of the initiative, MinDA has proposed a shared steering committee to help formulate the terms of reference for the updated master plan, including engineering designs, feasibility studies and priority projects ready for implementation and funding.
The official highlighted the importance of including BARMM in the governance framework, recognizing its role in Mindanao’s broader peace and development agenda.
“Taking care of this river is also taking care of the people and taking care of the peace that we have worked so hard to build,” Magno said.
He said the proposed governance framework would be anchored in partnership and shared responsibility rather than control, reaffirming MinDA’s respect for the Bangsamoro Organic Law and BARMM’s authority over its own waters.
The revised master plan aims to reduce disaster risks while fostering economic growth, environmental sustainability and regional stability in Mindanao and the broader ASEAN community.
