Mandaue earmarks P6.5M for river rehab

CEBU, Philippines - The rehabilitation of Butuanon River in Mandaue City will be implemented in the next months with the approval of the initial P6.5 million appropriation to finance the project.

Engineer Ricardo Mendoza, director of the Mandaue City Solid Waste Management Board, said the initial amount approved by the city will be used for the Phase 1 of the Butuanon River rehabilitation.

Mendoza admitted that the lack of funds is the reason of the delayed implementation of rehabilitating Butuanon River.

But Mayor Jonas Cortes listed it as a top priority project under his administration.

A memorandum of agreement was signed two years ago by the Mandaue and Cebu City governments, as well as non-government organizations, for the full rehabilitation of the Butuanon River.

The signatories comprise the Butuanon River Watershed Management Board.

Butuanon River is a highly-contaminated water body which is bordering along densely-populated areas in Mandaue City and Cebu City.

The watershed occupies 1,500 hectares with 12 barangays in Cebu City and nine barangays in Mandaue City.

There are riverbank areas downstream which are occupied by informal settlers.

Environment officials said some of these residents are directly exposed to the river water. Health risks are said to be high for these inhabitants, noting the pollution level in the river.

Three years ago, a study conducted by the Soil and Water Conservation Foundation showed that Butuanon River is at an alarming state of being highly-polluted with industrial and domestic wastes.