Water is WealthSolving Baguio City’s Water CrisisDecember 1, 2016by : Mita Angela M. Dimalanta

• http://www.conservation.org/global/philippines/Pages/Tubig.aspx• http://www.conservation.org/global/philippines/Pages/Karagatan.aspx

• Maryknoll Ecological Sanctuary• https://www.facebook.com/new.mes.baguio?fr

ef=ts• Pine Cone Movement Inc. • https://www.facebook.com/Pine-Cone-Movem

ent-Inc-346805955436060/?ref=bookmarks• Soroptimist International of Pines City • https://www.facebook.com/SoroptimistIntern

ationalPinesCityInc/• Baguio That We Want Trees & Water Cluster

convened by Bishop Carlito Cenzon• https://www.facebook.com/groups/38260315

8597755/• University of the Philippines Baguio• http://www.upb.edu.ph

WORLD MAPTwo thirds of the earth’s

surface is covered by water

How much water is there on earth?

Water covers 70 % of Earth for 332.5 million cubic miles (1,386 million cubic kilometers) [source: U.S. Geological Survey].

Water is in a constant cycle - it evaporates from the oceans and other bodies of water, like seas, lakes, rivers, etc., and travels through the air, rains down on the land and then flows back to the oceans and other bodies of water.

Of 70% of water covering earth’s surface, 97% is in the oceans and seas, and unusable for drinking because of salt. Only 2% of the planet's water is fresh, and 77% of that is frozen. Of 23% that is not frozen only 1/2% is available to supply every plant animal and person on Earth with water they need to survive {source: National Geographic)

United Nations Development Program (UNDP) identified Sustainable Development

No Poverty No Hunger Good HealthAnd Well Being

QualityEducation

GenderEquality

Clean Water& Sanitation

Affordable &Clean Energy

Decent Word &Economic Growth

Industry, Innovation& Infrastracture

Reduced Inequalities

SustainableCities &

Communities

ResponsibleConsumption& Production

Climate Action

Life BelowWater

Life onLand

Peace, Justice& Strong

Institution

Partnershipsfor the Goals

SI Philippines RegionGovernor: Ma. Rosario (Cherry) A. Tumaneng

2016-2018 Biennium Advocacy:“Educate and Train Women and Girls to Access and Conserve Safe Water”

Tagline:“Water is Wealth for Women” (WWW)

“Safe Water transforms lives”

Access to safe water acts as a conduit, helping people achieve their full potential by freeing them from debilitating diseases, and giving them back the time they may spend walking from water.

Water isn’t just a life giving force, but a life changing element which breaks down the barriers sitting people and their own future.

Objectives:1. Educate all on th importance of safe drinking

water.2. Help housewives plan ways of making available

enough clean and drinkable water in their household.

3. Train women and girls to access and conserve water for personal, household and community use.

4. Learn simple, practical and inexpensive ways of sanitizing water.

Approach:Education will be the main approach in the pursuit of this advocacy.• Water gives hope, health and happiness to humanity

Importance of waterWomen concernGlobal concernPublic Awareness on the problems and solutions

European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines

May 2016 - Metro Manila and other key cities in the Philippines including Angeles, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao will most likely experience severe water shortage by 2025. 

Cities will experience drought in water supply unless immediate measures in improving water security are put in place, the ECCP vice president Henry Schumacher said. said.

To avert the water crisis, there’s need for government, private sector, and water stakeholders to meet and come up with solutions as the country at present experiences El Nino and with water levels dropping to critical levels.

ECCP intends to push for the creation of a super agency that will be responsible for all water-related matters in the country.

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 “We need to come out with ways where everyone will continue to have access to sustainable water supply.  There has to be water security in the country.  Filipinos must learn how to conserve water and reduce water pollution.

Ensuring there is enough water supply for the agriculture sector and drinking water remains readily available should be 2 of the top priorities.”

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“Agriculture sector accounts for up to 85 percent usage of fresh water in the country annually, with the rest divided among the other industries and household consumption.

“A lot of communities in the provinces right now are being deprived of reliable water supply.  In 10 years, these very same communities, heavily dependent on farming, will have no water supply if water resources are not managed properly,” he said.

2004 – 2005 Sustainable Water Integrated Management and Governance for Baguio City (SWIM) from a European Union Grant

• Sustainable Water Integrated Management and Governance (SWIM) project was implemented in Baguio City, the Philippines, from 2004 to 2005. 

• It sought to address the city’s urgent need for a regulatory framework and integrated plan for sustainable water use, equitable access and improved efficiency of water suppliers in a context where urbanization, population growth and tourism are increasing water demand despite limited resources.

• Baguio’s local government is the main actor. It partnered with ICLEI: Local Governments for Sustainability, Southeast Asia (ICLEI-SEA) to implement the project, which was financially supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Baguio 1990 2012 % Change

Forest, park, watershed area 30% 10% -20%

Forest cover 40% 15% -25%

Residential land use

30% 60% +30%

Open & vacant areas

32% 10% -22%

WATERSHED DETERIORATION• Baguio had 7 major watersheds: Sto.

Tomas, Busol, Buyog, Camp 8, John Hay, Lucnab and Crystal Cave.

• BWD can only draw water from Sto. Tomas, Busol, Buyog, Camp 8.

• Lucnab, Crystal Cave watersheds inoperable due to influx of informal settlers.

WATERSHED DETERIORATION• Busol, Buyog, Forbes Park, Pucsusan and Poliwes

watersheds are occupied by illegal settlers.

• Sanitation and contamination issues plague watersheds covered by ancestral claims, with unabated human activities and informal settlement.

• Busol watershed is biggest source of drinking water to 13 barangays in Baguio, 12 barangays of La Trinidad, and sitios of Tuding Itogon. Perimeter fence being constructed in Busol. Busol will have a rain catchment facility.

BUSOL WATERSHED

• Multi agency task force conducting patrol over the area.

• Eco – walk program led by City Government with other agencies/groups.

• Guard houses manned by PNP personnel and guards of Baguio Water District.

• Establishment of bamboo and forest nursery to supplement in the protection of the area.

• Tree planting activities by government, non – government and civil society.

BUSOL WATERSHED

• Issuance of demolition orders - (to be implemented).

• Rehabilitation of Balili – Sagudin River.

• Decisions rendered by Supreme Court on legal issues affecting area.

• Prosecution/conviction of forest violators in the area.

• Adoption/passing of resolutions addressed to concerned agencies geared towards the protection of the area.

• Delineation and monumenting for future fencing to prevent further encroachment.

LACK OF WATER SUPPLY DUE TO• Deforested Mt. Sto. Tomas as river basin,

wells, springs (Amliang, Camp 8, Buyog), surface diversion.

• River catchments as natural drainage - Bued, Agno, Tuba, Balili - all rivers polluted.

LACK OF WATER SUPPLY DUE TO

• Overcapacity and high population density

• Rapid (weakly) planned urbanization

• High rise buildings – conflicting zoning regulations and DPWH permits, no information sharing with the public

• Commercialization & cementing of areas (green areas and pedestrian lanes)

Baguio 1990 2010 % Change

Population 182,142 325,880 +79%

Population Density per sq. km.

3,186 5,668 +78%

Housing Units

13,471 34,247 +154%

LACK OF WATER SUPPLY DUE TO

• Extensive real estate development led to conversion of forested hills and absorptive substrates to impervious surfaces

characteristic of poorly planned urbanization which impedes water recharge into the city’s natural aquifers and encourages runoff.

LACK OF WATER SUPPLY DUE TO

• Urban Migration • +1,000 unaccounted deep wells (57 only per

BWD)• Minerals that lower water quality• Lack of efficient and sustained delivery of basic

water services

WATER SUPPLY IN BAGUIO• BWD serves 122/128 barangays in Baguio.

• Kias & Fort Del Pilar Barangays - own water.

• Scout Barrio Barangay - water from John Hay.

• Barangays Apugan-Loakan, Atok Trail, Lucnab, Happy Hollow - water from springs, private trucks.

• BWD - 65 pumping stations, 57 deep wells, 5 springs.

• BWD - 43,000+ active water service connections as of September 2016

WATER SUPPLY IN BAGUIO• BWD’s annual water production -

14,500,000 plus per cubic meter.• Supply below demand - ballooning city

population.• Projected total population 332,137.• BWD serves 312,209 people.• Supplies 42,594 cubic meters per day,

less than demand at 60,047 cubic meters per day.

WATER SUPPLY IN BAGUIO

• Challenge - declining pumping water levels due to depleting recharge areas of water sources.

• “70% of city’s land area is developed, 30% have old grown pine trees, production stands and brush lands which affected recharge rate of underground sources “ per BWD’s GM.

• Baguio lacks 17,453 cubic meters per day to support daily water needs of the city.

WATER SUPPLY IN BAGUIOWorld Wildlife Fund for Nature and Bank of the

Philippine Islands Foundation Research

• “Utilizing groundwater pumped from city’s 6 aquifers, a 40% systems loss renders supply of 50,000 CMD barely adequate to meet weekday demand of 30,000 CMD - cubic meters per day.

• On weekends, demand increases to 80,000 CMD.

• In 5 years, this exceeds 100,000 CMD on weekends.”  

WATER SUPPLY IN BAGUIOWorld Wildlife Fund for Nature and Bank of

the Philippine Islands Foundation Research

“Baguio City has a serious water problem. This gets worse if Baguio’s population

grows at its current rate, and more sustainable solutions for water

management are not put in place.”

“By 2025, Baguio City will have largest water deficit outside Metro-Manila.“

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• BWD’s non-revenue water reduction

initiatives • Remove illegal connections.• Undertake flow and pressure

management.• Intensify leak detection and repair.• Do massive water meter calibration.• Replace defective water meters.• Adopt District Metering Area (DMA) to

analyze systems loss on a smaller scale or on a per-subsystem basis.

• Standardize operations.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• September 2014 - Asian Development

Bank (ADB) $250,000-grant to Baguio City to fund feasibility study on rehab of creeks and rivers.

• Baguio to shift from fragmented to integrated local water agenda and action, catalyzed by integrated management scheme at local government level.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS

• ADB assists Baguio in designing multi-sectoral, multi-functional, and multilateral City Water Governance Committee for better and sustainable water governance.

• Baguio provides counterpart funding of $51,000 through gov’t personnel who conduct study.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• Rehabilitation of water sheds - fencing of

Busol watershed by Baguio Regreening Movement and planting of trees.

• Rehabilitation of Camp 8 water shed.

• Protection of Forbes Park and all watersheds from illegal settlers.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS

• Privatization of Water Systems

• In Metro Manila MWCI and MWSS were concessionaires awarded to manage water supply and waste water systems until 2037.They invested P105 billion to expand and upgrade water & sewage network.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS

• Bulk Water System

• In Davao Bulk water system fully powered by renewable energy.

• In Baguio we can get water from BLISTT.

• Request for 2015 bulk water proposals from Manila Water, Maynilad, Prime Water, others.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS

• Rainwater harvesting as at 3,914 mm/year, Baguio City has highest average rainfall in the Philippines.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• Brand Baguio as City of Pine Trees.• Annual Pine Tree Festival from June to

Oct. • Have symposiums on importance of

tree preservation.• Encourage school theater, music, art,

poem, group competitions on tree protection & conservation.

• Have barangay contests on tree preservation.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• Barangay Advocacy - Community

Bayanihan- “Care For All” • Each family in barangay to plant 1

tree, shrub, or vegetable outdoors or indoors.

• Assign cleaning of a portion of a river/stream to a family that resides in front of said portion.

• Identify all barangay water sources, document and protect them.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• Legislation - Require planting a tree prior

to obtaining a marriage license.

• Education - Conduct values formation, education & awareness on forests, trees, water. 

• Promote Pope Francis’ call for integrity of creation in schools and barangays, for all to value trees as our heritage.

• Awaken good values in all. • Teach that  trees allow us to breathe

in fresh air, give us water, shade, protection from the sun, etc.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• Marketing & Promotion

• Stage a media blitz on value of honesty, spirituality, caring for each other, for creation, cleanliness, forests, trees, water, etc.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• Regulation - Request water drilling

permits not be issued by Manila based NWRB (National Water Resources Board) but be issued by Baguio based agencies who can check site of water drilling and how it affects population there. 

• Promulgate a local resolution/ordinance on the moratorium on drilling for water.

SOLUTIONS TO WATER CRISIS• Have real active public consultation

process for issuance of ECCs (Environmental Compliance Certificates), building permits, etc.

• Adopt best practices of other countries in forest, tree and water conservation. (Join tree conservation organizations like the Pine Cone Movement).

UP Baguio’s rainwater harvesting system• Resolving the long-drawn water

problem of the university using sustainable approaches consistent with UP Baguio”s “Green Campus” policy.  

•Rainwater harvesting hopes to harness the perennial heavy rainfall in Baguio and channel the water runoff to a number of storage tanks.  Some of these storage facilities are being built underground called “cistern” tanks, thus the excavations.  Prof. Cariño said each tank would have a capacity of storing 10,000 liters of water and fifteen of these will be built around the UP Baguio campus.

Solutions

• Bulk water systemoThe city government has been eyeing the establishment of a bulk water system since there are no more water sources within Baguio. The Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, Tublay (BLISTT) areas have been proposed to be tapped as a water source for the project.

• Rain basin• Rainwater Harvesting• Urban planning• Reforestation

• Recycle water• Water Safety Plan• Drought Management Guidelines• Peoples’s Actions• Carrying environmental costs• Economics of ecosystems

Solutions emphasized by Sr. Marvie Misolas MM

• Tax certain sectors

• Tax fossil fuel to pay farmers for payment for environmental services

Solutions emphasized by Sr. Marvie Misolas MM

REFERENCEShttp://ibaguiojournal.com/journal/?p=5243http://wwf.org.ph/brstudyhttp://www.amiananbalitangayon.com/archives/16272#more-16272http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=Water-now-and-for-tomorrow&id=72603http://www.nordis.net/2010/11/only-4-watersheds-left-in-baguio-%E2%80%94-bwd/http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/208-infrastructure/89336-bulk-supply-solution-baguio-water-woeshttp://www.rappler.com/business/industries/173-power-and-energy/61358-aboitiz-jv-angeles-davao-bulk-water-supply-projectThe Baguio That We Want Summit February 2015, Trees & Water Sector Reports

References

• http://upb.edu.ph/index.php/13-news• http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/environment/70354-bag

uio-water-supply-adb• https://www.adb.org/results/water-pda-sustainable-water-integra

ted-management-and-governance-baguio-city• http://www.unescap.org/resources/integrated-water-managemen

t-baguio-city-philippines• http://

www.philstar.com/business/2016/05/06/1580199/eccp-sounds-alarm-key-philippine-cities-risk-severe-water-shortage

• http://www.baguiowaterdistrict.gov.ph/news/news-clippings/93-water-collection-facility-at-busol

• Global strategies on water sustainability for baguio city