Training participants perform hydrologic data gathering and analysis (Photo credit: USAID Philippines)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) trained national and local government and academic institution partners from Palawan, Negros Occidental, and Sarangani on computational hydrology and water resource management to strengthen their planning and policy formulation capability. In their culminating activity, participants presented the hydrologic studies they conducted in assigned watersheds.
National Water Resources Board Executive Director Dr. Sevillo David, Jr. cited USAID’s assistance in developing hydrologic studies as an essential step toward a more effective management of critical watersheds and looked forward to tapping these experts in conducting hydrologic studies in other watersheds in the country.
Altogether, around 40 hydrologic studies have been completed through the training conducted by USAID for government and academic personnel. USAID is empowering national and local stakeholders in hydrologic analysis for rational allocation of water rights and targeted measures for watershed protection so that conservation or rehabilitation will be enabled.
A hallmark of USAID's approach to water resource management is the use of science and data to inform local governments’ policies and plans to manage critical watersheds and develop water sources.
The fact sheet given below summarizes the approach employed in this endeavor. (USAID Philippines-Safe Water Project)
