CONVERGENCE — Baguio Water District General Manager, Engr. Salvador M. Royeca, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Usec. for Integrated Environmental Science, Dr. Carlos Primo C. David, and John Hay Management Corporation Environment Asset Management Department Manager, Engr. Bobby V. Akia, led concerned agencies in a meeting for the proposed “Surface Run-Off Water Harvesting Technology for Water Supply in Camp John Hay Catchment Areas” at the JHMC on Jan. 11. — BWD PIO photo
To further address the ever-growing water demand of the Summer Capital, Baguio Water District met with representatives of concerned government offices at the John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) office on Jan. 11 regarding the planned adoption of a run-off water harvesting project within Camp John Hay (CJH).
BWD General Manager Engr. Salvador M. Royeca met with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science, Dr. Carlos Primo C. David, JHMC Environment Asset Management Department Manager, Engr. Bobby V. Akia, and other concerned agencies to discuss the proposed “Surface Run-Off Water Harvesting Technology for Water Supply in Camp John Hay Catchment Areas” project.
The proposed development targets the construction of localized green-gray infrastructures intended to collect water run-off from different surfaces and hold it in a centralized catchment area or areas within CJH, a mixed-used development area serving as a tourist destination and a forest reservation for Baguio City.
The concept could prove helpful in ensuring a reliable and sustainable water source not only for the CJH facility but will also benefit the neighboring communities, especially during the driest months of every year.
Also present during the meeting are officials and representatives from the DENR-CAR and the program proponents – DENR-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau and the DENR-Watershed and Water Resources Research Development and Extension Center.
Subsequently, a pitch for the drafting of a memorandum of agreement to formalize the arrangements of the project was made.
Apart from the anticipated adoption of the runoff water collection project, David also laid out a proposition to tap the expertise of BWD for the possible identification of feasible drilling areas within the camp.
The meeting concluded with a field inspection and valuation of the proposed facilities where water will pass through going towards the proposed catchment area. – Mark Victor Pasagoy
