DENR prods LGUs on water treatment facility

MALVAR, Batangas — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) urged the local government units (LGUs) to give priority to building wastewater treatment facilities.

DENR Regional Executive Director Maria Paz Luna said cities and municipalities in the region should include in their Annual Investment Plan (AIP) the installation of such facilities for budget allocations.

Luna said there are practically no water treatment systems in the LGUs in the region and only industries and some subdivisions comply with the requirement.

However, the water treatment facilities in some subdivisions were not working and there are land developers that empty sewage directly to the drainage system, she said.

Before issuing building permits, LGUs should require the inspection of septic tanks to determine if they are properly connected to sewage lines, Luna said.

Under the Philippine Water Act of 2004, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) must prepare a national program on sewerage and septage management.

Batangas City has heeded DENR’s call, with the city council recently approving an ordinance on Septage Management requiring the water service provider to fund a treatment facility.

Councilor Nestor Dimacuha, who authored the ordinance, said one of the reasons the Batangas City Water District (BCWD) partnered with Prime Water last March was to build a Septage Management System.

Luna however discouraged such a partnership, saying the cost of putting up the treatment facility could be passed on to consumers.

“The cost of providing the water is one fourth of the cost of treating it, that means kung talagang irerequire mo na ang water provider ang maglinis ng water waste, four times ang water cost natin,” Luna said.