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The
Regional Office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-V) here,
following the pronouncement of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR)
Secretary Elisea G. Gozun has intensified its groundwater assessment
program as it embarks on further assessment activities in the Provinces
of Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Masbate for the benefit
of communities with scarce water supply. In
a summary report entitled Hydrogeological Projects in Bicol prepared by
the Geosciences Division of MGB-V it was disclosed that the sites
investigated, studied, assessed, and surveyed were the Palhi Spring in
Bgy. Capuy in Sorsogon; Tulay na Lupa, Mampurog, and San Vicente in
Camarines Norte; Bagong Silang Spring, Macad Spring, Caraman Spring,
Balogo Spring and Odicon Spring of the Pasacao watershed and Nalalata
Spring, Ballester Panoypoyan, Upper Casugad, Nadal, Casugad ff1, Casugad
ff2, Casugad ff3, and Casugad ff4 of the Bula Watershed in Camarines Sur;
and the Mandali Area in Mandali, Aroroy watershed in Jabuyuan,
Municipality of Milagros, Bgy. Tugbo, Nadawison and Domarog in Cataingan
and Uson, all in Masbate. Households in these areas are expected to benefit from this hydrogeological projects started by MGB-V in the 1990’s in response to the country’s dwindling water supply due to the El Niño phenomenon. The Summary report disclosed that in Palhi in Sorsogon there are 12 springs and their discharge varies from one (1) gallon to 600 gallon of water per minute. In Masbate it was assessed that the discharge of Mandali River is about 3,300 gallon per day sufficient to supply half of the projected demand of Mobo and Masbate. There
are at least 8 springs in Aroroy Watershed in Jabuyuan with varying
discharges from 0.019 liters per second to 5.760 liters of water per
second. MGB-V recommended
that an impounding structure be constructed and a cooperative in the
area be established to manage the small water system. In
Uson, Masbate, a total of five (5) springs were mapped out during the
survey campaign and several deep wells were noted and measured for its
discharge characteristics. Results of geological and geophysical survey in Cataingan showed limestone which underlies 70% of the Municipality of Cataingan is relatively an acquifer which contains water of undetermined capacity which can be tapped for domestic use. Assessment of groundwater potential for the Municipality of Milagros is focus on collection of relevant information regarding the municipalities present water resources within a 5 kilometers radius and to formulate a water development plan for the construction of a water system. In Camarines Norte the area of concentration is in the southern portion of Mt. Labo probable sources of water are the springs that exist in the area while a preliminary watershed characterization (geohydrology) was conducted in Pasacao watershed where five (5) springs were measured for the discharges. A similar geohydrology was also conducted in Bula watershed to identify potential potable water sources for development and maximum utilization. Discharge measurements were conducted on different artesian wells and springs within the area and it was found out that Nalalata, Ballester and Nadal springs are potential water sources. Pasacao and Bula watersheds are located in Camarines Sur. The
DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) launched during
the recent Earth Day Celebration the “water for life” campaign in
conjunction with the United Nation’s declaration of 2003 as the year
of freshwater, highlighting the need to protect the world’s water
resources and to improve access to healthy water. . |
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