BAGUIO CITY – The city government proposed the appropriation of some P400 million from several government agencies for the construction of four rain-harvesting facilities in strategic areas in the city to help store rain water.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said the request for funding has been forwarded by his office to the budget department for possible consideration and for the provision of funds that will ensure the implementation of the project.
Based on data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Baguio City receives the highest rainfall annually and the construction of rain-catchment basins in strategic areas in the city has been recommended even during the previous administration to store the huge volume of rain water that for the use of the water district, especially in augmenting its existing potable water supply.
Earlier, two rain-catchment basins were constructed by the Baguio Water District (BWD) and the public works department in Tuba, Benguet, particularly the rehabilitation of its Mount Sto. Tomas rain catchment basin and another within portions of the Busol watershed.
The construction of rain-harvesting facilities is one of the components of the present administration’s 15-point collective agenda, particularly in revitalizing the environment, to help the water district augment its existing potable water supply for household use.
The city chief executive added the sites for the construction of the rain-harvesting facilities will be determined by the relevant government agencies in close coordination with the offices of the city government.
He expressed optimism the funds concerned government agencies will make funds available next year for the construction of the proposed rain catchment basins to be completed and eventually operational the soonest.
The city government had been encouraging owners of new structures to include in the design of their buildings the provision of rain-harvesting facilities to allow the recycling of rain water stored in said facilities from the abundant rain water annually received by the city.
One of the important features of the ongoing SM City Baguio expansion project along Gov. Pack road is the rain-catchment facility incorporated at the basement of the building which is capable of storing some 7,100 cubic meters of rain water to be used by the mall for domestic purposes aside from embracing green architecture as one of the major components of the multi-billion expansion project expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.
He added the city government will aggressively follow-up the funds for the implementation of the said project considering the need to source funding support outside instead of using the limited resources of the city for the same.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
