Balili River coalition convenes

STAKEHOLDERS from La Trinidad and Baguio City convened for river revitalization plan.

Environmental Management Bureau Cordilleras (EMB-CAR) Officer in Charge Oscar Cabanayan opened the forum followed by a presentation by the Banguet State University outlining the activities of the Balili River System Revitalization Coalition (BRSRC).

BRSRC’S five Key Result Areas (KRA) were likewise presented starting with enhanced data in the Balili River as a foremost concern, KRA’s followed on improved governance; heightened level of awareness; reduced dumping of waste; and improved vegetation and infrastructure.

The history of the Balili River was also given through a research by the University of the Philippines Baguio Social Sciences Department presented by Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos.

The importance of the designation of the Balili System as a Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) by Cortez Dagupen, chief of the Water Quality Monitoring Section of the EMB-CAR was also presented to a group.

When the Balili River is declared as a WQMA, caring for it will become a collective community activity divided into the City of Baguio, La Trinidad and Sablan.

Local government units will share responsibility in the management and improvement of water quality within territorial jurisdiction and participate in the process of designating a WQMA.

In La Trinidad there will be 13 of the 16 barangays to care for the Balili River when the WQMA is granted; Sablan, 7 villages; and in Baguio.

The headwater of Balili River is Sagudin River and is found in Trancoville barangay, Baguio City.

Sagudin River is sustained by tributary creeks coming from Pacdal, Cabinet Hill, New Lucban, Honeymoon, Guisad, and Sto. Niño (formerly Slaughter Compound) barangays.