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[av_heading heading=’RURAL UPDATE | More on the Batiano – Iloilo’s twin river body’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY JOHNNY NOVERA
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Tuesday, May 16, 2017
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WE ASKED in our column last week what happened to the rehabilitation plans for the Batiano River which, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), was supposed to have been programmed for implementation in 2010 immediately after that of the Iloilo River.
The Batiano River, with its mouth at the Barangay Boulevard, Molo beside the Iloilo Fishing Port now appears to have a morbid and polluted water body. This is what we saw of the Batiano River Thursday last week when we passed the footbridge across the river in the vicinity of Baluarte Elementary School leading to the interior area of Barangay Boulevard, Molo. This area is crowded with houses built right on the river banks on both sides of the water body.
We have written much on this river issue in Panay News and even produced a book of our articles in the case of the Iloilo River and noted of the full attention given to it by the Iloilo City Government with the assistance of Sen. Franklin Drilon.
On the Batiano River, we wish to direct our comments and observations to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on this river which have its mouth in the city of Iloilo but traverses the municipalities of Oton, Pavia San Miguel and Santa Barbara.
We remember that we set up on Nov. 26, 2009, the Iloilo-Batiano River System (IBRS) which was designated as a Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) by DENR under Administrative Order No. 2009-11, Series of 2009.
Again, we summarize the objectives of the water body, as follows:
a) To streamline the prevention and control of pollution;
b) To promote environmental strategies and control for the protection of the area;
c) To formulate program on water quality, water supply, public health and quality of life;
d) Provide comprehensive management program on water pollution;
e) Give public information and education to encourage public participation in water quality management and monitoring; and
f) Encourage civil society and other sectors, particularly labor, the academe and businesses, to undertake environment-related activities.
Chaired by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director of DENR, Region VI, it has a Governing Board of 21 members coming from each of the following agencies:
1) National Water Resources Board;
2) Office of the Provincial Governor and a representative each from the city of Iloilo and the municipalities of Oton, Pavia, San Miguel and Sta. Barbara, as encompassed by the river network; and representatives of the following offices in Region VI: Department of Agriculture; Interior and Local Government; Public Works & Highways; Health; Trade & Industry; Science and Technology; NEDA; HLURB; and regional representatives from the following sectors: Industry, Business, Water Utility, Local People’s Organization / Non-government Organization / Civil Society involved in Natural Resources Management or Environmental Concerns, Iloilo River Development Council, and the Academe.
Way back on Nov. 29, 2009 when we originally took up this subject in our column, we already commented on the composition of the Governing Board of this new river body of 21 members.
We thought it was too many for a governing board and might be too unwieldy to assemble and meet especially that they come from various sectors where they already have responsibilities of their own.
Anyway, we wish to ask here the Iloilo-Batiano River System if it can update now our readers on the safety and present environmental condition of the Batiano River? (For comments or reactions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
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