ENGINEERING interventions will be undertaken by the Baguio Water District (BWD) to help increase the water supply of the city.
In the weekly Talakayan sa Environment Code of the Baguio Regreening Movement(BRM) radio forum, BWD general manager Salvador Royeca said they are now in the process of identifying such interventions in consonance with the rehabilitation of the city.
“The foremost consideration of the Baguio Water District in the rehabilitation of Baguio City is the sustainability of our water supply. With the proposed improvement or development plans of the city, it would really entice our tourism industry, meaning, it will artificially increase our demand for water which is why we are trying to prepare for that scenario which is the main reason that with the help of the city mayor and the council, we will be constructing additional rain harvesting facilities aside from entering into the bulk water projects,” Royeca said.
The bulk water project is envisioned to increase the capacity of supply by 10,000 cubic meters per day that will address artificial increase in the demand of the city.
“I am sure that what transpired last December 2019 when there was a deluge of tourist for the Christmas and New Year holiday, I think we have almost reached the maximum. We actually resorted in using some of our water reserves during the peak season last December,” Royeca added.
Councilor Mylen Yaranon, who chairs the committee on public works explained the importance of implementing existing ordinances in the city that addresses environmental problems being experienced by Baguio.
“We actually have good ordinances in Baguio City which covers specific problems like on our water problem, it is only the implementation of these ordinances which we need to do. The implementation of the City Environment Code should be the priority,” Yaranon said.
Yaranon and Royeca reminded that at present, the city does not allow the planting of trees and instead recommends the nurturing of trees.
“The Baguio Water District does not allow any tree planting anymore and instead we allow the public to nurture the planted trees. The mayor and city council is correct because what is important here is the timing in planting trees particularly during the rainy season. There should be a specific area where aside from planting trees, it should also be managed,” Royeca added.