CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – “This reuse of wastewater is a noble purpose. Because with the reuse of this treated wastewater, it will now minimize the obstruction of fresh water for use in agriculture, for the fishery and for irrigation,” said Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-10 Director Reynaldo S. Digamo during the Special Joint Meeting of the governing boards of the Cagayan de Oro River Basin and Tagoloan River Basin Water Quality Management Areas.
The meeting aimed to align policies for sustainable agriculture and proper wastewater management. Also present was Department of Agriculture (DA)-10 Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan.
A key policy discussed was the revised guideline for certifying the safe reuse of wastewater for irrigation and other agricultural uses, in line with Section 22.C of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004. Digamo explained that the guideline ensures environmental protection, as well as the safety of humans, animals, plants, and agricultural practices.
Further, he mentioned that per the agriculture department’s order, the quality and quantity of wastewater and the method of application shall conform to the standards and guidelines set herein.
“Wastewater shall be subjected to a treatment process, as may be required, to achieve the quality limits before use for irrigation, fertilization, and aquaculture as secondary uses. Its quantity shall be determined based on requirements specific to the land application and site peculiar conditions. The method of wastewater application shall not, in any way, result in negative impacts to the environment,” Digamo said.
He then made a manifestation that wastewaters need proper management.
Moreover, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Pacamalan, for his part, supported the creation of a resolution regarding stricter wastewater management and further affirmed an active collaboration for future development.
I am sure that the intention of having this administrative order is more developmental than regulatory [for DA], and at times, we always adhere to the regulatory function of the DENR rather than setting up our own [regional] regulatory function when it comes to the environment, said the regional director.
National government agencies, local government agencies, and private institutions comprise the governing boards of the mentioned bodies. (IJBD/PIA-10)
