Water treatment facility for Pasil pushed

CEBU, Philippines — After it failed the highest standard of water quality testing, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) is now calling for immediate action toward the installation of a wastewater treatment facility in the Pasil Fish Market, amidst the health risk sewage poses to the people.

This is according to Engr. Myka Llanos of CCENRO, who said that the Pasil Market was issued a notice of violation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau back in 2019. The violation was allegedly due to untreated water being directly discharged into the sea.

Because of this, Llanos said they then came up with the initiative to build a sewage treatment facility in the area. In order to come up with the most effective design, Llanos said it is important to first determine the quality of water surrounding the area.

In the 2024 test they conducted, Llanos said it showed that the water off Pasil is already polluted. She explained that although there were four parameters that passed, these weren’t strong enough indicators that the water is safe.

“Other parameters showed nga na-fail g’yud ta, labaw sa fecal coliform,” said Llanos.

She also emphasized that the tests weren’t conducted in just the sea off the market one portion of the water body but in four different areas, including the drainage system, creek, and the main portion of the water body itself. Of the four tests she added, it averaged a total fecal coliform level of 27,000,000 MPN/100 ml.

“Taas na kaayo na sya nga level sa atong passing score which is about 400 ra,” she stressed.

These test results, according to Llanos, further showed how important it is to install a water treatment facility and added that it is urgently needed. While the CCENRO initially wanted to install a wastewater treatment system at the market, Llanos said they now find it necessary to widen their coverage to include the residential areas surrounding the market.

Llanos said that they have already prioritized the procurement of the wastewater treatment facility, although she admitted that the procurement process has delayed its realization. She said it was further hindered during the election ban that prohibits the use of public funds and resources.

With the lifting of this ban, Llanos said that they are hopeful the procurement process will now be expedited.

“Mao g’yud na among gi-push g’yud ang establishment of wastewater facility kay di na man na ma-approve dayon and ma-implement, taas g’yud siya’g process,” said Llanos.

The proposed wastewater treatment facility is estimated to cost around ?95 million and has been requested by CCENRO since 2022. She said the delays were also due to changes in administration.

If the water body is left untreated, Llanos explained that it will pose health concerns to the public, especially among consumers.

“Ang amo man gung nakita nga practice dira sa Pasil, whenever naay mga dunggo, dili na sila mugamit og fresh water to wash the fish kay madaot ang quality (of the fish),” said Llanos.

She said that although they are trying to implement measures and discourage this practice by encouraging the use of fresh water to clean the newly arrived fish, she admitted that it is not being strictly followed.

Llanos further said that the vendors are persistent in using the seawater in the immediate area to wash the fish in order to preserve its quality.

“Bisan i-police nato sila, kita ra pud ang bantayan,” said Llanos.

She then said that they have tried to remedy this by providing seawater that isn’t from Pasil.

“So mao jud na ang dako jud nga impact is sa health jud,” she said.

Aside from this, Llanos explained that the polluted water has also affected the species thriving in the sea near Pasil, which she described as a “fish kill.”

Pending the installation of the wastewater treatment facility, Llanos said they are strengthening the implementation of the Septage Management Program Ordinance, or Cebu City Ordinance 2398, which penalizes households without a septic tank. — (FREEMAN)