DOrSU, Mati Peoples Council sign watershed rehab agreement
Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) and the City of Mati Peoples Council Inc. (CMPC Inc.) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on April 28, 2026, to rehabilitate the Sumlog–Cuabo Watershed through a 10-hectare agroforestry project.
The agreement, signed by DOrSU President Dr. Roy G. Ponce and CMPC Inc. President Felix A. Arreglado, aims to restore degraded land while boosting biodiversity and community resilience.
Under the MOA, eight hectares of degraded land will be rehabilitated, while two hectares will be developed into riparian buffer zones to protect water systems from further degradation.
DOrSU will lead ecological assessments and provide technical expertise to ensure science-based planning and implementation of the agroforestry system, including recommendations for long-term ecosystem recovery.
“This partnership reflects our strong commitment to science-based environmental stewardship,” Ponce said. “Through this initiative, we aim to rehabilitate the watershed and empower communities with sustainable practices that will protect natural resources for future generations.”
CMPC Inc., on the other hand, will handle on-site coordination, including community engagement, securing permits, and providing logistical support such as transportation, supplies, and volunteer mobilization.
“We are honored to collaborate with DOrSU in this undertaking,” Arreglado said. “This project brings together community action and technical expertise to ensure inclusive and effective watershed rehabilitation.”
The partnership underscores both institutions’ commitment to environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods, particularly in forest and coastal communities in Davao Oriental.
Both parties stressed that the project outputs will be used strictly for environmental rehabilitation and planning purposes.
The one-year agreement is expected to open opportunities for future collaborations between the academe and civil society groups in advancing community-based environmental programs.
