Mactan rock keen to serve: Shared waste water treatment facility for smaller businesses

CEBU, Philippines — Pursuant to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) directive, Mactan Rock Industries Inc., (MRII) expressed willingness to build a shared waste water facility (WTF) or Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to serve smaller businesses.

MRII chairman Antonio Tompar said a waste water facility will be built in Mactan Island following DENR’s directive for the water supplier to build waste water facility for establishments that do not have proper waste water treatment.

“We are encouraged (by the DENR) to take care of the waste water of the clients, where we supply water,” Tompar said.

While big establishments, specifically in Mactan Island, have their own STP to comply with the strict government regulations, smaller establishments need common facility to save huge investments in building their own treatment plant.

MRII, which have been supplying water requirement of big water consumers on the island, is ready to spend for the STP facility, provided that establishments will also commit to have their waste water treated in the facility.

As a business entity, Tompar said the company also has to see to it that investment incurred in the facility will be paid off. “We are not the government. We are also a business.”

Under the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9275 or The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, water service providers are directed to handle the waste water of the clients they supply water to.

Section 8 of RA 9275 states that the agency vested to provide water supply and sewerage facilities and concessionaires in Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities, in coordination with local government units, are required to connect the existing sewage lines found in all subdivisions, condominiums, commercial centers, hotels, sports and recreational facilities, hospitals, market places, public buildings, industrial complexes and other similar establishments, including households to available sewerage systems. The connection must be subject to sewerage services fees in accordance with existing laws, rules or regulations unless the sources have already utilized their own sewerage system, and that all sources of sewage and septage have complied with the requirements.