EMB 7 releases findings on quality of water in Cebu rivers
Published Feb 5, 2019 03:01 pm
By Minerva Newman
CEBU CITY -- The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Central Visayas released its findings on the quality of the water of rivers and other bodies of water in Cebu City, including the Butuanon River, Bulacao River, Downstream of Candulawan Footbridge up to the mouth area, Guadalupe River, Upstream of Sandayong Bridge, Downstream of Sandayong Bridge, Kinalumsan River, Mahiga Creek.
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) (MANILA BULLETIN)
The report bared that the upstream areas for Butuanon, Bulacao, and Guadalupe Rivers all met the water quality guidelines based on its classification under the 2018 Water Quality Status Report.
However, the downstream portions did not conform to the guidelines.
Factors considered and observed included presence of illegal settlers, solid waste mismanagement, and unregulated discharge of untreated wastewater mostly generated domestically, the report read.
According to the report, the water quality results for Kinalumsan River and Mahiga Creek were included in the proposal for official classification of the said water bodies.
Both were proposed by EMB-7 for Class D classification for downstream portion and Class C for the upstream area. The said proposals are still pending for approval by EMB Central Office.
Class B water bodies are mainly used for recreational purposes with direct contact to skin.
Class C water bodies can be used for propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources,
recreation purposes with no direct contact to skin, and agriculture, irrigation, and livestock watering. Class D water bodies can only be used as navigable waters.
Butuanon River is designated as Water Quality Management Area (WQMA). It has its own Governing Board where the members include the concerned LGUs having jurisdiction onthe river, different national government agencies, representatives from the private sector,non-government organizations, and from the academe sector, EMB7 said.
DENR7 regional executive director Gilbert Gonzales said the state of the rivers in Central Visayas was not a hopeless case. The Manila Bay Clean-up showed how public participation made a lot ofdifference and that we can also make it happen here.
Gonzales has appealed for greater public participation as the agency will spearhead a simultaneous clean-up activity tokick off the river rehabilitation program in Central Visayas for 10 identified priority rivers in the region.
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) (MANILA BULLETIN)
The report bared that the upstream areas for Butuanon, Bulacao, and Guadalupe Rivers all met the water quality guidelines based on its classification under the 2018 Water Quality Status Report.
However, the downstream portions did not conform to the guidelines.
Factors considered and observed included presence of illegal settlers, solid waste mismanagement, and unregulated discharge of untreated wastewater mostly generated domestically, the report read.
According to the report, the water quality results for Kinalumsan River and Mahiga Creek were included in the proposal for official classification of the said water bodies.
Both were proposed by EMB-7 for Class D classification for downstream portion and Class C for the upstream area. The said proposals are still pending for approval by EMB Central Office.
Class B water bodies are mainly used for recreational purposes with direct contact to skin.
Class C water bodies can be used for propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources,
recreation purposes with no direct contact to skin, and agriculture, irrigation, and livestock watering. Class D water bodies can only be used as navigable waters.
Butuanon River is designated as Water Quality Management Area (WQMA). It has its own Governing Board where the members include the concerned LGUs having jurisdiction onthe river, different national government agencies, representatives from the private sector,non-government organizations, and from the academe sector, EMB7 said.
DENR7 regional executive director Gilbert Gonzales said the state of the rivers in Central Visayas was not a hopeless case. The Manila Bay Clean-up showed how public participation made a lot ofdifference and that we can also make it happen here.
Gonzales has appealed for greater public participation as the agency will spearhead a simultaneous clean-up activity tokick off the river rehabilitation program in Central Visayas for 10 identified priority rivers in the region.