Post by admin on Sept 26, 2014 11:19:50 GMT 8
An urgent call to save Benguet’s Balili River system
Larry P. Fabian
September 24, 2014
Balili River is a river system running through Baguio City and La Trinidad and, according to BRSBC, is a key resource for domestic, agricultural and economic purposes
In its website, BRSBC stated that to this day, the cleaning and revitalization of the Balili River and its tributaries remains an objective of Baguio City and La Trinidad.
In 2010, stakeholders led by Benguet State University and EMB-DENR, CAR and multi-sectoral groups initiated activities to address environmental and social problems associated with the Balili River and hopefully be able to revitalize this important water resource in three years time aside from helping it be designated as a Water Quality Management Area.
BIOLOGICALLY DEAD
In 2013, a University of the Philippines-Baguio research on Balili river showed that it is biologically dead.
Senior environmental management specialist Raul Cabungay disclosed that only seven sampling stations passed out of the 21 sampling stations located in the whole span of the waterway.
Under DENR classification standards, Balili River is under Class C, meaning its waters are fit only for agricultural and industrial purposes. In the 1970s, the river was under Class A, meaning it can be tapped to supply drinking water after some treatment procedures.
In Barangay Trancoville here, numerous residential and commercial units have sewer outlets directly draining into Sagudin river which flows into the Balili River.
Community support
Corazon Abansi of the UP -Baguio Institute of Management warned that efforts to save the Balili water system, despite cleanup efforts and initiatives in the past four years will be a futile exercise if there is no strong community action.
“We are presenting all these research studies and facts, but if there will be no action plan from the stakeholders then the problem may worsen,” she said.
The Balili River flows from its headwaters upstream in Barangay Trancoville, midstream to La Trinidad and downstream to Sablan, Benguet.
THERE’S HOPE
There is, however, still hope for Balili River’s recovery, Department of Environment and Natural Resources spokesperson Susan Nool said.
“The river is improving but is still not passing the standards required to become a Water Quality Management Area (WQMA), Balili is biologically dead, more efforts from all stakeholders are needed to fully revitalize the river,” she shared.
Nool added that there has to be stricter implementation of policies related to informal settling must be strictly enforced as residences near the river greatly contribute to the pollution of its waters.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/an-urgent-call-to-save-benguets-balili-river-system/
Larry P. Fabian
September 24, 2014
Balili River is a river system running through Baguio City and La Trinidad and, according to BRSBC, is a key resource for domestic, agricultural and economic purposes
In its website, BRSBC stated that to this day, the cleaning and revitalization of the Balili River and its tributaries remains an objective of Baguio City and La Trinidad.
In 2010, stakeholders led by Benguet State University and EMB-DENR, CAR and multi-sectoral groups initiated activities to address environmental and social problems associated with the Balili River and hopefully be able to revitalize this important water resource in three years time aside from helping it be designated as a Water Quality Management Area.
BIOLOGICALLY DEAD
In 2013, a University of the Philippines-Baguio research on Balili river showed that it is biologically dead.
Senior environmental management specialist Raul Cabungay disclosed that only seven sampling stations passed out of the 21 sampling stations located in the whole span of the waterway.
Under DENR classification standards, Balili River is under Class C, meaning its waters are fit only for agricultural and industrial purposes. In the 1970s, the river was under Class A, meaning it can be tapped to supply drinking water after some treatment procedures.
In Barangay Trancoville here, numerous residential and commercial units have sewer outlets directly draining into Sagudin river which flows into the Balili River.
Community support
Corazon Abansi of the UP -Baguio Institute of Management warned that efforts to save the Balili water system, despite cleanup efforts and initiatives in the past four years will be a futile exercise if there is no strong community action.
“We are presenting all these research studies and facts, but if there will be no action plan from the stakeholders then the problem may worsen,” she said.
The Balili River flows from its headwaters upstream in Barangay Trancoville, midstream to La Trinidad and downstream to Sablan, Benguet.
THERE’S HOPE
There is, however, still hope for Balili River’s recovery, Department of Environment and Natural Resources spokesperson Susan Nool said.
“The river is improving but is still not passing the standards required to become a Water Quality Management Area (WQMA), Balili is biologically dead, more efforts from all stakeholders are needed to fully revitalize the river,” she shared.
Nool added that there has to be stricter implementation of policies related to informal settling must be strictly enforced as residences near the river greatly contribute to the pollution of its waters.
Source: www.mb.com.ph/an-urgent-call-to-save-benguets-balili-river-system/