The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has classified 51 additional water bodies in terms of best usage and water quality in order to boost protection and ensure proper management of these water resources.
This brings to 676 the number of water bodies which have been classified nationwide, and DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje explained that the classification is necessary to determine the best uses to be implemented within these waters and the set of water quality standards to be observed in order to protect those uses.
“The Philippines has water potential abundant enough to last us for more than a decade,” Paje pointed out. “It is a matter of managing and utilizing our water resources sustainably, and classifying water bodies, whether fresh or coastal and marine, will guide all stakeholders, from surrounding communities to water-related agencies, businesses and industries, on how best to protect and manage them so that the next generations will equally enjoy their full potential.”
Pursuant to Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, all water bodies in the Philippines are provided a water quality classification based on existing, or expected best usage, of each water body or water body segment.
Paje said classification is a tool that government agencies, particularly the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, use to manage and protect all fresh surface waters like streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and coastal and marine waters in the country.
“Classifications and their associated protection rules are designed to protect water quality, fish and wildlife, the free flowing nature of a stream or river, or other special characteristics,” Paje said.
Each classification has associated standards that are used to determine if the designated uses are being protected, he added.
According to their beneficial use, fresh surface waters are classified as Class “AA” (Public Water Supply Class I), “A” (Public Water Supply Class II), “B” (Recreational Water Class I), “C” (Fishery Water, Recreation Water Class II, Industrial Water Supply Class I), “D” (For agriculture, irrigation, livestock watering; Industrial Water Supply II; and other inland water).
Coastal and marine waters, on the other hand, are classified as Class “SA” or those suitable for the propagation and harvesting of shellfish for commercial purposes, tourist zones, national marine parks, coral reef parks and reserves designated by law and concerned authorities; “SB” (Recreational Water Class I, Fishery Water Class I); “SC” (Recreational Water Class II, Fishery Water Class II, marshy and/or mangrove areas declared as fish and wildlife sanctuaries; and “SD” (Industrial Water Supply Class II and other coastal and marine waters by their quality).
The classification of the 51 additional water bodies is listed in DENR Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2013-03. The list covered nine regions, namely: Cagayan (Region 2), Central Luzon (Region 3), CALABARZON (Region 4A), MIMAROPA (Region 4B), Bicol (Region 5), Western and Eastern Visayas (Regions 6 and 8, respectively), Central Mindanao or SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12), and Caraga (Region 13). Regions 4B and 8 had the most number of water bodies classified at 14 each.
Among the fresh surface water bodies, the Montible and Nagsaguipi River in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, have been classified as Class A, which means water sources require complete treatment to meet National Standards for Drinking Water (NSDW).
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