DENR identifies water quality management areas

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified six new water quality management areas (WQMAs) to ensure sustainable water supply for the country.

Outgoing environment Secretary Ramon Paje designated the Naguilan River System in La Union, Cañas-Maalimango Rivers in Cavite, Ayala River in Zamboanga City, Taoloan River Basin in Misamis Oriental, Talomo River in Davao City and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato as the new WQMAs.

“This is part of our effort to keep the country’s waterways clean and ensure the sustainable water supply for Filipinos. The designations would help determine what control measures to institute to effectively achieve water quality objectives and improvements in those areas,” he said.

The new WQMAs have a combined area of 221,376 hectares of inland water systems, including land portions surrounding the water bodies.

Four of the water bodies are critical to aquifers and irrigation these are Naguilan River System, Talomo River, Ayala River and Lake Sebu.