Baguio river clearing underway

BAGUIO CITY — In a bid to revitalize its water resources, the city will start clearing easements of rivers and tributaries of illegal structures and encroachments. Baguio City Engineer Edgar Victorio Olpindo and City Environment and Parks Management Office Assistant Head Rhenan Diwas said that initial notices had been issued to owners of structures found to have encroached on waterways in Camp 7 and brookside barangays based on inspections conducted in the areas upon earlier directives from the city mayor. The campaign will cover all rivers and their tributaries particularly Sagudin-Balili, Galiano, Bued and Ambalanga rivers, and Diwas said that the campaign is part of the campaign to revitalize the environment anchored on regreening activities and protection of the waterways.

A team was formed to champion the protection of rivers, waterways and sewer lines headed by Engr. Stephen Capuyan of the City Buildings and Architectures Office and comprised of personnel from the three offices.

Diwas added that the team will systematize the inspections and the eviction procedures and will employ due process.

“We aim to revitalize our rivers by sustaining not only the clean-up but also the clearing them of encroachments that contribute to their pollution,” Diwas said.

He said the easements have to be free of incursions as these will later be used in the expansion and upgrading of its sewer lines.

Apart from Camp 7 and Brookside, target barangays of the clearing will be Gibraltar, Trancoville and others traversed by the rivers and their tributaries where encroachments are rampant.