Water conservation measure pushed for Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera has proposed an ordinance establishing water conservation programs in the city.

The measure entitled “Water Conservation Ordinance of the City of Cebu” was referred to the Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling for review.

“It shall be the policy of the City of Cebu to intervene actively in improving the management of water resources, through the implementation of various programs aimed towards the conservation of all water resources,” read the proposed ordinance.

It shall cover all possible programs geared towards the protection, conservation and preservation of all water resources in the city.

Section 4 provides that a Committee on Water Conservation or "WaterCom" shall be created to ensure the proper implementation of the ordinance and to coordinate with all agencies necessary in implementing the same.

The WaterCom shall be composed of the mayor as the chairperson, and the City Councils Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and Committee on Health, Hospital Services and Sanitation; department heads of the City Planning and Development Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, and City Health Department; representatives from two environmental groups dealing with water resource; one representative each from the academe and local water utilities; and other representatives as may be determined by the WaterCom.

“The City of Cebu shall actively encourage the civil society, the academe and the business sector in undertaking environment-related activities, specifically in organizing, educating, motivating, and disseminating information to the people in order to address water-related issues and problems,” read Section 5.

The WaterCom shall be the lead in all information, education and communications (IEC) campaign strategies.

Water conservation programs shall include the conduct of barangay based public education and information programs to disseminate the importance of water; legislation on the regulation of requirements for water conservation in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional establishments, in compliance to existing sanitation and water conservation laws; promotion of the use of rainwater harvesting facilities in all barangays; and installation of water saving devices like water aerators, specifically at the household level, among others.

The WaterCom shall formulate a five-year Water Efficiency and Public Action Plan that shall embody all the water conservation programs that may be determined by the same.

In addition, it shall cause the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of the different water conservation programs identified in the Water Conservation and Public Information Action Plan.

For the purposes of the ordinance, the city government shall closely coordinate with adjacent local government units for a more comprehensive and collaborative solution to water supply and conservation problems.

Once approved, the city may appropriate or raise funds to subsidize necessary expenses for the establishment and/or operation and maintenance of water conservation facilities through appropriate local property taxes and enforcement of service fee system.

Further, the City of Cebu may pursue funding assistance from both local and foreign sources, either public or private, through mutual agreements subject to existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations. — JMD (FREEMAN)