Wastewater treatment for CCJ breaks ground 

CEBU, Philippines — The construction of the P42-million Wastewater Treatment Facility for the Cebu City Jail in Barangay Kalunasan is set to begin soon following the ceremonial groundbreaking on Thursday, February 13.

Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia led the groundbreaking ceremony alongside Councilors Francis Esparis and Joel Garganera. Officials from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Department of Engineering and Public Works, and Barangay Officials were also present during the event.

The project is expected to take 510 calendar days to complete.

In his speech, Garcia acknowledged that the project has long been “overdue.” In fact, it was already on the table back when he was still a councilor.

“Makapungot ug makalagot ba, nga wa aksyoni, pito katuig, puros istorya while our people are suffering here in Barangay Kalunasan,” said Garcia, taking emphasis that the project has long been delayed.

In an interview with reporters after the event, Garcia, however, refused to provide details on what caused the delay. He added that he can only recall that it was first introduced as a special project and multiple committees were formed to focus on its progress.

According to Garcia, it was only when he became mayor that the bidding for the project pushed through. The jail facility, which has approximately 5,000 inmates at present, has no treatment system for human waste.

“So mogawas ra ni siya sa nga suba, can you imagine unsa na ka baho sa mga tawo, sa mga residents diri,” said Garcia.

Garcia vowed to ensure that the project will be finished on time. He added that the contractor, Rudhil Construction and Enterprises, can be held liable if the project is delayed because they are bound by their contract.

It can be recalled that in 2018, the Office of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources (CCENRO) received a complaint about a "persistent pungent smell emanating from the Cebu City Jail Male Dormitory," which posed health concerns for both inmates and nearby residents, as well as environmental hazards in the area.

Additionally, in February 2024, the Cebu City Council requested the executive department of the Cebu City Government to prioritize the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Facility at the Cebu City Jail, stating that it had already been a “long overdue project.”

When the CCENRO inspected the facility to validate the report, the team immediately detected a strong smell, confirming the reported odor upon reaching the entrance.

During the same inspection, the CCENRO team observed dark-colored water leakage from the facility, the relatively small size of the septic tank, which was inadequate for the inmate population, and the septic tank's fullness, requiring immediate suctioning due to continuous effluent flow with yellow-colored water directed into the canal and drainage system.

A jail guard said that all waste, including human waste, urine, washing and bathing water, kitchen sink runoff, and even rainwater, is directed to the septic tank requiring a bi-weekly suctioning due to rapid filling.

It was also reported in The Freeman on February 19, 2024, that former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama gave the green light for the project to proceed. During his visit yesterday, Garcia also announced the city government’s plan to construct a new jail facility in Barangay Guba to address the problem of congestion.  FPL (CEBU NEWS)