UP Visayas, Iloilo City launch river quality study

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The University of the Philippines Visayas has partnered with the Iloilo City Government to launch a research project that will monitor and address water quality issues in the Iloilo-Batiano River System.

The project, titled Revitalizing an Urban River: Stakeholders’ Engagement in Improving the Water Quality of the Iloilo-Batiano River Basin, was formalized through a memorandum of agreement signed Tuesday, Aug. 26, by UP Visayas Chancellor Dr. Clement Camposano and Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas.

Also present were UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies Director Dr. Rosalie Arcala-Hall and City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Janis Sy.

Mayor Treñas welcomed the collaboration and underscored the need to safeguard the river system.

“The study is very important as we are also looking into the water quality of the river to ensure its sustainability and biodiversity,” she said.

The UPV-funded project will cover 29 barangays along the Iloilo-Batiano River.

It will document the social status of riverine communities, review policies and regulations affecting the river and update the socio-cultural profile of directly impacted areas.

The research is expected to be completed by December this year.

UPV Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Rhodella Ibabao, who leads the project, said the findings will form the basis for the long-overdue update of the river’s master plan, which was originally drafted in 2002.

“This will be the first time that we will be updating the master plan,” she said, noting that the results could also guide future development control policies for the river system.

Camposano said the initiative reflects UPV’s ongoing partnership with the city.

“Although this is a new research project, we have always been engaged with Iloilo City, and we have been supporting the local government through projects — especially if it has something to do with sustainability, eco-tourism or food safety,” he said.