The Butuanon River Watershed WQMA Governing Board holds its capability building in Zamboanga City

The Butuanon River Watershed (BRW) Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) Governing Board of Region 7 held its capability building workshop in the Tumaga River WQMA on May 23 to 25, 2018. On May 23, 2018, representatives from the Office of the City Mayor were present at Marcian Garden Hotel, Gov. Camins Ave., Zamboanga City to present the accomplishments of the City Government of Zamboanga under the 10-year Action Plan for the Tumaga River WQMA. For. Gerry R. Pollisco of the Office of the City Environment and Natural Resources (OCENR) presented the accomplishments of the City Government in its implementation of the solid waste management program. He mentioned that solid waste management is one of the major problems in Zamboanga City. He informed the members of the Butuanon River Watershed WQMA Governing Board of the following activities conducted by the City Government through the OCENR after the approval of City Ordinance No. 2016-176 or the Solid Waste Management Ordinance:

• Launching of City Ordinance No. 2016-176

• Summit on SWM and City Ordinance No. 2016-176

• Signing of MOA with EMB 9 and LGU-ZC

• City-wide Clean-up and Motorcade

• Orientation prior to issuance of Business Permit/Barangay Clearances

• Seminar with Public Market owners/operators

• Orientation to Business sector prior to issuance of Barangay Clearance

• Skills training workshop for owners and operators of public market

• Turn-over of two (2) tribikes from EMB 9 to LGU for the segregated collection system (barangay level)

For. Pollisco emphasized that the implementation of the Ordinance required strong political will of the City Government. The best thing about the Ordinance, he said, is that the responsibilities of the concerned agencies and stakeholders are spelled out and the financial mechanisms are provided in the law. He mentioned that the following are ongoing activities:

• Monthly meeting with inter-agency and barangay council

• Monthly clean-up drive by the barangay

• Deputation of barangay enforcers

• Memorandum of Agreement on garbage fee

• Issuance of citation tickets for violators

• Conduct of survey on the level/status of implementation at barangay

• Distribution of flyers to individuals and store owners

• Coordination with City Tourism Office for the

• Removal of dumping sites along the road

The participants were also updated on the operationalization of the Tumaga River WQMA Governing Board. A video on the downstream to the upstream flow of the Tumaga River was presented to the participants. Engr. Rolando Vasquez of the City Engineer’s Office and Mr. Joel Saldovillo of the Housing and Land Management Division presented also updates on the drainage project with outfall at Tumaga River and actions taken by the city government to address the housing problem to reduce pollution from domestic waste in the River.

On May 24, 2018, the Tumaga River WQMA Governing Board and its Multi-sectoral Group (MSG) conducted their 2nd quarter meeting and the BRW WQMA Governing Board were present to observe the proceeding of the meetings. Regional Director Edgardo S. Callanta of EMB 9 who acts as the chair of the Governing Board was present to preside over the Governing Board meeting.

The members of BRW WQMA Governing Board also had an opportunity to visit the downstream, midstream, and upstream sections of the Tumaga River on May 25, 2018. Mr. Dennis Jalon Francisco of the Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) facilitated the tour inside the Pasonanca Watershed, which is a protected area. In the afternoon, the participants proceeded to Coca-Cola FEMSA, Inc. to conduct a tour in the plant’s manufacturing and wastewater treatment facilities. The said bottling company operates within the Tumaga River WQMA and discharges its wastewater into the Tumaga River.