They met with Mayor Sofronio L. Fusin, Jr. and discussed best practices in river rehabilitation.

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region VI showcased its best practices in water quality management as it hosted EMB National Capital Region (NCR) officials for a benchmarking visit at the Iloilo-Batiano River System from February 24 to 28, 2025.

The activity brought together the Executive Committee and Technical Working Group of NCR’s Water Quality Management Areas (WQMAs) Governing Board to observe and learn from Region VI’s successful interventions in river rehabilitation and pollution control.

Leading the engagements was Engr. Shiela Mae R. Portillo, Chief of EMB VI’s Ambient Monitoring and Technical Services Section. During a courtesy call, Atty. Linel Manayang, OIC-Chief of EMB NCR’s Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division, discussed the objectives of the visit with Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Oton Mayor Sofronio Fusin Jr. EMB VI Clearance and Permitting Division Chief Engr. Anne Marie A. Delariarte and Finance and Administrative Division Chief Engr. Ronald E. Limua formally welcomed the delegation and highlighted the region’s proactive water quality management programs.

The benchmarking activities included an assessment and walkthrough of Iloilo-Batiano River System projects and sampling stations. Furthermore, Ms. Rizza Daphet Catague, Head of EMB VI’s Ambient Water Quality Monitoring Unit, presented the Iloilo-Batiano River System (IBRS) Water Quality Management Area Action Plan. Representatives from the environment offices of Iloilo City and Oton shared their LGUs’ compliance schemes, while discussions also covered Esplanade projects, informal settler management, the five-year water quality monitoring data of IBRS-WQMA, and the Dungon Creek Rehabilitation Project.