BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — To ensure water quality protection in Boracay, it is now being eyed as another water quality management area (WQMA) in the region.
Engr. Bonifacio Enorme Jr., WQMA focal person of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment and Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), said declaring Boracay coasts as a WQMA would enable the body to control and prevent water pollution and to further protect the island’s water quality.
“Water quality is important because it could affect the ground and other environmental and physical factors,” said Enorme in an interview on Sunday.
He said the inter-agency body will be composed of representatives from the government, private sector, and non-government organizations and civil society groups.
The creation of a WQMA was based on section 5 of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 or RA 9275 which states that we need to manage all of the water quality across the Philippines, said Enorme.
The managing of water quality in the country is subdivided into regions, he added.
In Region 6, there are three WQMA areas which include the Iloilo Batiano River System, Tigum-Aganan Watershed and the Jalaur River.
Enorme said a WQMA body for Boracay is expected to be formed within this year following subsequent meetings after the forum.
He noted the WQMA body will also ensure that the public will have regular information of the water quality monitoring results in Boracay coasts.
At present, he said the DENR-EMB is conducting a regular monitoring of the island’s water quality.
There are 25 ambient monitoring stations in Boracay and on its nine wetlands, said Enorme.
A WQMA forum was held in the island Friday to identify and designate a WQMA body for Boracay. (Karen Bermejo/PNA)
