The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has named the Cagayan de Oro River Basin in Northern Mindanao as a water quality management area (WQMA), which includes an area best known for the popular sport whitewater rafting. In a statement, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said this latest addition to the growing list of WQMAs in the country is “by far the largest WQMA designation in terms of the vast distances to be placed under a single WQMA.” “The inclusion of the Cagayan de Oro River and its tributaries on the WQMA list mirrors the government’s high degree of commitment to push sound environmental policies as a prerequisite to inclusive and sustainable growth,” he said.

Galvez, J. K. (2013, August 6). CDO river cited for economic importance. The Manila Times, p. B2.