I.

INTRODUCTION

The Sucoc River in Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur, is an important natural and

agricultural resource that has long been associated with local farming and fishing

activities. It is a cultural and heritage landscape. Water-based livelihoods, such as

fishing, farming, and gathering riverine plants, are not just subsistence activities, but

also embodied knowledge systems passed down generations.

The river contributes to local biodiversity by sustaining aquatic life and riparian

vegetation. Its health is intimately linked to community activities, waste management,

and climate resilience efforts. Furthermore, the river helps to reduce seasonal

droughts and floods, making it essential for Sto. Domingo’s climate resilience. This

natural heritage traverses four barangays namely, Naglao-an, Nanerman, Suksukit,

Calay-ab.

The Sucoc River is an important agricultural and ecological lifeblood for Sto.

Domingo’s barangay settlements. This cultural management plan envisions the river

as more than just a natural resource; it is a living legacy landscape molded by

generations of local knowledge, and community stewardship. Based on actual

practices—farming and fishing—this plan aims to empower the Municipal

Government of Sto. Domingo with barangay residents to protect, manage, and restore

the river through participatory governance, culturally sensitive regulations, and

inclusive monitoring technologies. By emphasizing lived experience and ecological

integrity, the plan recognizes the Sucoc River's importance in supporting both

livelihood and identity.

Goals

1. Safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage by documenting the ecological

practices, and foodways linked to the Sucoc River. Ensure intergenerational

transmission of knowledge through community-led workshops and storytelling.

2. Revitalize Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) by integrating local

fishing, farming, and foraging practices into barangay-level planning and

education. Promote sustainable use of riverine resources based on seasonal

rhythms and indigenous indicators.

 3. Strengthen Community Stewardship and Governance by establishing Barangay

Cultural Stewardship Councils (BCSCs) to lead monitoring, decision-making, and

implementation. Embed participatory governance in all CMP processes, ensuring

inclusive representation of elders, women, youth, and fisherfolk.

4. Preserve and Activate Material Culture by support local artisans (bamboo

weavers) and knowledge bearers in revitalizing craft practices tied to farming and

river life.

5. Promote Cultural Resilience and Justice by addressing threats to cultural

continuity, including environmental degradation, migration, and commodification.

Ensure that cultural rights and ancestral claims are recognized in local ordinances

and development plans.

6. Integrate Cultural Heritage into Local Development by aligning CMP goals

with barangay and municipal plans on tourism, education, and environmental

protection. Use cultural mapping and seasonal calendars to inform infrastructure,

livelihood, and disaster preparedness strategies.

7. Foster Education and Capacity Building by developing facilitation modules,

monitoring tools, and learning materials rooted in local realities. Train youth and

educators in heritage documentation, ecological stewardship, and cultural

advocacy.

Objectives

1. Maintain the ecological integrity of the Sucoc River through community-led

conservation and sustainable use.

2. Recognize and preserve cultural practices related to farming, irrigation, and

fishing that reflects Sto. Domingo’s heritage.

3. Empower barangay communities to manage the river through participatory

governance mechanisms, including as local councils and monitoring teams.

4. Incorporate local knowledge and seasonal patterns into formal planning

instruments like ordinances, IRRs, and facilitation modules.

5. Aligning river management with adaptive farming practices and riparian

restoration can help to increase climate resilience and biodiversity.

 6. Enhance intergenerational stewardship through culturally relevant education,

youth participation, and school-based initiatives.

7. Create clear norms and enforcement procedures to govern extractive operations,

garbage disposal, and eco-tourism along the river.

Definition of Terms

Cultural Management Plan (CMP) – A strategic, community-informed document that

outlines policies, practices, and actions for safeguarding, revitalizing, and sustainably

managing the cultural and ecological heritage of the Sucoc River and its surrounding

communities.

Sucoc River – A culturally and ecologically significant waterway in Sto. Domingo,

Ilocos Sur, serving as a site of livelihood, ritual, and memory for local barangays.

Natural Heritage – Refers to the river’s ecologically significant landscapes, biodiversity,

and seasonal rhythms that have shaped local livelihoods, cultural practices, and

community

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) – Practices, expressions, knowledge, and skills—

such as oral traditions, rituals, and ecological knowledge—transmitted across

generations and associated with the Sucoc River.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) – Local, place-based knowledge systems

about biodiversity, seasonal cycles, and resource management, often embedded in

Ilocano language, rituals, and daily practices.

Barangay Cultural Stewardship Council (BCSC) – A barangay-level body composed

of elders, youth, fisherfolk, women, and cultural bearers tasked with implementing and

monitoring the CMP.

Material Culture – Tangible cultural expressions such as fishing tools (iket, alat, asad),

harvesting and cooking implements (banga, labba, bigao), and ritual items used in

relation to the river.

Gendered Labor – The culturally specific roles and responsibilities assigned to men,

women, and other gender identities in relation to river-based practices such as fishing,

cooking, weaving, and ritual preparation.

Participatory Governance – A decision-making approach that centers community

voices—especially those of elders, women, and youth—in shaping and implementing

the CMP.

Cultural Mapping – A participatory process of identifying, documenting, and analyzing

cultural assets, practices, and landscapes associated with the Sucoc River.

Safeguarding Measures – Actions outlined in the CMP to protect, revitalize, and

transmit cultural and ecological knowledge, including education, policy, and

community-based monitoring.

Cultural Landscape – The dynamic interaction between people and the Sucoc River

environment, shaped by generations of use, belief, and stewardship.

Relevant Legislations and Guidelines

The Sucoc River's protection as a natural heritage site is supported by a number of

national legislation and standards that promote ecological conservation, water resource

management, and cultural landscape recognition. Among them are:

1. Presidential Decree No. 1067 – Water Code of the Philippines. The primary legal

foundation for river setback or easement requirements in the Philippines is

Presidential Decree No. 1067, commonly referred to as the Water Code of the

Philippines. Enacted in 1976, it governs the ownership, appropriation, utilization,

exploitation, development, conservation, and protection of water resources.

Key Provisions Relevant to River Setbacks

 Article 51 of the Water Code provides easement or “legal easement” zones

along the banks of rivers and streams, the shores of seas and lakes, and other

bodies of water.

The code specifies that these easements must remain open for public use

(e.g., navigation, fishing, recreation, floatage, salvage). No permanent

structures are to be built within these easement areas.

2. Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160). RA 7160 (Local Government Code of

1991) empowers local government units (LGUs), including barangays, to enact

ordinances and implement programs for environmental protection and sustainable

resource management. This legal authority is crucial for safeguarding natural heritage

sites like the Sucoc River

  Section 16 – General Welfare Clause

LGUs are mandated to “enhance the right of the people to a balanced

ecology.”

Barangays can use this clause to justify ordinances protecting the Sucoc

River’s ecological integrity and regulating pollution, waste disposal, and

extractive activities.

 Section 17 – Basic Services and Facilities

LGUs are responsible for:

 Environmental protection services

 Solid waste management

 Infrastructure related to water supply and drainage

Barangays can develop riverbank stabilization projects, waste control

programs, and irrigation maintenance linked to the Sucoc River.

 Section 447 (Barangay), 458 (Municipality), and 468 (Province) – Legislative

Powers

Authorizes LGUs to enact ordinances for:

 Preservation of ecological balance

 Regulation of land use and water systems

 Protection of natural resources

3. Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009) provides a legal

foundation for protecting the Sucoc River as a natural heritage site by recognizing

cultural landscapes and empowering local communities to conserve them. Barangays

in Sto. Domingo can use this law to declare the river a locally significant cultural

property and develop ordinances and IRRs for its protection.

 Section 3(g) of Republic Act No. 10066 (National Cultural Heritage Act of

2009) defines the term “Cultural Property” as follows:

“Cultural Property” shall refer to all products of human creativity by

which a people and a nation reveal their identity, including churches,

mosques and other places of religious worship, schools and natural history

specimens and sites, whether public or owned, movable or immovable,

and tangible or intangible.

  Section 12 allows LGUs to declare Local Cultural Properties even if they

are not listed nationally.

 Section 5 mandates all government agencies and LGUs to “assume

responsibility for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage.”

 Section 15 encourages LGUs to create Local Cultural Heritage Councils to

oversee heritage conservation.

II. IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT

II.1Historic and Cultural Heritage Items

The Sucoc River is firmly ingrained of Sto. Domingo’s agricultural

background, seasonal traditions, and a strong communal identity, yet specific

heritage goods named after it are not directly identified. Its cultural significance is

frequently seen in behaviors, festivals, and material culture related to water,

farming, and communal life.

A. Cultural and Historic Connections to the Sucoc River

While no formal registry lists heritage items explicitly labeled as artifacts that are

linked to the river, several culturally embedded practices and items reflect its

influence:

1. Agricultural Implements and Irrigation Traditions

 Wooden plows (arado) and carabao-drawn sleds (pasagad) used in rice and

vegetable farming are historically tied to river-fed fields.

 Bamboo irrigation tools and stone-lined canals reflect indigenous water

management systems reliant on Sucoc’s seasonal flow.

 Kumpay (Scythe) is a curved harvesting blade, similar to a sickle and

used for cutting rice stalks or grasses during harvest.

B. Material Culture and Crafting

 Fish traps and woven baskets used for river fishing are crafted by local

artisans, often passed down through generations.

 Bigao is a flat, round winnowing tray, made out of bamboo and used for

separating rice grains from husks (itta) or chaff.

  Labba is a deep, round basket with a wide mouth, crafted out of bamboo

and they are being used for carrying or storing grains, vegetables, or

goods.

C. River-Linked Dishes and Ingredients

 Inabraw (Dinengdeng) with river fish. A vegetable stew made with

malunggay, saluyot, and labong (bamboo shoots) or other vegetables,

often flavored with freshwater fish caught from Sucoc.

 Fish trap-caught tilapia or native species like bunog are grilled or boiled,

then added to the broth.

 Jumping salad or kilawin nga lagdaw is an iconic Ilocano delicacy made

with live freshwater shrimp—served raw and still moving—dressed in

citrus juice, tomatoes, onions, and salt.

D. Farm-Linked Dishes (Irrigated by Sucoc River)

 Pinakbet with River-Irrigated Vegetables. Traditionally made from

eggplant, okra, bitter gourd, tomato, and sili grown in river-fed plots.

Seasoned with bagoong and sometimes topped with grilled fish or pork.

 Kakanin like bibingka, inuburan, pinipig sinukat, sinuman, and patopat.

Rice cakes grilled in banana leaves, made from galapong, coconut, and

sugar. Prepared during harvest festivals and rituals.

 Nalingta nga Mais (Boiled Native Corn). Corn boiled with salt, sometimes

mixed with sweet potatoes. Grown in plots near the river during dry

season. Served as merienda or during communal work days.

 Nalingta nga Kahoy (Boiled Cassava). Cassava boiled and served as

meryenda by the community. Often dipped with sugar to add a sweet taste.

 Lubi lubi is native delicacy with the use of alsong, pounded then mixed

with margarine, sugar and shredded coconut.

 Sinambong, this is a sweet, chewy rice cake made by boiling glutinous

rice (malagkit) in fresh sugarcane juice (katas ti tubo), then wrapping it in

diamond-shaped pouches woven from young coconut. Stockings (unused)

can be used as pouched and dipped directly to the boiling sugar cane juice.
 Pinipig is made from immature glutinous rice grains (diket) that are

harvested while still green. The grains are pounded flat using a wooden

mortar and pestle (dalusan and al-o). the green color of the pinipig is from

the bamboo leaves that are put while being pounded

 Inuruban is a traditional Ilocano dish made from grated coconut and

glutinous rice, often wrapped in banana leaves and steamed or boiled.

 Tinubong is an Ilocano delicacy made of glutinous rice, coconut milk, and

sugar, traditionally cooked inside bamboo tubes over open fire.

Location and Setting

Sucoc River can be found in the Municipality of Sto. Domingo is the fifth

northernmost town of Ilocos Sur and a first-class municipality and it comprises 36

barangays. The Municipality has a population as of December 31, 2023 of 31, 125

and it has a total area of 419.68 hectares. Most of people rely on farming and fishing

as their source of livelihood.

On the western part of the municipality Sucoc River can be found

traversing four (4) main barangays namely, Barangay Nagla-an, Barangay

Nanerman, Barangay Suksukit, and Barangay Calay-ab.

 Republic of the Philippines
Province of Ilocos Sur
MUNICIPALITY OF STO. DOMINGO

Municipal Ordinance No. 25

Series of 2025

“AN ORDINANCE DECLARING SUCOC RIVER A CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT

NATURAL HERITAGE LANDSCAPE AND ESTABLHING MEASURES FOR ITS
CONSERVATION, PREOTECTION AND COMMUNITY “

Section 1. Title

This ordinance shall be known as the “Sucoc River Cultural Heritage and Conservation

Ordinance of 2025.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy

It is the policy of the Municipality of Sto. Domingo to recognize, conserve, and protect the

Sucoc River as a culturally significant natural heritage landscape, shaped by ecological rhythms,

and intergenerational knowledge. The river shall be safeguarded as a common vital to the

identity, livelihood, and resilience of barangay communities.

Section 3. Objectives

This ordinance aims to:

a. Recognize the Sucoc River as a cultural heritage site based on lived practices and

ecological knowledge

b. Establish community-led conservation and monitoring mechanisms

c. Prevent degradation, privatization, and unsustainable use of river resources

d. Promote intergenerational transmission of river-related knowledge and practices

Section 4. Scope and Coverage

This ordinance shall apply to all barangays traversed by or adjacent to the Sucoc River, including

but not limited to Barangay Naglaoa-an, Nanerman, Suksukit and Calay-ab, and shall cover the

river’s physical body, riparian zones, and associated cultural practices.

Section 5. Cultural Significance Criteria

The Sucoc River is hereby declared culturally significant based on:

a. Gendered labor—Roles of women and elders in caregiving, and ecological stewardship

b. Seasonal rhythms—Use of the river in planting and fishing.

c. Oral histories and memory— Narratives tied to resilience, and barangay identity

d. Material cultures —Use of riverine resources in crafts, and constructions.

Section 6. Prohibited Acts

The following are prohibited within the Sucoc River zone:

a. Dumping of waste, chemicals, or pollutants

b. Unauthorized extraction of sand, gravel, or flora

c. Construction that obstructs river flow or access

d. Privatization or fencing of river commons

e. Disruption of cultural practices tied to the river

Section 7. Community Stewardship and Monitoring

a. Each barangay shall form a Sucoc River Heritage Committee, composed of elders,

women, youth, and fisherfolk

b. The committee shall conduct seasonal monitoring of water quality, biodiversity, and

cultural use

c. Barangays shall integrate river stewardship into local development plans and heritage

inventories

Section 8. Education and Transmission

a. Schools and barangay centers shall include river-related knowledge in heritage education

b. Oral history workshops and participatory mapping shall be conducted annually

c. Youth shall be trained in ecological monitoring and cultural documentation

Section 9. Penalties

Violators of this ordinance shall be subject to:

a. First offense: Community service and education session

b. Second offense: Fine of ₱2,000 and public apology

c. Third offense: Fine of ₱5,000 and referral to municipal authorities

Section 10. Funding and Support

The barangay may allocate funds from its heritage, environment, or gender programs to support

implementation. External partnerships with NGOs, schools, and cultural agencies are

encouraged.
Section 11. Separability Clause

If any provision of this ordinance is declared invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in

force.

Section 12. Effectivity

This ordinance shall take effect fifteen (15) days after posting and publication in barangay

centers and local media.

 Republic of the Philippines
Province of Ilocos Sur
MUNICIPALITY OF STO. DOMINGO

IRR No.10, Series of 2025

I. General Provisions

Section 1. Title

This document shall be known as the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Cultural

Management of the Sucoc River.

Section 2. Legal Basis

This IRR is issued pursuant to Municipal Ordinance No. ___, Series of 2025, recognizing the

Sucoc River as a culturally significant natural heritage landscape.

Section 3. Coverage

This IRR applies to all barangays traversed by or adjacent to the Sucoc River, Barangay

Naglaoa-an, Nanerman, Suksukit, and Calay-ab

II. Definition of Terms

Sucoc River Cultural Landscape – The physical river, riparian zones, and associated

cultural practices shaped by community use and memory.

Gendered Labor – Roles and knowledge systems primarily held by women and elders in

relation to river use.

Heritage Commons – Shared spaces of ecological and cultural significance managed

collectively by communities.

Barangay Heritage Committee (BHC) – A multi-sectoral body tasked with

implementing cultural management activities.

School of Living Traditions (SLT) – A community-based learning program for

transmitting cultural knowledge and practices.

III. Institutional Mechanisms

Section 1. Creation of Barangay Heritage Committees

a) Each barangay shall form a BHC composed of:

b) Barangay officials

c) Elders and cultural bearers

d) Women’s group representatives

e) Youth leaders

f) Fisherfolk and farmers

Section 2. Roles and Responsibilities

The BHC shall:

1. Conduct seasonal monitoring of river use and condition

2. Document cultural practices tied to the river

3. Facilitate SLT modules

4. Recommend updates to barangay development plans and ordinances

IV. Cultural Documentation and Transmission

Section 1. Oral History and Mapping

a) Barangays shall conduct annual oral history workshops focused on river-related

memory, and changes.

b) Participatory mapping shall identify sacred sites, seasonal use zones, and

gendered labor spaces.

Section 2. School of Living Traditions (SLT)

a. SLT modules shall be developed around river-based crafts, rituals, ecological

knowledge, and intergenerational transmission.

b. Youth shall be trained in documentation, monitoring, and cultural facilitation.

V. Conservation and Protection Measures

Section 1. Monitoring and Indicators

a. Barangays shall track water quality, biodiversity, and cultural use through

community-defined indicators.

b. Monitoring shall be conducted quarterly, with results archived in barangay

centers.

Section 2. Prohibited Acts

As per the ordinance, the following are prohibited:

 1. Dumping of waste or pollutants

2. Unauthorized extraction of riverine resources

3. Construction that obstructs flow or access

4. Disruption of cultural practices

VI. Integration into Governance and Planning

Section 1. Barangay Development Plans

a. River stewardship shall be integrated into barangay development plans, gender programs,

and heritage inventories.

b. Cultural indicators shall inform budgeting and project prioritization.

Section 2. LGU and Agency Coordination

The Municipal LGU shall support barangays through technical assistance, funding, and

coordination with NCIP, DepEd, and cultural agencies.

VII. Funding and Resource Mobilization

a. Barangays may allocate funds from heritage, environment, or gender programs.

b. External partnerships with NGOs, schools, and cultural institutions are encouraged.

VIII. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Amendment

1. The Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) shall oversee annual

evaluations of IRR implementation.

2. Amendments may be proposed by any BHC and approved by the Sangguniang Bayan.

IX. Effectivity

This IRR shall take effect fifteen (15) days after posting and publication in barangay centers and

local media.