Cagayan de Oro Riverbasin Management Council (CDORBMC) is a multi-sectoral group of concerned individuals, agencies and institutions who dedicate themselves in protecting, preserving, rehabilitating and managing of the Cagayan de Oro riverbasin.

Mission

To oversee and catalyze multi-stakeholders for the protection, preservation, rehabilitation and management of the CDO river basin.

Vision

A rehabilitated, sustainably protected and preserved, and well-managed CDO river basin in 2020.

Brief History

Cagayan de Oro Riverbasin Management Council (CDORBMC) is a multi-stakeholder group of Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), private sectors, religious groups, People’s Organization/Indigenous People (PO/IP), Security and Academes that converge together to protect, preserve, rehabilitate and manage the watersheds, rivers, and forests of the Cagayan de Oro riverbasin. The CDORBMC seeks to improve the quality of life of the stakeholders by upholding and implementing appropriate interventions to enhance better utilization of natural resources and to boost biodiversity along the watersheds and the rivers. It also encourages all other stakeholders to become part of the formulation of management plans and strategies for the riverbasin.

The CDORBMC was created in November 16, 2010 during the “Multi-Stakeholders Meeting and Workshop” held at Philtown Hotel. The said activity was spearheaded by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro (ACDO) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Different stakeholders participated and signed the “Co-Management Agreement” among the members. There were eight (8) sectors that represent CDORBMC: NGA, LGU, NGO, Business, PO/IP, Religious group, Security group and Academe. The roles and responsibilities of each of the aforementioned sectors were stipulated on the agreement which was later revised and improved by the Xavier University – Center for Legal Assistance (XU-CLA) in 2013.

During its early start, CDORBMC was chaired by ACDO and DENR with DENR at the same time acting as the ad hoc secretariat for the council. ACDO and XU were also part of the secretariat through Myrna Siose and Fr. Mars Tan, S.J., respectively. Later on, as the council continues its advocacies, Xavier University - Research and Social Outreach (XU-RSO) with the help of the Ecosystem Alliance – International Union for Conservation of Nature (EA-IUCN) volunteered to preside as the council’s official secretariat in November of 2011 to further strengthen the operation and management of the CDORBMC through facilitation of meetings, consolidation of council documents and coordination with other member agencies/groups.

Since XU volunteered as secretariat, the CDORBMC has undergone several improvements especially on its organizational structure. As of now, the council has the Board of Stakeholders (BoS) as the “policy-making body” and the Executive Committee (ExeCom) which is the “implementing body”. The BoS is composed of different agencies and institutions that represent all the other sectors within the council. These were either nominated or were invited and/or endorsed by the Chairs. On the other hand, members of the ExeCom are the Chairs of the council (ACDO, DENR and DILG), Chairs of each Technical Working Group (TWG) and the mayors of the four (4) major LGUs/City within the riverbasin: Libona, Baungon, Talakag and Cagayan de Oro City. Please refer to Diagram 1 and 2 below for changes in CDORBMC’s organizational structure. Currently, the council has this set up and is continuesly moving to formulate its masterplan for the rehabilitation, protection and management of CDO riverbasin.

The region-wide environmental campaign dubbed as Valuing Ecosystem Services Together (VEST) of Xavier University highlights people’s participation toward a paradigm shift to the “new normal,” preventing another catastrophe from inflicting Northern Mindanao. VEST is an offshoot campaign grounded upon the principles of Payment for Ecological Services (PES) where communities and different sectors are encouraged to participate in a “rewarding mechanism” for the rehabilitation and preservation of Mt Kalatungan. VEST targets five sectors to take part in this ecological undertaking, namely, the corporations, cooperatives, the academe, religious groups and the households.

PES acts as a “rewarding cycle” designed to protect our forest in the highlands of Mindanao so that when it rains, the water will not be devastating by the time it reaches urbanized areas such as Cagayan de Oro City. The project is piloted within the ancestral domain of the Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA), one of the 12 lumad communities in the protected area of Talakag, Bukidnon where Mt Kalatungan stands. This rehabilitation effort ensures the provision of the ecological services of preventing further flooding in the region and adequate water supply, while economic incentives will be rewarded to the indigenous people community for being the forest managers.

Supported by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this project is frontlined by XU Research and Social Outreach, McKeough Marine Center and Xavier Science Foundation (XSF), together with other public and private institutions across Region 10.

In Terms of  Status

Xavier University consistently adheres to high standards of instruction and research, integrity and reputation, commitment to excellence, and sustainability and viability of operations granted by the Commission on Higher Education AUTONOMOUS AND DEREGULATED  STATUS.

• XU as an Autonomous Institution is:
• Exempted from issuance of Special Orders
• Free from regular monitoring and evaluation by CHED
• Given priority in grants and financial subsidies/ assistance from CHED
• Blest with the privilege to determine and prescribe curricular programs, to offer new programs, and to establish satellite or extension campuses
• Authority to confer honorary degree

Xavier University has earned PAASCU (Philippine Accrediting Association of Colleges and Universities) levels of accreditation on  the following programs:

• Level IV   Accredited Status for Liberal Arts, Sciences and BS Chemistry Programs, Business Administration and  Accountancy Programs, Elementary and Secondary Education Programs
• Level III   Accredited Status for the Agriculture Program & Basic Medical Education Programs
• Level II     Accredited Status for the Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial & Mechanical Engineering Programs

As Policy

Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education of 2008, Article 10 Sec.43-46, CHED recognizes higher education institution as Center of  Excellence  (COE) or  Center of Development.

Xavier University has demonstrated academic excellence in Instructional Quality, Research and Publication, Outreach Program and Institutional Linkages thereby granted Center of Development in the following Undergraduate Programs:

• Teacher Education Program
• Literature Program
• Agriculture Program
• Chemical  Engineering Program
• Civil Engineering Program
• Electrical Engineering Program
• Electronics  Engineering