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LIBERTY GALLENTE

Revitalization of Balili River


[rephrase]

[this is not the proper format for an issue memo, just because I made use of the word
memo.]

ISSUE

Whether or not the Balili River can still be revitalized [what do you mean by
revitalized?] despite of the pollution and contamination brought about by wastewater,
solid waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste and wastes from Baguio City
slaughterhouse, including market wastes, by following the Principles of Environmental
Law discussed by Soto (year) and Paradell-Trius (year). This is in line with our research
(omit).

ANSWER

Yes. Soto (year)enumerated seven General Principles of International and


Environmental Law which are relevant in the revitalization of the Balili River. Paradell-
Trius (year) also discussed four Principles of an International Environmental Law.
There are also Philippine statutes governing the environment such as the Philippine
Clean Water Act of 2004 and Ecological Solidwaste Management Act of 2000.
Government, civic, church and NGO residents of Baguio City, La Trinidad, and nearby
municipalities are helping to plan for the rehabilitation of Balili River. By the
cooperation of the stakeholders, the river may be revitalized.

FACTS

Balili River was rich with flora such as taro, pak-pako (edible fern) and alage and
fauna such as bonog, paideng, khiwet (eel), among others. It was then a very clean river
where bathing, swimming, and washing of clothes were done in the river. It was also
used for irrigation. The pollution problem in the river began on the 1960s because of the
urbanization and industrialization. An informant claimed that the slaughterhouse had
been throwing its waste directly into the river for many years. In the 1970s, a water
quality analysis done by the Bureau of Health revealed heavy contamination brought
bout by the dumping of human waste and garbage. It was identified in 1996 that the
major pollution causes are: 1.) dumping of solidwaste or garbage from households; 2.)
discharging effluents from some households; 3.) dumping and discharging untreated
effluents, such as oil from motor and machine shops; and 4.) human activities like car
washing along the river and improper containment of excaveated materials from the
construction and widening of the Baguio- La Trinidad Road. Some of the issues and
problems are congestion and constriction along river banks, erosion and siltation, loss
of biodiversity of the destruction of flora and fauna, the pollution and contamination
brought about by wastewater, solid waste, agricultural waste, industrial waste and
wastes from Baguio City slaughterhouse, including market wastes, and the low level of
practice on solidwaste management.1

DISCUSSION

The first principle enumerated by Max Valverde Soto (year) is Sovereignty and
Responsibility. According to him, states have sovereign rights over their natural
resources but they have the obligation to take care of the environment and should not
cause damage to it.2 Applying this principle, the residents [I thought States, not
individuals?] of La Trinidad and Baguio should take care of their environment. They
should not dump garbages anywhere, especially in the Balili River. Section 2 (d) of the
RA No. 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides that the
State shall ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and
disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental
practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration.3

The third principle enumerated is Principle of Preventive Action. According to


Soto (year), action should be taken at an early stage to reduce pollution, rather than
waiting to restore contaminated areas.2 In relation to this, Section 2 (c) of the RA No.
9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides that the State shall
set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through
source reduction and waste minimization measures, including composting, recycling,
re-use, recovery, green charcoal process, and others, before collection, treatment and
disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management facilities in
accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles. 3 There are various
groups that help in the rehabilitation of the Balili River. In the news article written by
Sol Jose Vanzi (1999), on April 24, 1999 Government, civic, church and NGO residents
of Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet's capital town vow to save a dying river which
holds the key to the region's economic, agricultural, environmental and aesthetic life.
Participants of the summit intend to institute drastic changes to save the river.The first
plan to involves river bank stabilization which shall prevent further erosion of the river's
banks. The banks shall be reforested. Secondly, strict measures shall be imposed on
dumping of garbage as well as human wastes into the river. Declogging, dredging,
cleaning and regreening efforts shall be implemented.4

The Section 48 (1) of the RA No. 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act of 2000 states that Littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places,
such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks, and establishment, or causing or
permitting the same3 is prohibited and penalized. The residents should abide to this
law and local ordinances such as the enactment of La Trinidad Ordinance to Regulate
Septic Tanks Along Balili.

1. Adeng Kilaban, Jr. Et. Al., A History of the Balili River System,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IpjajwT4i4. Accessed on October 1, 2013 (you mean to say you
accessed your source even before I gave you your homework?)
2. M. V. Soto, General Principles of International Environmental Law (year?)
3. RA No. 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
4. Sol Jose Vanzi, BAGUIO, LA TRINIDAD FIGHT TO SAVE BALILI RIVER, PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE, 1999 (other details?)
5. L. Paradell-Trius, Principles of International Environmental Law: an Overview [year?] Page 1
The fourth Principle enumerated by Paradell-Trius (year) is Creation and
Identification of Principles. He mentioned the principle of cooperation, which includes
the principle of regular exchange of information and is also referred to as the principle
of good neighborliness. Cooperation is very important in addressing to issues and
concerns.5 In April 1999, Balili River Summit was conducted to plan the rehabilitation of
the river. In June 1999, a major clean-up activity was undertaken by the DENR- CAR
and line agencies, LGUs, NGOs and schools in Baguio City and La Trinidad. In February
2005, DPWH was asked by the CEPMO to open up manholes to trace the illegal
sewerage systems that should have been piped into the citys sewer system. On
September 16, 2011 it was established as Balili River Day and clean-up of the Sagudin
River and Balili River was conducted. There was a post Ondoy and Pepeng short-term
infrastructure rehabilitation project undertaken by the DPWH.1 In December 18, 2012,
700 people participated in the first advocacy fun run for the Balili River held from
Teachers Camp to Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet. On September 16,
2013, the Balili River System Rehabilitation Coalition (BRSRC) officially launched its
website developed by UC featuring pollution monitoring system to boost rehabilitation
efforts and gather feedback from the stakeholders. Baguio City and its nearby towns
observed Balili River Day through a cleanup drive. It was spearheaded by CEPMO and
was done in 28 barangays in the City, La Trinidad, and Sablan, Benguet. (sources of
your information?)

CONCLUSION

Bringing back the Balili Rivers original form is not possible. However, by the
cooperation of the stakeholders such as the residents, LGUs, NGOs of La Trinidad,
Baguio City and nearby municipalities to plan and execute a longterm rehabilitation
program, and by self-discipline among the people to take care of their environment,
revitalization is possible.

[where are Soto and Trius in your references?]

MATTER 10
MANNER 10
20

1. Adeng Kilaban, Jr. Et. Al., A History of the Balili River System,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IpjajwT4i4. Accessed on October 1, 2013 (you mean to say you
accessed your source even before I gave you your homework?)
2. M. V. Soto, General Principles of International Environmental Law (year?)
3. RA No. 9003, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000
4. Sol Jose Vanzi, BAGUIO, LA TRINIDAD FIGHT TO SAVE BALILI RIVER, PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE, 1999 (other details?)
5. L. Paradell-Trius, Principles of International Environmental Law: an Overview [year?] Page 2

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