BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- The local government unit (LGU) of Baguio City commits to take the lead in the rehabilitation of Balili River.

During the public consultation on the proposed re-classification of the river, Mayor Benjamin admitted that Baguio City is the biggest polluter of the Balili River, and will have to take responsibility for its rehabilitation.

"We would like to take the lead. We're willing to pay P109 or 120 million a year just to rehabilitate (the river) para 'pag napunta sa inyo 'yung tubig, malinis. Responsibilidad namin 'yan," Magalong stressed.

He said that almost 60 percent of the waste water from the city flows to the river.  Some are still undisciplined in discharging their wastes. Some  pollutants come from illegal settlers directing their waste water to the river, and the market has no Sewerage Treatment Plant(STP).

"I would like to apologize on behalf of the City of Baguio, for polluting your river. But this time, we're going to do something about it. Nobody, no one can stop us from cleaning that river," the mayor assured.

Magalong  said  LGU is doing something about it but it is still not enough that is why there is a need for the approval of their proposed project. He bared that also they plan to pilot the alarm system prior to the onset of a typhoon. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will ring the alarm and all residents must bring out their garbage for collection to avoid dumping it during the onslaught of a typhoon..

The Balili River covering Baguio City, La Trinidad, and Sablan was designated as Water Quality Management Area in 2013.

Based on the 5-year monitoring data of the Environmental Management Bureau-Cordillera Administrative Region (EMB-CAR), there is a high concentration of fecal coliform in the Balili River reaching trillions.

EMB-CAR Director Ma. Victoria Abrera explained that this indicates the presence of overflowing septic tanks, absence of sanitary toilet, and presence of unauthorized and discharge of domestic animal wastes.

Concerned LGUs  and the multisectoral stakeholders  for years now  have initiated efforts to save and revitalize  the biggest river system in Baguio and Benguet.

"The management of the environment is a shared responsibility of all the local government units, of the constituents within its particular territorial jurisdiction," La Trinidad Vice Mayor Roderick Awingan said.

He disclosed  that aside  from continuous implementation of different interventions to save Balili River,  the process is ongoing for the establishment of a four-hectare STP within the property of Benguet State University.

Sablan Mayor Manuel Munar also expressed support to  rehabilitation activities for the Balili River  and commits their assistance for the continuous conduct of clean up drives. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)