Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. has proposed an ordinance requiring all higher education institutions (HEIs), secondary schools, and Alternative Learning System (ALS) centers in the city to install and maintain accessible clean drinking water stations to safeguard student health, promote proper hydration, and reduce plastic waste.
In line with the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 and the city’s environmental commitments, all covered public and private senior high schools, colleges, universities, and ALS centers will be required to provide free, clean, and safe drinking water within their campuses.
Under the ordinance, institutions must install at least one water station for every 1,000 students or provide at least one station per floor in multi-story academic buildings. These stations must comply with the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water, undergo proper filtration and ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, and display a valid Certificate of Potability issued by a Department of Health-accredited laboratory to be updated quarterly.
Water stations must also be placed in accessible common areas and comply with the Accessibility Law to ensure use by persons with disabilities.
To support the city’s environmental goals, the use of single-use plastic cups in these stations will be strictly prohibited. Schools will be encouraged to promote reusable water containers among students and staff.
Oversight and monitoring will be undertaken by designated city offices. The City Health Services Office (CHSO) will lead water quality testing and sanitary inspections, while the Local School Board will coordinate compliance with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) will monitor plastic waste reduction, and the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) will assist in ensuring public accessibility.
For public schools and ALS centers, funding for installation and maintenance may be sourced from the Special Education Fund (SEF) or the city’s annual budget. Private institutions will shoulder their own costs but may qualify for a “Blue Seal of Health” award and potential tax credits related to environmental compliance if they achieve full compliance for three consecutive years.
The ordinance also mandates daily cleaning of water stations and the maintenance of a logbook documenting filter replacements and tank cleaning which will be subject to inspection by the CHSO.
Violations will result in a warning for the first offense, a P3,000.00 fine for the second, and a P5,000.00 fine for the third, with possible administrative sanctions or suspension of business permits for private schools.
The proposed ordinance has been approved on first reading by the Baguio City Council and referred to the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection for review. -Jordan G. Habbiling
