By Aileen P. Refuerzo
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The City Government in partnership with the Baguio Water District (BWD) held the groundbreaking ceremony to commence the Rainwater Harvesting Facility project at the Buyog Watershed, on February 9.
Considered as a major project crucial to strengthening the city’s water security and climate resilience, the facility is expected to significantly augment the supply of potable water to barangays Pinget, Lower Quirino Hill and surrounding areas.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong and BWD General Manager Salvador Royeca led the ceremony along with City Engineer Richard Lardizabal, officials and stakeholders of the beneficiary barangays.
The mayor said the project is funded by the national government, facilitated through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) during the term of former Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. He recalled that the funding was granted after national officials expressed confidence in Baguio City’s good governance, transparency and accountability initiatives under the Open Government Partnership.
Highlighting the urgency of the project, the mayor cited the severe drought experienced in 2024, when residents of Quirino Hill, Pinget and nearby areas faced acute water shortages.
During that period, the cost of water reached as high as P135 per drum, with delivery waiting times extending to several weeks.
“This project is not only about addressing today’s water shortage, but about planning for the next 10 to 20 years,” Mayor Magalong said emphasizing that the rainwater harvesting facility is among the city’s “catalytic projects” designed to ensure that future generations will not suffer from the same water challenges.
Magalong also stressed the importance of timely completion and quality construction, urging barangay officials and the community to closely monitor the project and immediately report any delays or issues.
Construction is expected to be completed in less than a year.
For his part, Royeca explained that the project aims to augment existing water sources, improve system resilience and promote sustainable water resource management amid increasing demand, climate change, and rapid urbanization.
The Buyog facility will collect rainwater, convey it to storage tanks and treat it to meet the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.
Royeca noted that the facility will primarily be used during the dry months to lower operational costs and improve water distribution efficiency. It will also help mitigate stormwater runoff and localized flooding during heavy rains and typhoons, giving the project a dual purpose.
“This is only the initial phase, and we hope to construct additional facilities in the future,” Royeca said, adding that the project reflects BWD’s commitment to sustainable development, climate change adaptation, environmental protection, and long-term water security.
Lardizabal described the groundbreaking as a meaningful milestone that symbolizes collaboration and shared vision among the city government, BWD, barangays and the community.
