Thursday, August 26, 2004 3 villages rue foul water from Burnham Lake By Rimaliza Opina
BAGUIO CITY -- Over a hundred residents of Barangays Magsaysay Private Road, Slaughterhouse Compound, and North Sanitary Camp are complaining of alleged water pollution from Burnham Lake that finds its way into a creek near their barangays.
The residents, in a petition addressed to Mayor Braulio Yaranon claimed the pollution has "deprived them of their right to good health".
Their complaint, which was forwarded to the committee on environment, also complained of air and soil pollution originating from the lake.
They said the polluted air that they breathe has robbed them of proper rest and sleep and the right to a healthy life.
To solve the problem, the petitioners asked the City Government to act on the pollution in the creek, long been neglected by concerned authorities.
"We invoke the intervention of the City Government to address our concern with extreme urgency for unless urgent measures are undertaken, we will continue to suffer all the ill-effects of the air, land and water pollution."
They said they have suffered long enough and that they could no longer tolerate and endure the pollution.
Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, chairman of the council committee on health and sanitation, environment and ecological protection, proposed the creation of a task force that would address the residents' petition.
The councilor said the task force's main objective would be to conduct identification and assessment surveys of sources of sewage and other waste within the city of Baguio that are potential sources of pollution and degradation in the Balili River and its tributaries.
Balajadia proposed that the task force be composed of the Environmental Management Bureau, Baguio Health Department, City Engineer's Office, Public Utilities Services Office, and the Baguio Regreening Movement.
He said the EMB, being the lead agency in the prevention and control of pollution, shall head the task force, while Puso will sit as co-chairman.
The member agencies such as the BHD, the CEO, and the BRM shall be tasked to impose the Sanitation Code of the Philippines, and enforce the efficient construction of an efficient drainage system, respectively. The BRM, meanwhile, shall assist the City Government in the continuous protection and preservation of the environment.
Balajadia's proposal will be discussed in Thursday's regular council session.
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