Baguio officials push IPMR’s appointment as BWD director

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong ratified city council resolution no. 387, series of 2023, resolving that an Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) be appointed as board of director in the Baguio Water District (BWD).
    The approved measure disclosed that during a discussion on June 26, 2023 regular session of the local legislature relative to the proposed resolution no. PR 0166-23 introduced by councilor Vladimir Cayabas, in aid of legislation, regarding the status of water supply services within the city with BWD general manager Salvador Royeca, it was suggested that it is about time to have an IPMR director in the BWD.
    Meanwhile, the mayor also signed city council resolution no. 388, series of 2023, requesting the BWD to coordinate with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the City Engineering Office (CEO) on recharging of aquifers by rainwater harvesting in the Summer Capital.
     An aquifer is a body of rock and/or sediment that hold groundwater that can provide usable amounts of water.  It is filled with moving water and the amount of water in storage can vary from season to season and year to year, the measure stated.
    It said water will eventually discharge or leave an aquifer and must be replaced by new water to replenish or recharge the aquifer.
    “Unfortunately, human water demand, both for drinking and agriculture, is negatively impacting aquifers around the world.  Humans are using water faster than it takes for the water cycle to replenish underground sources of water that causes wells to run dry, sinkholes to form and cause droughts that negatively impact humans, agriculture, among others,” the resolution stated.
    “As every aquifer has a discharge zone, its recharge zones must be protected and sustained with appropriate engineering and technology interventions,” it added.