Starting next year: MCWD to collect septage fees in Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova

CEBU, Philippines – Starting next year, Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova residents, who are clients of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District, will be paying P2.20 per cubic meter of water consumed as septage fee or P52 per month for five years.

Those who are not clients of MCWD will be paying a one-time payment of P3,500 for septage fee for a 2.8 cubic meter septage tank.

Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City have passed an ordinance on the mandatory desludging last November 2011 and October 2015, respectively.

Rene Mercado, MCWD chairman of the board, said the septage fee of P2.20 per cubic meter is on top of the P15.20 per cubic of water fee or a total of P17.40 per cubic meter.

“Pero ang kadtong mga constituents nga di connected sa MCWD, they will pay one time unlike sa mga water consumers nga connected sa amoa nga installment ang ilang pagbayad,” said Mercado.

The septage fee will be incorporated in MCWD’s monthly water bill.

Lapu-Lapu City and the town of Cordova have around 80,000 households and only around 30 percent to 40 percent are connected with MCWD.

MCWD recently unveiled its Septage Treatment Plant scale model with the actual plant, costing to P100 million, now under construction in Barangay San Miguel in Cordova.

In a statement, MCWD said its STP will greatly impact the quality of water and the environment. It is expected to be completed in March next year.

MCWD   and   private   contractor   Envirokonsult   Equipment   Services   Inc. signed the contract in May this year.

MCWD acquired the lot for the facility for P11 million in July 2011.

The contractor will operate the facility in the next five years.

Environkonsult  will  also provide trucks and equipment that passed the standards of the Department of Health as well as train personnel who will do the desludging of septic tanks in all residential and commercial buildings in the two local government units.

After  the five-year contract period, MCWD has the option to buy out the facility and the equipment and operate it on its own or renew the contract with Environkonsult and allow it to operate the facility for a certain period.

In compliance with the provisions of the Clean Water Act of 2004,  local government units are mandated to put up a septage management facility. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMD (FREEMAN)