It is Batiano’s turn for rehab

WE

WROTE two  consecutive columns  on May 9  and  16 concerning the  rehabilitation of  the  Batiano  River which has been neglected in contrast to the continuing developments that we  see on its twin- river body, the Iloilo River.

We are therefore  glad to read duplicate their jobs? in on May  24, 2017 Well, hope that the new of the prompt action taken by the I l oilo River Patrol body will

Panay News city government on the problem by conduct  regular inspection and forming a new river patrol team for maintain the cleanliness of both the purpose of monitoring closely the Iloilo and  Batiano rivers, and both the Iloilo River and its “sister” more  especially  the latter water body Batiano  River. where there is a need  to restore its

This new Iloilo River Patrol navigable status up to  Batiano Bridge was launched Tuesday last week in  Oton town  which used  to be an old as an inter- agency government trading  port. collaboration for the group. Members Those houses  on the banks of the included the 1) City Environment Batiano River  in Barangay Boulevard and Natural Resources Office, 2) in Molo district must be inspected by City Agriculture Office, Bureau the Iloilo River Patrol group and  see of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, how  the residents can be relocated 4) Department of Environment at some distance from the river bank. and National  Resources (DENR) – Why not also involve in the Environment Management Bureau, cleanup and maintenance of our 5) Philippine National Police, rivers the Barangay Kapitanes  of Philippine Coast Guard and  7) the the areas encompassed by our  two Department of Public Works and water bodies? Highways. All Ilonggos should be proud of what

In our column of May 16, 2017, our new Environment secretary  Roy we mentioned  of the Iloilo-Batiano Cimatu told  reporters  during his visit River System ( IBRS) that was set two weeks ago  at the Iloilo River up by DENR  on Nov. 26, 2009 and Esplanade  accompanied by  Mayor designated as a Water Quality Jed  Patrick Mabilog. said  that he Management Area  (WQMA) under has not seen  a river as clean as the Administrative Order  No. 11, Iloilo River! Series of 2009. has a governing Another compliment  from him board of 21 members from  various was his opinion that government agencies. How  can the

“lessons from functions of the old IBRS  body now be

the Iloilo River preservation program coordinated with the newly formed

could  help save other rivers and  bodies Iloilo  River Patrol so they will not of water in the country like the Pasig River, Laguna Lake and  Manila Bay.” THE

Now the newly-organized Iloilo River Patrol Group will have the challenge to make the Batiano River as clean as its twin river body, Iloilo River.

We remember  our reader named Edward when we wrote of the Iloilo River  in  our column series in 2009.

To attract tourists, he suggested that we introduce the at the Iloilo River like that  in  Venice, Italy.

gondolas He cited the rising tourist city of Macau that adopted the gondolas of  Venice for touring in  their canals and they  have become now their greatest tourist attractions. the boatmen and gondola singers they have there  are mostly Filipinos.

With its twin-river system that are both navigable, he believes that  Iloilo  can  become the Venice of the Philippines!

For  comments or re- actions, please e- mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/ PN