Baguio City's commendable efforts in rehabilitating waterways have garnered praise as the blue walk project secured the 6th spot in the Philippine Water Challenge Year 2.
The Philippine Water Challenge, a renowned competition co-organized by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and esteemed partners, recognizes Filipino innovators who present promising solutions to address water security issues in the country. Among all the participating government units, Baguio City emerged as the sole qualifier for the final deliberation.
The city government of Baguio, headed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, implemented the Baguio Blue Walk Project last Oct. 2021 starting at the Botanical Garden-Arboretum, to be done also in other waterways yearly.
Led by the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) and the City Planning Development Office (CPDO), the project aims to restore the river streams of the forest reserve, protect the vital Busol watershed, and increase the water supply through surface water.
Prior to creating the project's technical designs, Magalong oversaw teams from the offices of the CPDO headed Arch Donna Tabangin and the CEPMO under Atty Rhenan Diwas to do an ocular inspection of the watershed.
While examining the perimeter of the watershed, the group looked at the water sources, such as water recharging and rainfall collecting facilities. They also focused on the city's efforts to maximize the use of surface water resources to meet rising household demands.
“The project was made to address the long-time problems of squatting and water supply shortage at the Busol watershed which is the biggest source of potable water in the city and the pollution of the Balili River,” Magalong said in a published article by Herald Express on Oct. 15, 2021.
Furthermore, Diwas and Tabangin said in a joint statement that the program was created as a result of the mayor's directive to conceptualize the Busol Watershed Management Plan, which resulted in the envisioned establishment of the Community-Based Watershed Management Area. This incorporates community involvement and participation in watershed conservation efforts.
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