BAGUIO CITY – The local government and the National Water Resources Board NWRB) recently entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to firm up cooperation among concerned government agencies where the city may complement and supplement the role of the NWRB and its depute, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Cordillera – Water Resources utilization Section (DENR-CAR-WRUS) in so far as enforcing laws on appropriation, control and conservation of groundwater sources are concerned.
The said agreement was signed by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong and NWRB Executive Director Ricky A. Arzadon.
The MOA formalized the creation of a task force to address concerns on groundwater conservation and protection in the city.
Under the MOA, the NWRB shall conduct necessary seminars to appraise members and technical persons under the Baguio City Water Resources Board (BCWRB) on laws and NWRB policies affecting groundwater conservation; issue certifications to elements of the local government who have undergone the necessary instruction and seminars as basis for their inclusion in the DENR-CAR-WRUS manpower augmenting team; issue memoranda subsequent to the MOA as may be necessary to define and delimit areas of cooperation between the DENR-CAR-WRUS and elements of the BCWRB; conduct periodic updates on laws and policies regarding groundwater conservation and protection as may be necessary; establish a working relationship between elements of the local government and the DENR-CAR-WRUS for wider and more effective enforcement of laws and policies on groundwater conservation and protection within the city; issue such necessary orders and measures to curb the proliferation of unregistered/or illegal wells and to protect areas where Baguio Water District (BWD) can adequately supply water to its end users; serve as the lead office in effection and enforcing laws and policies on groundwater conservation, appropriation and control in the city and issue written closure or cease and desist orders specifically instructing DENR-CAR-WRUS or local government auxiliaries to enforce the same as the need arises.
Subsequently, the DENR-CAR-WRUS shall together with the BCWRB, establish a well monitoring system, which shall be covered by an appropriate joint administrative order signed by the regional executive director and the City Mayor or complimenting separate orders from the local government and DENR and execute rulings or orders or decisions referred for appropriate action by NWRB.
On the other hand, the local government shall appoint its augmentation team and select its own leader or focal person in cases where the WRUS would need the augmentation; issue the necessary executive order appointing members of the DENR-CAR-WRUS as permanent members of the BCWRB; designate particular persons to be part of the DENR-CAR-WRUS augmenting team, ensuring their participation in seminars, briefings, meetings, and other activities required by the NWRB in relation to their functions as auxiliaries to DENR-CAR-WRUS; ensure that any and all activities conducted by its augmenting team are done in coordination with and under the supervision of the DENR-CAR-WRUS; ensure active participation and accountability of the augmenting team in the enforcement of laws, polices and in matters where they can supplement or compliment personnel from the DENR-CAR-WRUS; warrant that the acts of the members of the augmenting team are compliant with the laws, police and regulations laid down by the NWRB; assist the NWRB in enforcing the closure orders; submit documents or update reports pertaining to private deep wells to the DENR-CAR-WRUS copy furnished the NWRB; enact necessary measures or executive orders requiring building permit applicants to specify the source of water that would supply its operation, business permit applicants to specify their water source and building permit applicants to attach their NWRB permit where said applicants intend to source water independently from the BWD; provide logistics, such as service water, during joint inspection of deep wells with the NWRB or the DENR-CAR-CRUS; provide logistics for trainings and seminars to be conducted by NWRB when necessary and perform other related tasks and functions as directed. By Dexter A. See