Falling Walls Falling Walls Science Summit 2023

FALLING WALLS Engage

Mark Peñalver: Breaking the Wall to Inclusive & Democratic Watershed Management

Mark Peñalver

2023 Science Engagement

Fresh drinking water is an important issue in this decade. The role of water monitoring is a function provided by water utility providers such as the Davao City Water District (DCWD). On a national scale, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is mandated with monitoring the country’s water resources. However, there is a growing trend to democratize water monitoring though engaging local communities. As major stakeholders, local communities can be trained to become river watchdogs to support the government’s water quality monitoring role. Through the project “The Flow of the River: A Community-based Water Monitoring System”, local communities especially local youth members (Bantayo Aweg or Water Guardians) are trained and empowered to monitor water quality through manual testing of the eight parameters, e.g., temperature, color, pH, stream flow discharge and crafting the data into policy recommendations for river protection.

Mark Peñalver

Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc.

Atty. Green Panda as he is fondly called, Mark passed the 2017 BAR exams and brings to IDIS his environmental law background, and much-needed expertise to an organization engaged in environmental policy advocacy. He is also the former Vice President of the University of Mindanao Legal Advocacy Network (ULAN).

Today he continues to volunteer for IAmHampaslupa Ecological Agriculture Movement (Greenpeace) and ULAN. He enjoys his work at IDIS where he engages with different sectors and the government to push for the adoption of environmental policies. Mark finished his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Mindanao in 2014 and his AB in Mass Communication from Ateneo de Davao University in 2010. He plans to take up his Masters Degree in Environmental and International Law. His childhood dream also remains, which is to someday join National Geographics Team of Experts.

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