Public awaits drainage outfall laboratory tests

The public awaits results of two separate laboratory tests on the run-off rainwater from the drainage outfall at Graham Avenue, this city, fronting the modern Tagbilaran City Port which is the country's premier "tourist port."
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Nestor Canda said the results of the lab test will be interpreted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which is mandated to protect the marine resources after the drainage outfall was opened upon orders of the city mayor last Nov. 6 despite the unresolved issues on the alleged illegal connections.

The opening of the outfall was anchored on the lab test shown by city consultant Engr Cecil Corloncito. However, the said lab test was not recognized by DENR as it was not known where the test was conducted. Canda said "only DENR accredited laboratories are duly recognized."
Gov. Erico Aumentado who intervened in the nagging drainage problem in the city repeatedly said the opening of the outfall surprised him as there was no prior coordination meeting conducted on such decision. The last thing he knew was the city mayor asked him to request the DPWH to turn over the drainage project to the city government before he (Lim) would assume actions on the drainage issue.
However, even before the request of the mayor could be attended to by DPWH, he (mayor) decided to open the drainage outfall.
The opening of the outfall was the "solution to the flooding problem along CPG Avenue," trumpets the city mayor even as the governor expressed concern on the possible pollution it might bring to the seawaters at Tagbilaran Bay.
"The laboratory test is very crucial," the governor said yesterday as he ordered Canda to keep a close monitoring on the lab results. He likewise ordered the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) to subject the water samples at the outfall to another independent laboratory in Cebu City.
While residents along CPG Avenue expressed elation on the end of flooding, the environmental impact at the bay is now greatly being considered by environmentalists here and in other areas who have monitored the dropping of water from a new drainage system to the seawaters without the benefit of a water treatment facility.
The city government has long been declaring to construct a multi-million water treatment facility but nothing has been seen to date. Residents of Taloto district, this city, are divided - whether they will allow or not the construction of water treatment facility in the area.