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[av_heading heading=’It is Batiano’s turn for rehab’ 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 30, 2017
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WE WROTE two consecutive columns on May 9 and 16 concerning the rehabilitation of the Batiano River which has been neglected in contrast to the continuing developments that we see on its twin-river body, the Iloilo River.
We are therefore glad to read in Panay News on May 24, 2017 of the prompt action taken by the city government on the problem by forming a new river patrol team for the purpose of monitoring closely both the Iloilo River and its “sister” Batiano River.
This new Iloilo River Patrol was launched Tuesday last week as an inter-agency government collaboration for the group. Members included the 1) City Environment and Natural Resources Office, 2) City Agriculture Office, 3) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, 4) Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) – Environment Management Bureau, 5) Philippine National Police, 6) Philippine Coast Guard and 7) the Department of Public Works and Highways.
In our column of May 16, 2017, we mentioned of the Iloilo-Batiano River System (IBRS) that was set up by DENR on Nov. 26, 2009 and designated as a Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) under Administrative Order No. 2009-11, Series of 2009. It has a governing board of 21 members from various government agencies. How can the functions of the old IBRS body now be coordinated with the newly formed Iloilo River Patrol so they will not duplicate their jobs?
Well, we hope that the new Iloilo River Patrol body will conduct regular inspection and maintain the cleanliness of both the Iloilo and Batiano rivers, and more especially the latter water body where there is a need to restore its navigable status up to Batiano Bridge in Oton town which used to be an old trading port.
Those houses on the banks of the Batiano River in Barangay Boulevard in Molo district must be inspected by the Iloilo River Patrol group and see how the residents can be relocated at some distance from the river bank.
Why not also involve in the cleanup and maintenance of our rivers the Barangay Kapitanes of the areas encompassed by our two water bodies?
All Ilonggos should be proud of what our new Environment secretary Roy Cimatu told reporters during his visit two weeks ago at the Iloilo River Esplanade accompanied by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog. He said that he has not seen a river as clean as the Iloilo River!
Another compliment from him was his opinion that “lessons from the Iloilo River preservation program could help save other rivers and bodies of water in the country like the Pasig River, Laguna Lake and Manila Bay.”
Now the newly-organized Iloilo River Patrol Group will have the challenge to make the Batiano River as clean as its twin river body, the Iloilo River.
We remember our reader named Edward when we wrote of the Iloilo River in our column series in 2009.
To attract tourists, he suggested that we introduce the gondolas at the Iloilo River like that in Venice, Italy.
He cited the rising tourist city of Macau that adopted the gondolas of Venice for touring in their canals and they have become now their greatest tourist attractions. And the boatmen and gondola singers they have there are mostly Filipinos.
With its twin-river system that are both navigable, he believes that Iloilo can become the Venice of the Philippines! (For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
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