DENR–7 plans to make Butuanon River a water source

CEBU, Philippines - As its way of stepping up its effort to guarantee safe and sustainable water supply for Metro Cebu, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7, through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), is proposing to designate Butuanon River Watershed as a water quality management area (WQMA).

According to DENR spokesperson Ed Llamedo, the Butuanon River has 23-kilometer distance, which originates in the mountain area around Metro Cebu.

Approximately, about 10-kilometer of the river’s length is crossing Metro Cebu, and most significantly, the heavily industrialized and densely populated areas of Mandaue City.

With DENR’s effort, the agency is inviting local government units, other government agencies, non-government organizations, stakeholders and other interested parties to attend a public consultation on July 25 at Allure Suites and Hotel on  A.S. Fortuna Street, Mandaue City at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo said in a statement that the designation of the WQMAs is to make sure the availability of clean water to present and future generations through the protection and revival of the water quality, especially along rivers and coastal areas.

Montejo added that this also encourages the participation and cooperation of local stakeholders from the different sectors to actively work together in water quality management and monitoring for their own mutual benefit.

Serious indications of water quality deterioration is eminent in portions of the Butuanon River such as the average biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) value exceeded the standard for Class “D”, the average dissolved oxygen (DO) value is below the standard set for Class “D” and there is an increasing trend of total and fecal coliform, a bacteria which indicates the presence of sewage contamination of a waterway, in all throughout the sampling stations of the Butuanon River.

If approved during the forum, Montejo said, a department administrative order (DAO) will be issued by DENR Secretary Ramon Paje that will define the political and administrative boundaries of the WQMA up to barangay level.

It also calls for the creation of a governing board to oversee the management.

Llamedo said the Board is chaired by the director of the DENR 7’s EMB, while members are composed of provincial and local chief executives, as well as representatives of relevant national government agencies, duly registered non-government organizations, and business and water utility sectors.

Llamedo said that the board functions as a planning, monitoring and coordinating body and reviews the WQMA action plan which the EMB 7 prepares.

Montejo said that the agency’s objective is to enforce compliance to the Clean Water Act as it calls to protect public health, to safeguard fish and aquatic life and scenic and ecological values, and to enhance the domestic, municipal, recreational, industrial and other uses of water.

The Clean Water Act (Republic Act 9275) mandates the DENR, in coordination with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to designate WQMAs using appropriate physiographic units such as watershed, river basis or water resources regions with similar conditions and have common interest or development programs or problems. — (FREEMAN)