CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines – The water supply of some nine million people in Central Luzon is seriously being threatened because of siltation caused by degradation of surrounding watersheds in the Pantabangan and Angat Dams, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said yesterday.
Perla Collado, DENR regional public affairs chief, told The STAR that the twin dams are the only major sources of freshwater for domestic use, irrigation and hydro-electric power generation in the region but siltation is taking its toll on its operations. She said each of the nine million people needs about 400 liters of freshwater a day for drinking, cooking and washing.
Pantabangan and Angat Dams, considered the country’s largest and third largest irrigation systems, irrigates 100,000 hectares and 26,000 hectares of farmlands in Central Luzon, respectively.
Collado said that public vigilance and cooperation is needed to stave off the impacts of water shortage amid the worsening conditions of major water systems in the region.
She said that years of public indifference and indiscriminate dumping of garbage and untreated industrial wastes also compound the problem.
According to the DENR, the 55-km. Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando river system in Bulacan which has been listed in Black Smith Institute’s “World’s 30 Dirtiest” receives at least 133,000 cubic meters of untreated wastewater each day.
Antonio Principe, DENR regional executive director, said about one million people from seven towns and cities in Bulacan and Metro Manila dispose at least 400 tons of garbage into the river system daily, further contributing to its biochemical oxygen demand loading of 57,000 kilograms a day.
BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms and aquatic life in a body of water. The higher the BOD level, the lower the available dissolved oxygen needed to support life.–Manny Galvez, Philippine Star
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
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October –
Monthly Observances:
Industry and Commerce Safety Month
National Statistics Month
Local Government Month
Consumer Welfare Month
Cooperative Month
National Quality and Productivity Improvement Month
National Health and Wellness Tourism Month
National Indigenous Peoples Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Elderly Filipino Week
Week 2: National Health Education Week
Local Government Week
National Mental Health Week
October 17-23:
National Week for Overcoming Extreme Poverty
October 18 – 24:
United Nations Week
Last Week:
Nurses’ Week
Consumers’ Protection Week
Week of the 4th Sunday:
Barrio Farmers’ Week
Daily Observances:
First Monday (Oct 4): Universal Children’s Day i
n the Philippines
Oct 5: National Teachers’ Day
Oct 10: Local Government Day
Third Thursday (Oct 14): Conflict Resolution Day
Oct 21: Tenants’ Emancipation day
Oct 24: United Nations Day
Oct 29: National Indigenous People’s Thanksgiving Day
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