Central Visayas Region Physical Framework Plan 87 88 Development Challenges and Interregional Concerns Development Challenges and Interregional Concerns DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES of optimum forest cover, Central Visayas should have about 58 percent of its land covered with vegetation. Encroachment in forest and upland he use of the land is constrained by areas, unsuitable farming practices and physical, environmental and/or man-made unplanned urbanization were cited as the major factors. The man-made factors can include T reasons for the continued denudation of the government policies that restrict or limit the use of region's forest land. the land. Mangrove stands along coastal areas have Deforestation of forest and mangrove areas also declined over the years due to the indiscriminate cutting of these resources for fishpond development and urban expansion. The Data from DENR shows that although 36 conversion of mangrove areas into fishponds percent of the region's area is classified as used to be an area of constant conflict in the forestland, much of the area is denuded. Through region until the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 the years, the situation worsened. Satellite was enacted, which effectively prohibited the images reveal that the forest cover in Central conversion of mangroves into fishponds or for Visayas has been severely reduced from 137,000 any other purposes. Still, the area of the hectares in 1975 (BFD data) and 38,400 hectares mangrove has been reduced from 2,700 hectares in 1988 to a mere 19,000 hectares in 1997, or just in 1992 to 2,100 hectares in 2004. There is 14 percent of its size 20 years ago. (see Figure obviously a need for the Department of 10) Environment and Natural Resources, in Latest data from DENR indicates a coordination with the Department of Agriculture, reversal in the declining trend of the forest cover. local government units and other concerned A substantial improvement in forest cover has agencies and organizations to determine which been reported due largely to the massive fishponds have been abandoned, remain reforestation undertaken in upland and watershed undeveloped or underutilized, and to revert these areas. About 20 percent of the region’s forest areas to their original mangrove state. (see Map lands (more than 100,000 hectares) are cited to 33) have forest cover. Still, if slope is used as gauge Land degradation The most common type of land Figure 10. Extent of Forest Cover, 1975-1997 degradation in the Philippines and in the region is soil erosion posing a detrimental effect on soil 140,000 physico-chemical and biological properties. This 120,000 makes the land less suitable to crop production 100,000 or, in some cases of severe erosion, result to total 80,000 loss of soil productivity. 60,000 In Central Visayas, loss of fertile topsoil Hectares 40,000 especially in the uplands is a major problem 20,000 confronting the region. Presently, Central Visayas 0 is considered one of the more severely eroded 1975 1988 1997 regions in the country with more than 70 percent Central Visayas Region Physical Framework Plan 89 Map 33. Fishponds in Mangrove Areas 90 Development Challenges and Interregional Concerns of its land suffering from topsoil erosion. While Figure 11. Extent of Soil Erosion in Provinces factors like soil texture, structure, consistency, compressibility, permeability, capillarity and 60 density definitely influence erositivity of soils, it is 50 the lack of vegetative cover as a result of the 40 denudation of the uplands, continued cultivation of areas with steep slopes combined with 30 unsustainable farming practices that have 20 worsened the erosion problem in the region. This 10 has resulted to a serious reduction in soil 0 productivity and water retention capacity. This B o ho l Ceb u Or. Neg . Siq uijo r Ceb u Cit y situation will predispose the degraded land to No erosion Slight ero sion drought and other water availability problems. M o derate erosio n Severe erosion The Philippine Land and Soil Management Atlas (1992) shows that more than half or 58 percent of the land in Cebu City is severely Table 15. Water Potential and Demand in MCM/year* eroded. Among the provinces, severe soil erosion is highest in Oriental Negros at 38 percent followed by Siquijor at 29 percent, Bohol at 18 Philippine Central Indicator Year Metro Cebu Total Visayas percent, and Cebu at 8 percent. Highest levels of moderate soil erosion are experienced in Bohol 1995 1,303 - 59 Demand and Cebu. (see Figure 11) 2025 3,955 2,226 342 Groundwater Availability 759 879 60 Decreasing water availability Average 1995 -544 - 1 Surplus/Deficit A World Resources Institute study (2001) 2025 -3,196 -1,347 -282 reports that in areas where per capita water Percent Surplus/ supply is below 1,000 cubic meters per year, 1995 -42% - 2% Deficit to Total 2025 -81% -60% -82% these areas should already be experiencing water Demand scarcity. Data from NWRB (2003) shows that Source: NWRB, 2003 and JICA Master Plan on Water Resources Central Visayas' per capita water supply has went Management in the Philippines, 1998. down to 425 cubic meters per year. This means Note: MCM/year is million cubic meters per year that the region is on the threshold of experiencing water scarcity. The World Bank Philippine Environment Figure 12. DO Pollutant Level in Major Bays Monitor (2003) affirms the growing scarcity of 1996-2001 water in the region especially in highly populated 16 areas. The report identified Central Visayas 14 particularly Cebu province as one of four critical areas in the Philippines in terms of water quantity 12 and quality. The World Bank study projects that 10 by 2025 water demand will be around 2,226 8 million cubic meters in the region against a water 6 resource potential of 2,939 million cubic meters at DO (mg/l) 80 percent dependability. (see Table 15) Critical 4 is the Province of Cebu where the water resource 2 potential is only 708 million cubic meters against 0 a projected demand of around 932 million cubic M inglanilla M andaue to Liloan t o Inabanga Consolacion Compostela meters in 2025, or a shortfall of 224 million cubic Bays meters. If the region especially Metro Cebu is to continue to play a significant role in the economic water quality criterion Lowest Average Highest development of the Visayas area, the water Source: DENR-EMB, 2003 supply situation needs to be urgently addressed. Central Visayas Region Physical Framework Plan 91 Deteriorating water quality Table 16. Groundwater Quality Scorecard Wells That Failed Water pollution is threatening many of the Wells Criteria1/ region's surface water. While EMB data shows Provinces Tested Rating2/ (No.) that the water quality of many of the region's (No.) (%) rivers are still considered satisfactory, it took exception to the case of the rivers that traverse Bohol 5 2 40 U the urban areas of Cebu where the large portion Cebu 15 7 47 U of the region's population reside. The water quality of Guadalupe and Cotcot rivers in Cebu Oriental Neg. 9 1 11 U City were assessed to be unsatisfactory, Source: WB-Philippines Environment Monitor 2003 indicating organic pollution. The bays along Notes: 1/ Wells tested did not meet standard for drinking water at 500 Minglanilla, Mandaue to Consolacion, and Liloan mg/l (for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)). to Compostela in Cebu and Inabanga in Bohol did 2/ Satisfactory (S) - <10% of wells tested did not meet standard not also pass the water quality criterion for Unsatisfactory (U)- >10% of wells tested didn’t meet standard coastal and marine water (dissolved oxygen (DO) average readings). Suitability of these waters for already reached approximately 7 kilometers at its recreational use is thus questionable. (see Figure farthest point inland. In Cebu City, saltwater 12) intrusion has affected Barangays Lahug, Capitol, EMB data also shows that many of the Labangon and Banilad where about 10 years ago wells tested in the provinces of Cebu, Bohol and it was confined only in the downtown commercial Oriental Negros did not pass the drinking water business district. Salt water intrusion is caused by criterion for total dissolved solids. (see Table 16) over-exploitation or excessive withdrawal of Salt water intrusion along the coastal areas groundwater. This reduces water availability for is another emerging problem in the region. Salt domestic usage, including drinking and water intrusion is especially prominent in the agricultural usage. (see Figure 13) cities of Cebu and Mandaue. Studies conducted Recent data (2005) on salt water intrusion by the Water Resources Center (WRC) of the offers some hope. The WRC-Cebu Water University of San Carlos from 1975 to 1997 REMIND Project reported that sea water intrusion showed that the extent of saltwater intrusion had appeared to have stabilized in Cebu City and Figure 13. Salinity Map of Cebu City Showing the Comparative Movement of the 50 ppm Chloride Iso-line Mactan Island Point Explanation A Lourdes Parish, Labangon B Capitol Building, Capitol C Waterfront Hotel, Lahug D 50 ppm Chloride Isoline: 1997 E 40 ppm Chloride Isoline: 1975 Source: University of San Carlos-Water Resources Center 92 Development Challenges and Interregional Concerns Mandaue City. This was the result of the Low productivity in fisheries decommissioning of some water wells of MCWD in critical areas. (see Map 34) Productivity of the region's inland, municipal and commercial fishing areas also Encroachment of urban land development in show declining trends. These fishery ecosystems environmentally-critical areas are noted to have reached their maximum sustainable yields. Studies by the Bureau of The rapid growth of the population and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the increasing economic activity in the urban centers Coastal Resource Management Project (CRMP) have increased the demand for land.