Board to rehabilitate Meycauayan River formed

MANILA, Philippines - The rehabilitation of the Meycauayan River in Bulacan province is expected to start soon with the creation of a governing board that will formulate strategies designed to improve and maintain water quality of the river system. Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who ordered the creation of the board, said an integrated approach will be adopted in the rehabilitation of the river, which will be done in coordination with local government units (LGUs). Meycauayan River – also known as the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System – is considered one of the dirtiest rivers in the world in 2007. “It is unfortunate that the Marilao-Meycauayan-Obando River System was named one of the 30 dirtiest places in 2007, but we take this as a challenge to turn the situation around, or at least gradually lessen its pollution,” Atienza said. The governing board is composed of representatives of water-related government agencies, the respective local government officials such as the mayors of the municipalities and cities along the river system, and regional representatives of water utilities, business/industries, non-government organizations involved in natural resources management and the academe. Studies show that biological oxygen demand (BOD) levels in the river have been exceeding in tremendous amount. Heavy metals content of the river were also found to exceed standards. - D'Jay Lazaro, GMANews.TV