CITY OF MALOLOS — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is promoting bamboo planting, soil conservation and water impounding systems to help upland farming communities withstand the effects of El Niño.
The measures include bamboo plantations to help retain soil moisture, structures to prevent topsoil erosion, and water impounding systems that can provide alternative water supplies for farms during dry spells.
During the October 5 Cabinet meeting on El Nino, the DENR reported its efforts to promote nature-based solutions that conserve soil moisture, protect agricultural lands, and sustain the natural resources on which farming communities depend.
These initiatives complement President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives to accelerate government preparations for El Niño, prepare for the worst-case scenario, and have the Department of Agriculture (DA) develop a work plan addressing the anticipated effects on farmers and fisherfolk and identifying the assistance they may need.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel “Mitch” T. Cuna said nature-based solutions can help protect both agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of farming communities as prolonged dry spells put pressure on soil and water resources.
“Climate-resilient agriculture is essential to maintaining national food and water security during severe El Niño events,” Secretary Cuna said. “Through innovative projects like the Capas Bamboo Ecopark in Tarlac, soil conservation structures in Zambales, and Small Water Impounding Systems in Catanduanes and SOCCSKSARGEN, the DENR is providing practical, nature-based tools to our upland farming communities.
By conserving soil moisture and regulating local microclimates, we are ensuring that rural livelihoods remain viable even during extended dry spells.”
The DENR’s interventions complement the DA’s efforts to sustain agricultural production through measures such as solar-powered irrigation systems, additional seeds and fertilizer, and cloud seeding where conditions permit.
While these interventions help farmers maintain production and manage immediate water shortages, the DENR’s soil conservation, bamboo growing, and water resource management initiatives help protect the land and natural systems that support farming over the longer term.
Together, these efforts contribute to the government’s broader preparations to cushion farmers and fisherfolk from El Niño’s effects.
In Capas, Tarlac, the DENR’s Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) is promoting water-efficient nursery operations, including drip irrigation and improved seedling propagation. It is also developing an ecotourism park with extensive bamboo plantations and specialized nursery facilities.
The Manila Bay Site Coordinating and Management Office (MBSCMO) has highlighted the Capas Bamboo Ecopark as a model for how bamboo can help retain soil moisture, support groundwater recharge, and control erosion. These functions can help keep landscapes healthier during extended periods of limited rainfall.
In Zambales, PENRO is applying soil and water conservation measures in National Greening Program (NGP) sites. Contour farming, stone bunds, and mulching help protect topsoil from drying out and reduce erosion, supporting the long-term productivity of agricultural lands.
Beyond protecting the soil, the DENR is working with water management agencies and local communities to promote responsible water use and make existing supplies go further.
In the Ilocos Region, DENR Region 1 has established coordination protocols with regional offices of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and local irrigators’ associations to regulate surface water diversion and protect fragile water tables.
The region has also conducted information, education, and communication campaigns on Presidential Decree No. 1067, or the Water Code of the Philippines. The activities help farming communities understand legal limits on water extraction and learn sustainable irrigation practices. Communities reached include Currimao, Ilocos Norte; San Fabian and Lingayen, Pangasinan; Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; and Caba, La Union.
In Bicol, PENRO Catanduanes presented completed Small Water Impounding Systems (SWIS) to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council as alternative water sources for agricultural barangays vulnerable to drought.
In Region XII, or SOCCSKSARGEN, DENR field offices are maximizing existing SWIS facilities within the Mt. Matutum and Allah Valley Protected Landscapes to help sustain upland agroforestry farmers during dry periods.
The DENR plans to expand agroforestry demonstration sites in major river basins, incorporating drought-tolerant native tree species and bamboo to strengthen landscape resilience over the long term.
These efforts combine soil conservation, sustainable water use, and agroforestry to help farming communities better withstand dry spells while protecting the natural resources on which their livelihoods depend. (UnliNews Online)
