TWO lawmakers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) have filed a bill designed to improve water quality management in the region.
The measure, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill 176, also known as "An Act promoting clean water in the Bangsamoro, including safe drinking water, through effective water quality management, appropriating funds therefor, and for other purposes," was authored by Barmm Parliament Members Amir Mawallil and Baintan Ampatuan.
Mawallil said the BTA Bill 176, which they filed on Tuesday, March 15, seeks to address the persistent lack of potable water in Barmm.
BTA Bill 176, once approved into a law, will give Barmm the mandate to develop an effective system of water quality management that will help protect human health, prevent drinking water health hazards, and protect, preserve, and revive the quality of fresh, brackish, and marine waters in the region.
The measure also seeks to create the Bangsamoro Water Resources Board (BWRB), which will be composed of the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy as chairperson; and the Minister of Health as vice-chairperson; with members as follows: Minister of Public Works, Minister of Interior and Local Government, Minister of Indigenous People's Affairs, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform, Ministry of Science and Technology, Minister of Finance, Budget and Management, and BWRB Secretariat Director-General.
Mawallil said that under the measure, a Regional Water Quality Management Fund will be established for the following purposes: containment and clean-up operations of the government in water pollution cases; restoration of ecosystems and rehabilitation of affected areas; research, enforcement and monitoring activities; technical assistance to the implementing agencies; rewards and incentives; information and educational campaign; and such other disbursements made solely for the prevention, control or abatement of water pollution and management and administration of the management areas in the amounts authorized by the Board.
Under this bill, Mawallil said the BWRB will develop an incentive scheme to encourage local government units, water districts, enterprises, private entities, and individuals to develop effective water quality management, as well as actively participate in any programs geared toward the promotion of the same, as provided for in the measure. (SunStar Zamboanga)