DOST offers new water treatment technology

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from providing images from microsatellites Diwata 1 and 2 to monitor the progress of the Manila Bay cleanup, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is ready to provide other locally developed technologies to help rehabilitate the bay, an official said Thursday.

Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said that in a recent meeting between the DOST and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), headed by Secretary Roy Cimatu, the DOST made a formal offer of all the wastewater treatment technologies it has in its arsenal.

Dela Peña said the government can order business establishments around Manila Bay to install these technologies instead of resorting to permanent closure of businesses, which can lead to job losses.

“We can help these business establishments comply with environmental laws so there will be no permanent economic disruption,” he said.

Dela Peña said the DOST is taking the Manila Bay cleanup as an opportunity for locally developed technologies to be adopted commercially.

“We have several technologies that have already been proven to be effective and we need only to adopt them, instead of looking at foreign technology that will be likely be more expensive,” he said.

Dela Peña cited the Eco-Friendly Septic System, which features the use of Vigormin organo-mineral powder, developed with DOST funding by Adamson University professor and tech startup entrepreneur Merlinda Palencia.

He said the system helped the Travellers Pension House and Beach Resort in General Luna, Siargao treat its wastewater to comply with DENR effluent standards.