Balili River
Balili River is located in Luzon
Balili River
Balili River mouth
Balili River is located in Philippines
Balili River
Balili River (Philippines)
EtymologyBarangay Balili, La Trinidad, Benguet
Location
CountryPhilippines
RegionCordillera Administrative Region
ProvinceBenguet
City/municipality
Physical characteristics
SourceCordillera Mountains
 • locationBaguio
 • coordinates16°25′29″N 120°35′36.9″E / 16.42472°N 120.593583°E / 16.42472; 120.593583
 • elevation1,375 m (4,511 ft)
MouthSouth China Sea,
 • location
Bauang, La Union
 • coordinates
16°32′58.5″N 120°30′45.5″E / 16.549583°N 120.512639°E / 16.549583; 120.512639
 • elevation
196 m (643 ft)
Length62.7 km (39.0 mi)
Basin size508 km2 (196 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationBagulin, La Union
Basin features
ProgressionBalili River — Naguilian River
Tributaries 
 • leftBolo Creek
 • right
  • Sagudin River
  • Tuel River

The Balili River, also known as the Naguilian River, is a river in the province of Benguet on the island of Luzon, Philippines. With a total length of 62.7 km (39.0 mi), it traverses the city of Baguio, and the municipalities of La Trinidad and Sablan before entering the province of La Union, where the midstream is called the Naguilian River.[1] It drains into the South China Sea through the town of Bauang, where the downstream is also known as Balili River.

Sources

The main tributary of the river is the Sagudin River which flows along barangay Trancoville in the city of Baguio. The Sagudin River itself has 23 tributary creeks coming from the city's populated barangays, which include Santo Niño (also known as the Slaughterhouse Compound), New Lucban, Guisad, Honeymoon, Cabinet Hill, and Pacdal.[1][2] Other tributaries include the Bolo Creek in La Trinidad.[3]

Course

From Baguio, the Balili River flows northward, entering the municipality of La Trinidad. It traverses the barangays of Lubas, Balili (from which the river is named), Cruz, Poblacion, and Bineng. At upstream Bineng are several mini-hydroelectric power plants operated by Hydroelectric Development Corporation (HEDCOR). Downstream Bineng at the La Trinidad-Sablan-Tublay tri-point, the river is joined by the Tuel River, and continues to flow westward until it reaches the municipality of Sablan. It crosses another HEDCOR-operated mini-hydroelectric power plant, the Ampohaw Hydro, along barangay Banengbeng.[4] As it exits Sablan and enters Bagulin in La Union province, it is named the Naguilian River.[1]

Pollution

The river suffers from excessive pollution, usually blamed upon the densely populated city of Baguio,[5] where its headwaters are formed.[1] A study by the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) of Baguio shows that half of the city's population live within the Balili watershed area, contributing the most waste.[6] The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed that the quality of the Balili River water test result falls under Class C from its water classification of Class A in 1975, which made its waters fit for drinking after treatment. In 2014, the water test result from Balili River is still within the classification of Class C freshwater, but then, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources cannot re-classify a river downgrading its classification from "Class A" to "Class C".[5][7] The river was included in the DENR's 2003 Pollution Report as one of the 15 "biologically dead" rivers among the 94 principal river basins in the country.[8][9]

Rehabilitation efforts

Several government agencies, academe and private organizations have expressed concern in rehabilitating the river, forming the Balili River System Revitalization Coalition (BRSRC).[5][10] The Baguio Sewerage Treatment Plant was constructed in 1986 along Sanitary Camp to filter the river before it enters La Trinidad.[11] In 2013, the river was designated by the DENR as a "Water Quality Management Area" (WQMA) to protect and improve the water quality, pursuant to the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Catajan, Ma. Elena (2 December 2012). "City could face charges for Balili River pollution". Sun.Star Baguio. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Benguet Slams Baguio City on Pollution of Balili River". Manila Bulletin. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "Hedcor volunteers clean up adopted creeks". Sun.Star Baguio. 23 August 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Ampohaw Hydro". Hydro Electric Development Corporation (HEDCOR). Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 Fabian, Larry P. (24 September 2014). "An urgent call to save Benguet's Balili River system". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Aro, Susan (28 May 2012). "Half of Baguio population is in Balili watershed". Sun.Star Baguio. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Ramon, Dacawi (15 July 2012). "4 Rivers to be Reclassified According to Water Quality". Baguio Midland Courier. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Palangchao, Harley (28 August 2011). "MOU inked in bid to save Balili River system". Baguio Midland Courier. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  9. 1 2 Aro, Susan (10 December 2011). "Balili River to be designated as Water Quality Management Area possible". PIA Press Release. Philippine Information Agency. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  10. ↑ Keith, Gaby B. (24 July 2014). "Calls for rehabilitation of Benguet river renewed". The Manila Times. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
  11. ↑ Rillorta, Paul (20 November 2011). "Rehab of sewage treatment plant up". Baguio Midland Courier. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
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