One of the country's premiere development corridors, CALABARZON (Cavite - Laguna - Batangas - Rizal - Quezon); is located within the watershed of Laguna de Bay, the largest inland body of water in the Philippines. The presence of this vital resources has contributed largely to the zone's significant economic success. This success brought with its rapid population expansion, urbanization and industrialization.

However, as rapid as the rate of this economic zone's development is the destruction of the rivers and streams flowing through them, which ultimately drain into Laguna de Bay. Indiscriminating dumping of domestic and industrial waste, and contamination of hazardous run-off from agricultural lands have resulted into the threatened extensive of these tributaries and the life forms they sustain.

With the escalating need to arrest the further deterioration of Laguna de Bay and its tributaries, and to undertake rehabilitation efforts for these waterways, the Laguna Lake Development Authority launched the River Rehabilitation Program.

In 1996, the Laguna Lake Development Authority launched its River Rehabilitation Program and placed it under its Community Development Division for implementation. The flagship utilizes an integrated approach to watershed management. It takes into account both water quality and quantity in the continuum to the downstream areas of thriving urbanization all the way to the lake basin.

As delineated through LLDA's Netherlands-funded Sustainable Development of Laguna de Bay Environment (SDLBE) project, twenty-four (24) sub-basins (micro-watersheds) comprise the Laguna de Bay Basin. These sub-basins were used as the basic unit for planning and implementation of the following river rehabilitation strategies:

1. Lakbay Ilog

Undertaken with representatives from concerned Local Government Unit and other stakeholders, the length of a river is trekked, on foot, from where it opens out into the lake up to its headwaters. The physical survey leads to the identification of pollution sources, land-uses, and bio-physical attributes of the sub-basins, which are then used in the preparation of rehabilitation plans. The exercise serves as the first step towards team building and a prelude to the development of a common vision and mission to rehabilitate the river system.

Working under the premise that a stakeholder's level of interest to initiate action arises in proportion to the amount of information that he is given regarding in the state of the river within his area of concern, and its significance to his interest and livelihood, IEC campaigns are conducted to mobilize of river protection and rehabilitation.

3. River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/Foundations

To ensure multi-sectoral participation in the river rehabilitation effort, River Councils, whose members acts as environmental stewards in their own concerns of the Laguna de Bay region, are organized. The formation of the River Rehabilitation and Protection Councils/ Foundations for Laguna de Bay's sub-basins was institutionalizes in 1999 though LLDA Board Resolution No. 114. In 2001, these River Councils/ Foundations were federated and legitimized through the passage of LLDA Board Resolution No. 167. The umbrella organization, the Federation of River Councils/ Foundations, provides overall leadership, guidance and direction to the activities of its member councils. It also serves as a convergence point for the review of sectoral policies and program that impact on the region's resources.

4. Formulation of River Rehabilitation Plans

Participatory planning is undertaken by bringing together representatives from the various sectors (LGU, NGOs, POs, youth and civic organizations, etc.) to formulate realistic strategies to protect and rehabilitate the river. The output is a rehabilitation plan containing the vision, mission, objectives, key result areasand corresponding indicators to be applied for the sub-basin.

5. Environmental Army

The Environmental Army (Hukbong Pangkapaligiran) was organized to undertake the physical clean-up of the River Rehabilitation Program. This army, armed with shovels and pitchforks, is composed mainly of farmers and fisherfolks who are already affected by continuous degradation of the lake. They lead in the clearing of solid wastes, garbage and other debris that obstruct the natural flow of waterways. The group plays a vital role in raising awareness and heightening motivation among various sectors.

6. Water Quality Monitoring

Regular monitoring of the rivers that drain into Laguna de Bay is conducted in coordination with the Monitoring Section of LLDA's Pollution Control Division (PCD). It is a vital component of the River Rehabilitation Program, the result of which are used to determine how effectively the program is being implemented in correlation to improving the lakes water quality.

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