Cebu bulk water supplier to set up STP in Panglao

CEBU, Philippines — Mactan Rock Industries Inc., (MRII) will work with Panglao local government units (LGUs) to build a shared Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in compliance with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

According to MRII chairman Antonio Tompar, the company has already submitted its technical design for the STP joint venture project with the local government of Panglao.

Likewise, a written proposal for financial and technical set up. This project is expected to be operational in the next two years.

Tompar said Panglao LGU has already identified a property for the shared STP. Construction of the plant is set before the end of this year.

MRII initiated this joint venture project to comply with the requirement set by DENR 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.

Bigger resorts and hotels within the Island have already set up their own STP plants in their respective properties. What remains to be the concern now are the smaller establishments, including restaurants that have yet to have proper STP facility, Tompar said.

Prior to President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to close Boracay Island in March 2018, MRII already expressed its willingness to set up waste treatment facility for small businesses on Panglao Island via Build-Own-Operate-Management concept.

Under the proposal MRII will fund the establishment of the shared facility through an environmental related financial access being offered by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). Users will only have to pay per cubic meter usage for a certain number of hears, until it will be fully paid off by the users.