Assessment of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Tradeoffs for Mindanao: Final Report

The water resources of Mindanao vary significantly across geographic regions and over time. The eight major watersheds on the island cover a broad range of topography, climate, and land surfaces, resulting in diverse hydrology across the island. 

USAID, through its Building Low Emission Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability Project (B-LEADERS) quantified surface water supplies for Mindanao. USAID B-LEADERS has developed a framework for evaluating the future baseline for energy and water sector developments, conducting scenario analysis of alternative future development pathways, and estimating water-energy-food carbon tradeoffs in alternative energy and water management strategies.

This report outlines initial efforts and progress to date in quantifying water resources on Mindanao as a first step to developing the framework. These results are preliminary and will continue to be refined. Future work will incorporate future climate and alternative water-use scenarios developed from partner agencies in the Philippines, including the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), PAGASA, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).