City partners with BJMP for wastewater treatment

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival formalized a partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for the construction of a wastewater treatment facility at the Cebu City Jails in Barangay Kalunasan, a project aimed at improving sanitation, protecting the environment, and ensuring compliance with national standards.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), signed at City Hall yesterday, brings together the Cebu City Government, BJMP officials led by Jail Superintendent Metz Milton Placencia of the Male Dormitory and Jail Superintendent Jonnabelle Roiles Templado of the Female Dormitory, and the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), headed by Engr. June Sison. Assistant City Administrator Atty. Mary Rose Lubino also joined the ceremony.

According to Archival, the move reflects a shared commitment to a "cleaner, safer, and healthier environment" for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), jail personnel, and the surrounding community.

The wastewater treatment facility is designed to address long-standing sanitation concerns at the Kalunasan jail, which houses more than 8,000 PDLs.

In his first State of the City Address last week, Archival recalled being tasked by then Mayor Michael Rama, while he was serving as a councilor, to lead the installation of septic tanks at the facility to manage sewage.

However, these facilities later broke down, causing untreated waste to flow into nearby waterways.

“During the time ni Mayor Mike(Rama) akoy gitahasan ani pag butang ug septic tanks …The septic tanks is needed kay naa tay 8,000 kabuok ka PDLs sa atong prisohan ..Naguba ang ilang septic , ang ilang waste adto na padong sa kasapaan…It is not actually healthy,” Archival said.

The project had already started but was later halted because the BJMP had no budget for its management.

“Nagsugod na ta, but nahunong gamay because the MOA states nga ang atong kapulisan which is the BJMP, maoy mu manage but wala man silay kwarta,” he added.

Archival disclosed that the city has now allocated P10 million annually to sustain sewage treatment operations in partnership with the BJMP.

“We budgeted P10 million per year , nasud na na sa budget…Mucontinue nana ang pag contract sa sewage treatment,” he said.

The project also ties into broader infrastructure and environmental programs.

The MOA stipulates that the BJMP will manage the facility, while the city government will provide funding support.

For Archival, the partnership underscores the city's responsibility not only to uphold public health standards inside detention facilities but also to safeguard the environment for the wider community.

“Through sustained collaboration, we can ensure a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for all Sugboanons,” he said.

Archival also highlighted the city's ongoing collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) for a larger wastewater treatment plant.

JICA has committed P1 billion to complete the facility by 2027, a development expected to significantly improve Metro Cebu's wastewater management capacity. — (FREEMAN)