It has been three years since Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. (JVOFI) launched the USAID Phil-Am funded project, Protecting and Defending the Amburayan River Basin and  its’ Watersheds through Good Governance and Active Peoples’ Participation. On May 12, 2017, 85 participants gathered for the final Amburayan River Inter-Regional Stakeholders’ Closeout Meeting. A two day activity held in Vigan City, this meeting aimed to update the stakeholders on the project’s accomplishments, discuss the status of the WQMA designations and agree on common inter-regional activities.

A turning over  of responsibilities was officially made between the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc. and the different project partners. Truly, this meeting made a memorable and huge impact amongst the stakeholders since every one greatly undertook the responsiblities given to them. Despite the project’s end, everyone willingly showed and vowed their support in pursuing the project’s mantra.

Also, to give an update on the project’s current status, it was discussed and agreed upon that there would be annual joint meetings of the Upper and Lower Amburayan River Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) Governing Boards to be held every third Thursday of October. Benguet province, through Provincial Board member and Environment Committee chairperson Nestor Fongwan, volunteered to host the first annual joint meeting in October 2016.

“Water sustains us and it can also destroy us if we do not take good care of it.” Our devotion for the environment is important and one of the key things we need to take good care of is water. For the development of this project, we need to help one another in continuing the project’s mantra.

 Protecting and Defending the Amburayan River Basin and Watershed through Good Governance and Active Peoples’ Participation is a project funded by the USAID through the Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF) and is implemented by the Jaime V. Ongpin Foundation Inc.  (JVOFI).