We attended the Network of Asian River Basin Organizations' (NARBO) 9th Integrated Water Resource Management training course in Tagaytay City, Philippines from May 12-19, 2014.  There were about 50 participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Srilanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

I got into the group through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Youth Initiative. The other youth participants were Ponce Samaniego, Iris Caluag, Keanu Reyes and Byyung Gyu Park.

To me, the most important thing was to learn about the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Framework that is way to have the river basin properly functional and organized for mobilization of resources. The different representatives gave reports on how IWRM works in their own countries.

We also discussed the special role of women and youth in IWRM.  I gave a presentation about the seven lakes and the youth advocacy during the fieldtrip of the participants to San Pablo City, which is my hometown.

An interesting proposal was for the creation of Youth River COuncils. Actually, it was already proposed in the previous NARBO training. Here is what we think will be the benefits of the benefits of creating a Youth River Council:

• Better communication between youth environment groups
• Youth can share best practices between river basin councils through their representatives
• Provide the view of the youth in drafting of laws and ordinances
• To gather information about river protection
• To create future leaders who wil lead in the mitigation of environmental problems
• To organize events for youth on education for sustainable development
• To complement River Council decisions and provide necessary resources

We hope to start the Youth River Council in five communities around Laguna Lake, which is the largest lake in the Philippines and third largest in Asia. If successful, other NARBO affiliated countries will adopt the idea.