Gov. Edduba reports funding bid for Chico River Project in Kalinga to protect watersheds and spur development

“We really need funding. Our recommendation is the CRIDS project. Our plan is that once portions of the Chico River from Barangay San Juan to Socbot are recovered, these areas can be developed into spaces for government and institutional use, subject to approval.”

- Gov. Edduba

Vancouver, Canada – Governor James S. Edduba announced that the Provincial Government of Kalinga is seeking financial support from the People's Survival Fund (PSF) for the proposed Chico River Integrated Development System (CRIDS), a major river basin and watershed development initiative envisioned to strengthen environmental conservation and climate resilience in the province.

During a meet-and-greet with iKalingas in Vancouver, Canada, Edduba shared updates on the proposed project, which aims to develop and manage areas along the Chico River while promoting sustainable growth and climate adaptation measures.

In a video posted on his official Facebook page on June 16, the governor said the provincial government is preparing the necessary studies and documentation required before formally applying for funding assistance from the PSF, a national financing facility that supports climate change adaptation projects.

“We really need funding. Our recommendation is the CRIDS project. Our plan is that once portions of the Chico River from Barangay San Juan to Socbot are recovered, these areas can be developed into spaces for government and institutional use, subject to approval,” Edduba said.

The governor emphasized that Kalinga is strategically positioned to pursue the project because much of the Chico River watershed is located within the province.

“The good thing in this is that the Chico River, starting from Benguet to Mountain Province and Kalinga, has six of its tributaries within our province. Before that, we need to present a watershed study. It's timely because we now have the Balbalasang Protected Landscape and Seascape, or Balbalasang National Park,” he added.

According to Edduba, a comprehensive watershed study will be conducted to identify priority interventions and demonstrate the project's environmental and climate resilience benefits.

The proposed CRIDS project is expected to support integrated river management, environmental protection, and sustainable development along the Chico River corridor.

The governor discussed the initiative during his participation in a climate and disaster resilience learning exchange in Canada, where he also shared various development programs being pursued by the Provincial Government of Kalinga.