Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 359)
The Project Management Office is housed within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The project has two major components: 1) Bicol River Basin Management Component, and 2) Water Resources Management Component.
It is subdivided into four components: Institutional Strengthening; Watershed Development and Management; Irrigation Management; and Flood Mitigation.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) leads it, co-implemented by the Local Government Units (LGUs) within the Bicol River Basin.
These include coordinating water and watershed policies, developing strategies, organizing implementing structures, consulting LGUs and stakeholders, managing project portfolios, supporting appraisals and feasibility studies, assisting LGUs in financing, coordinating implementation of sub-projects, data management, financing, procurement, and other necessary functions.
LGUs are involved in spending for the project, borrowing resources for devolved activities, participating in consultation processes, submitting projects to financing institutions, and implementing sub-projects with support from the Project Management Office and line agencies.
Staff includes a Project Management Officer (rank of Undersecretary), Deputy Project Management Officer (rank of Assistant Secretary), technical staff seconded from various government agencies, and recruited academic technical staff.
The relationship is complementary, synergistic, and coordinative to ensure ecological, institutional, and economic principles in river basin management are observed, without diminishing the powers of existing agencies.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provides the funds for its operation.