UNLESS the local government units in the province adopt drastic measures, the Sinocalan-Dagupan river system which is slowly dying, may end up completely unhabitable.

This fear was echoed after a report of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) indicated that the river contains fecal coliform that are beyond acceptable values.

The DENR, leading the 5th Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Sinocalan-Dagupan River Systems Water Quality Management Area (SDRS WQMA) which focused on the results of water monitoring conducted in 19 sampling stations along the rivers of Pangasinan from January to April, said the results mean that the water is contaminated with sewage waste.

The results include values for water acidity (pH), dissolved oxygen (DO), fecal coliform, total coliform, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total suspended solids (TSS) that serve as indicators of general health of the rivers.

BORDER PATROL

Teddy Villamil, Jr. office-in-charge of the Dagupan City Waste Management Division (WMD), said the data presented during the meeting was used as the basis of discussions for action plans, including the creation of a border patrol.

The DENR, he said, is not capable of implementing the program alone, thus the need for the involvement of stakeholders, including local government units, private companies, civic groups and private individuals.

Villamil added that the immediate objective of the meeting was to create a governing board among the stakeholders who will formulate a general framework for future undertakings as well as supervision.–PIA

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