MOA for water quality monitoring signed
The quality of water in Dagupan City’s rivers and tributaries will be regularly monitored until December this year to ensure their continued habitable condition.
This was assured after Mayor Belen Fernandez signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with various government agencies and the Philex Mining Corporation for the conduct of water quality monitoring tests in Dagupan City’s rivers and the Upper Sinocalan area.
Other signatories to the MOA are Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) Chief Dr. Westly R. Rosario; Philex Vice-President for Environment and Community Relations Victor A. Francisco; and Mea Baldonado, Alternate Provincial Fisheries Officer who signed in behalf of BFAR Region 1 Director Nestor D. Domenden.
“Being a coastal city whose economy is dependent on aquaculture industry, it is important that the quality of the city’s river waters as well as the upstream portion of Dagupan river, are monitored through a regular waste tests to ensure viable habitat for our famed bangus, high value fish species, oysters and other aquaculture products,” said Fernandez.
Under the agreement, a quarterly test will be done over a period of one year, ending in the 4th quarter of 2014.
The tests will be limited to water and fish sampling only at identified sampling stations along the Agno River, from downstream of San Roque Dam in San Manuel town, abutting Dagupan creeks and rivers.
At least 12 sampling stations will be set up in the following points: Narra, San Manuel; Calunitian, San Nicolas; Tagamusing; Macalong; Cafloresan; Banaoang; Villamil; Maramba; Dinaloan; Dawel River; Pantal River; and Magsaysay Market.
Along the Dagupan and Upper Sinocalan rivers, water and tissues of fish will be tested to determine the presence of heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, copper and arsenic.
Sampling as well as the analyses will be done by a recognized government environmental laboratory identified and recommended by a Task Force conducting the monitoring.
Data derived and results of the sampling will be disseminated to the members.
The signing of the MOA was initiated City Development Office under Engineer Romeo C. Rosario.
In the same occasion, the city also presented its Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Plan which was approved by the city’s stakeholders. —LVM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
