The Baguio Water District (BWD) announced its willingness to manage and operate the city’s septage management plant once the same will be established.
BWD general manager Engr. Salvador M. Royeca, who appeared before the regular session of the city legislative body last Monday to share his insights on a proposed ordinance establishing the city’s septage management system, underscored the water district has the technical capability to manage and operate the said system once the same will be constructed.
He added the BWD is competent to manage and operate such system but it does not have the sufficient resources to construct the same, thus, it should first be built and this can be turned over to the district for it to be managed and operated.
Earlier, the City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance establishing a septage management system in the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elaine D. Sembrano states the city government commits to improve or enhance health and sanitation, environment and economic conditions in the city and it shall implement measures to prevent and control water pollution to promote health and ensure a balanced ecosystem through the establishment of the comprehensive septage management program.
The ordinance adds the provisions of the measure shall cover the territorial jurisdiction of the city and shall apply to structures that generate or produce domestic sewage and septage such as all residential structures including, but not limited to, an apartment, house or land on which another dwelling is located and used for residential purposes, and shall include not only buildings, parts or units used solely as dwelling places, boarding houses, dormitories, rooms and bed spaces offered for rent by their owners, and also those used for home industries, retail stores and other business purposes of the owner and his or her family actually live therein and use it principally for dwelling purposes; commercial buildings or establishments, including, but not limited to restaurants, convenient stores, hardware stores, malls, groceries, markets, condominiums, hotels, resorts and recreational establishments; institutional building structures, including, but not limited to schools, colleges, and universities, hospitals and churches; industrial buildings or establishments, including, but not limited to factories and manufacturing plants and government buildings or establishments including, but not limited to, barangay halls and government offices.
The ordinance states that septic tanks and other acceptable on-site sanitation shall be the depository of all the sewage generated within the building or establishment and that the design and construction of septic tanks shall adhere to Section 143 of Ordinance No. 18, series of 2016, or the city’s Environment Code.
Moreover, other on-site sanitation must be water tight with primary treatment that will lower the biological oxygen demand by at least 50 percent and that it shall be accessible for dislodging by mobile service providers or service providers.
The ordinance explains the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the measure for all buildings or establishments, facilities and plants is exclusively vested upon the city government and upon approval of the proposal, the city shall immediately promulgate the required implementing rules and regulations within a period of 6 months which will be subject to public consultations prior to publication. By Dexter A. See