A TOTAL of 35 Iloilo City barangays along the riverbanks and seaside will be placed under close observation in relation to their clean water condition.

City environment and natural resources officer Engr. Noel Hechanova announced this recently as the Metro Iloilo Guimaras Development Council's (MIGEDC) initiative to its commitment in the Local Initiatives for Affordable Wastewater Treatment (Linaw) project of the United States Agency International Development (Usaid).

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Hechanova said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas is pushing for the Linaw project at the MIGEDC areas composed of Iloilo City, the municipalities of Oton, Leganes, San Miguel, Pavia and Sta. Barbara in Iloilo and the island province of Guimaras.

Treñas is the chairman of MIGEDC.

The project aims to rehabilitate and restore the life of the Iloilo River and the coastal areas in the city and assure health and sanitation of the populace living along the waterways.

A 2006 survey showed that in 35 barangays in Iloilo City alone, 83,830 persons are living in areas with minimum decent toilets and sanitation.

The report also showed that the Iloilo River is highly polluted with low dissolved oxygen for a period of years since 2004, and is not anymore capable of holding life of fishes and other living organisms.

A national study showed that nearly two-thirds of the river systems nationwide are already polluted and that 25 Filipinos die every day due to water borne diseases. Also, 58 percent of wells for daily household uses are tested positive for coliform content.

Similarly, the coastal area of Arevalo district in the city with eight coastal barangays and with a population of more than 40,000 from Sto. Niño Norte to Sagrado area, is suffering from high coliform content.

Hechanova said that intestinal parasitism below five years old is highly noted in these areas that need urgent medical attention and environmental solutions.

The environment official said the city is only in a near term solution by combating septic overflow that pollutes the underground aquifers.

The City Government, in collaboration with international organizations concerned with clean and sanitary water, is currently undergoing possible solutions to the water problem and its accompanying issues. (LCP)