The Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) is still not recommending the Iloilo River for bathing.

According to CENRO head Engr. Noel Hechanova, the pollution load of the water in the river is still high.

Specifically, based on the water quality testing, he noted that the bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) of the river is more than 200mg/liter, which is way higher compared to the normal level which 50mg/liter.

Ronald Limua, head of the  Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 6, based on their 2020 monitoring, the Iloilo River fecal coliform level ranges from 10,042 to 458,912 MPN (most probable number) /100 milliliter (mL), way far above the standard, which is 200 MPN per 100 (mL).

“So pwede sya paligoan kung magnubo sya sa 100 MPN/100ml,” said Limua.

Meanwhile, Hechanova emphasized, just like what he has been saying before, the solution is the regular siphoning of septic tanks. Septic tank wastes are the major contributory to the pollution of the river.

He added that the ideal is that every five years, septic tanks should be siphoned.

The CENRO head noted that Iloilo City has an ordinance authored by former city councilor R Leone Gerochi, establishing the Septage Management Program in the city.

The ordinance requires all households, businesses and institutions to have their standard septic tanks. They are also required to clean these waste facilities every three to five years.

The septage management system is mandated by Republic Act 9275, or the Clean Water Act of 2004. (Glenda Tayona)/WDJ