METRO CEBU RIVER SCAN CHALLENGE 2025 — Brgy. San Jose, Cebu City, Cebu, 6000

Water Quality Monitoring and Improvement

ClimateCafe.nl: Community Building

Problem Area - Flood Vulnerability

Waterquality Monitoring

Water Pollution

Created at: 27 Apr 2025

Description

The Butuanon River has, in recent years, become overwhelmed by increasing volumes of solid waste. Plastic bags, food wrappers, discarded containers, fishing gear, and other debris now drift in its currents, pile up along its banks, and obstruct vital drainage pathways. This project focuses on the reduction of accumulated waste near or in the Butuanon River Upstream to address the overall water pollution that has been affecting the water quality and waterway of the Butuanon River, specifically in Barangay San Jose, Cebu City, Philippines. Accumulations of waste not only hinder the river’s natural flow, intensifying flood risks during heavy rains and typhoons, but also degrade aquatic ecosystems by smothering benthic habitats, limiting sunlight penetration for submerged vegetation, and posing serious risks of entanglement or ingestion for fish, crustaceans, and waterbirds. By reducing these accumulations, this project aims to improve the waste management situation in Barangay San Jose.

Additionally, the project involves community engagement to assess Community Practices and Institutional Capacities. The residents, shop owners, waste collectors, and local officials were surveyed to gauge attitudes, behaviors, and barriers related to solid-waste disposal. The adequacy of existing collection schedules, drop-off facilities, recycling options, and enforcement mechanisms were evaluated as well. Involvement of the residents would give the project a potential to have a massive impact towards the improvement of their quality of life. The goal is to create a more sustainable and resilient environment for the residents of Barangay San Jose, ensuring that they are better protected from the devastating effects of flooding and reduction of water pollution in Butuanon River.

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About the author

Rican James Montejo

• Submitted 2 projects
• Expert at Water
• Philippines

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