Province, Mandaue to try to fix Butuanon

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu province and Mandaue City possibly will pool resources in an attempt to rehabilitate the Butuanon River.

Mandaue City, during the time of former mayor Thadeo Ouano, attempted to revitalize the river but failed to do so for lack of money.

Presently, the Citizens' League for Ecological Awareness and Responsibility, headed by educator Guadalupe Latonio, is assisting the city find ways to efficiently clean up the river.

Mayor Jonas Cortes, for his part, has revived the Butuanon River Watershed Management Board, composed of businessmen and representatives of national government agencies.

Provincial board member Thadeo Ouano, representing the sixth district, said he is willing to help Mayor Cortes in addressing the problem.

As chairman of the committee on environment at the provincial board, Ouano said he is convinced that now is the time for the river to be rehabilitated.

Ouano said he can also work with Governor Gwen Garcia in tackling the problem.

Ouano said he will also ask for support from government agencies and possibly from non-governmental organizations based in the country and abroad.

The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 has reported the worsening pollution problem of Butuanon River.

The DENR-7 report said the biological oxygen demand (BOD) exceeded the target value of 15 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for Class D bodies of water.

The DENR-7 report also said the river is Class D, which means that the water from the upstream area can still be used for drinking and washing, but the middle and downstream portions are for industrial purposes or used as a drainage canal.   

The same report said that DENR-7 considers the monitoring of the water quality of the Butuanon River as one of its major occupations.