Kidapawan city, Cotabato – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)–PENRO Cotabato, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Cotabato, six LGUs of the 1st District, and various National Government Agencies (NGAs), formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the creation of the Mindanao–Simuay River Watershed Council of Cotabato Province in accordance with the DENR Administrative Order No. 2021-41, or the Guidelines in the Creation of Watershed Management Councils on October 29, 2025 at the Governor’s Office, Provincial Capitol, Kidapawan City.

The newly constituted Council, composed of fifteen (15) member institutions, seeks to strengthen inter-agency coordination and shared accountability in the management, conservation, and protection of the Mindanao–Simuay River Watershed—a critical watershed and vital ecological system that sustains local communities, agriculture, and biodiversity within Cotabato Province. Under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), PENRO Radzak B. Sinarimbo serves as the Chairperson, while Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza acts as the Co-Chairperson of the Council. Both leaders expressed their strong commitment to advancing sustainable watershed management through a unified and collaborative approach, underscoring the importance of partnership among government agencies and LGUs in promoting environmental stewardship and resilience across Cotabato Province.