River conservation deal. Stakeholders ink the memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the maintenance and greening of the forest cover adjacent to Mampurog River in San Lorenzo Ruis, Camarines Norte. Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Elpidio Orata (last seated on the left) represented DENR Bicol while Camarines Norte Water District General Manager Antonia Boma signed in behalf of the water utility company. - Ariel Caleon
LEGAZPI CITY -- The Camarines Norte Water District (CNWD) has taken steps to protect Mampurog River in San Lorenzo Ruiz town, the local water firm’s newly developed surface water source, according to the regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Eva Ocfemia, EMB regional director for Bicol, on Thursday said part of the CNWD moves for the protection of the river was the recent holding of the “Walk for Mampurog River: A Step towards Water Adequacy in Camarines Norte”.
Ocfemia said the activity, participated in by hundreds of Camarines Norte residents and environmental protection advocates, was intended to create community awareness on the importance of maintaining the quality and quantity of
water in the river.
Ocfemia said Mampurog River is the first surface water source developed by the CNWD from where it started drawing safe, potable water for thousands of households in the province in April last year.
The river supplies the CNWD distribution facilities 12,000 cubic meters of water daily, the EMB regional chief said.
The Walk for Mampurog also gave participants the opportunity to visit the water firm’s facilities like the storage tank, pumping station and the Boro-Boro Spring, all in Labo town.
CNWD is also conducting regular symposia for high school students twice a year where water shed protection and other environmental issues are discussed.
Apart from Mampuro, the water firm also derives its water supply for its concessioners in the municipalities of Labo, Daet, Mercedes, Talisay, San Vicente, Basud and Vinzons from five springs and five wells within the province’s water shed areas, Ocfemia said.
The EMB regional office, she added is encouraging all the other local water districts in Bicol towns and cities to replicate the initiative of CNWD toward environmental management and protection.
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