Community engagement is crucial for the success of canal restoration
projects. Studies have shown that projects involving residents are more likely
to be sustainable in the long term. According to the study entitled
“Community‐Driven research in the Anthropocene” by Rajul E Pandya (2014),
to address the challenges of the Anthropocene, humans need to integrate
scientific knowledge into their ways of thinking about the world and making
decisions. An effective way to do that is by adding community‐driven
science, to the portfolio of scientific methods. It is meant to identify things
scientists and science‐educators could do differently that would have a
positive impact. Community members can provide valuable insights into
local challenges and contribute to the development of culturally appropriate
solutions.
According to the study entitled “Restoration of Buckingham Canal Chennai”
by Shaik Muhammed Zubair Basheer Ahamed (2023), the canal, which was
previously a prominent means of transportation, has experienced a decline in
its condition as a result of urbanization, discharge of industrial waste,
insufficient sewage treatment, and improper disposal of solid waste. The
aforementioned factors have led to significant degradation of water quality
and disturbance of the canal’s hydrological regime. The results obtained from
these phases provide valuable insights for the formulation of a
comprehensive pollution mitigation plan, which includes the implementation
of wastewater treatment plants, the installation of litter interception devices,
and the dissemination of educational initiatives targeting the general public.
Case studies from other locations in the Philippines and Asia can provide
valuable insights for the proposed project in Barangay Looc. According to the
study entitled “Community-based groundwater and ecosystem restoration in
semi-arid north Rajasthan (1): Socio-economic progress and lessons for
groundwater-dependent areas” by Mark Everard (2015), enhanced seasonal
groundwater recharge enabled by WHSs regenerated aquatic, farmed and
natural ecosystems, underpinning a positive cycle of interdependent social
and economic regeneration. Locally appropriate, integrated social and
technical solutions maintaining this positive cycle have increased the quality
of ecosystems and the wellbeing of local people.
Furthermore, From the study entitled “From channelization to restoration:
Sociohydrologic modeling with changing community preferences in the
Kissimmee River Basin, F lorida” by Chen et al. (2016), the preferential
increase of upstream population growth will raise the community’s concern
about wetlands and the preferential increase of downstream population
growth will magnify concern about flooding. This study provides insight into
the driving forces behind human‐water interactions in the Kissimmee River
Basin while simultaneously demonstrating the potential of sociohydrologic
modeling to describe complex human‐water coupled systems with simple
concepts and equations.
Examining successful community-driven canal restoration initiatives in these
regions can help identify best practices and potential challenges to address
The proposed study addresses several key research gaps by focusing on the
following aspects: (1) Understanding the specific demographic profile of
residents in Barangay Looc can help tailor community engagement
strategies; (2) Identifying the types and sources of pollutants present in the
canals is essential for developing targeted solutions. (3) Assessing the
existing community-driven efforts allows for building upon existing initiatives
and fostering collaboration; (4) Investigating how sustainable practices can
be implemented to ensure the long-term viability of the project is crucial for
long-term success.
This study addresses a critical issue in urban environments: the impact of
environmental degradation due to ineffective waste management and the
lack of sustainable practices on water quality and surrounding communities.
By investigating these topic, the proposed study has the potential to
contribute significantly to the field of community-driven canal restoration.
The successful implementation of this project can serve as a model for other
communities facing similar challenges.
