Report: Cebu City still has clean, unspoiled rivers

Local

WHILE many of Cebu City’s rivers are plagued with pollution, a new report submitted to the Cebu City Council reveals that some rivers remain clean and unspoiled.

In a letter dated April 7 and endorsed to Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) submitted a “River Assessment Report” detailing the condition of the city’s river headwaters and providing recommendations to prevent further degradation of water resources.

Signed by CCENRO Department Head Engineer Edtiha Peros, the report assessed the headwaters, or upper reaches, of several rivers, specifically Bulacao, Kinalumsan, Guadalupe, Lahug, Mahiga, Butuanon, Lusaran, Cotcot, and Mananga.

Estero de Parian was excluded from the assessment as it no longer possesses a natural headwater, receiving most of its flow from household and industrial wastewater.

The assessment confirms that while most rivers suffer from contamination, there are still segments that remain relatively pristine — mostly located in higher elevations within the city’s jurisdiction, including those falling under the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL).

“There are still clean rivers in Cebu City that need protection,” the report stated.

“Without proper conservation efforts, even the cleanest rivers can become polluted over time,” it added.

These clean rivers, it noted, are vital to the ecosystem, providing habitats for wildlife, serving as potential sources of irrigation and drinking water, and contributing to biodiversity.

But threats like deforestation, wastewater discharge, agricultural runoff, and urban encroachment continue to endanger their future.

One of the report’s key recommendations is for the city to strengthen coordination with the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO), the agency overseeing the Central Cebu Protected Landscape.

Although many of the river headwaters lie within the city’s boundaries, their management falls under PAMO’s jurisdiction through a national conservation mandate.

“Coordinating with PAMO is essential for successful river rehabilitation,” the report stated.

PAMO’s legal authority, environmental data, and expertise are seen as critical in shaping science-based and sustainable restoration efforts.

The report also suggested aligning rehabilitation plans with national environmental policies and utilizing PAMO’s resources to ensure that projects do not inadvertently harm protected ecosystems.

Another major recommendation is to involve barangay officials and local communities more actively in conservation initiatives.

“Barangay officials are familiar with the environmental challenges in their areas and can help implement effective solutions,” the report read.

Among the suggested activities were clean-up drives, tree planting, and educational seminars to foster awareness on environmental protection.

Community campaigns are seen as a way to cultivate long-term stewardship and reduce illegal waste dumping and pollution.

This new report comes on the heels of a July 2024 CCENRO report that revealed highly alarming levels of fecal coliform — up to 13 million MPN/100 mL — in the downstream portions of Cebu City’s seven major rivers, far exceeding the allowable limit of 400 MPN/100 mL.

The July report identified informal settlers along the rivers’ three-meter easement zones as major contributors to this contamination, with many households directly discharging human waste into the rivers due to the absence of septic systems.

City authorities are currently enforcing the removal of these structures as part of their ongoing river rehabilitation campaign.

That same report also found that none of the city’s rivers qualified under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) highest water quality classifications — Class AA or Class A — which are intended for drinking water supply. In fact, several rivers were classified as Class D, the lowest tier used for navigation and limited industrial supply.

Despite large portions of Cebu City being included in the Central Cebu Protected Landscape, the reports suggest that rapid urbanization and a lack of environmental sensitivity have compromised the city’s ecological balance.(TGP)