MSG members upgrade their skills on ambient water quality monitoring

Members of the Multi-sectoral Group (MSG) of the Tumaga River Water Quality Management Area (WQMA) Governing Board attended a seminar on Ambient Water Quality Monitoring held on June 6, 2019 at the Astoria Regency Hotel, Pasonanca, Zamboanga City. The seminar was conducted by the DENR - Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region IX. Also in attendance were MSG members of the Ayala River WQMA Governing Board and EMB IX technical staff.

The Governing Board Chair, Engr. Josefino P. Belocura, Jr., welcomed the participants to the event. He highlighted the importance of having a standardized water quality monitoring procedures to ensure quality assurance of EMB programs on water.

The seminar included updates on the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and DENR Administrative Order No. 2016-08, procedures on water quality monitoring, laboratory procedures and sample handling, and demonstration on the use of the water quality checker for onsite measurement of water quality parameters. A hands on practice by the participants on the use of the checker and the Van Dorn sampler was conducted during the seminar.

Water quality procedures lectured to the participants included the preparation of the water quality monitoring plan, establishing monitoring stations, collecting water samples, labeling, preserving, storing, and transporting of samples, and data analysis and interpretation.

The MSG members present during the ambient water quality monitoring seminar were from ZCWD, Barangay Tumaga, Barangay Guiwan, Barangay Boalan, Barangay Sta. Maria, Barangay Tugbungan, Barangay Pasonanca, Tugbungan Fishpond Operators, PENRO Zamboanga Sibugay, CENRO Zamboanga City, BFAR, Office of the City Mayor, CAFC, FARMC, and PCOA 9.