Isabela Governor Rodito Albano reaffirmed his commitment to addressing water security challenges in the Cagayan Valley region during the Japan-Philippines Nexus Program on Water Security at Kyoto University.
Represented by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano, the governor emphasized that tackling water supply issues and water-related disasters is vital for the future and the well-being of the people.
“Addressing these challenges is a fight for our future, a fight for the safety, and well-being of our constituents.”
“We believe that addressing these challenges is a fight for our future, a fight for the safety, and well-being of our constituents,” Garcia-Albano said, quoting Albano.
He highlighted the Cagayan River Basin (CRB) as both a vital water source and a recurring flood risk.
“The challenge before us is how to maximize the use of our water resources while simultaneously addressing, or at least mitigating, the severe impacts of floods.”
“The challenge before us is how to maximize the use of our water resources while simultaneously addressing, or at least mitigating, the severe impacts of floods,” Albano stated in his speech.
He cited several key initiatives implemented over the years, including the Integrated Cagayan River Basin Management and Development Master Plan (2012), which introduced inter-regional strategies for sustainable water management.
Albano also referenced the Flood Risk Management Project (2016), funded by JICA with a budget of P1.92 billion, as a major step toward reducing flood risks.
He further acknowledged the 2023 approval of the Climate-Responsive Integrated Management and Development Master Plan, which incorporates climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction into the region’s water security framework.
Albano also highlighted the 2024 efforts of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Region 02, which he chairs. These include pushing for the construction of Sabo Dams along the tributaries of the Cagayan River, riverbank protection and flood control projects, river channel realignment and widening, and small water impounding projects.
He underscored ongoing collaborations with Isabela State University (ISU) and Kyoto University, particularly in developing long-term water resource security action plans.
Albano also expressed strong support for the national government’s push to establish a Department of Water Resources, aiming to streamline fragmented water-related agencies and enhance the country’s water governance.
