No bane to Mla Bay: DOF touts modern sewage treatment facility

THe ongoing refurbishment of the Department of Finance’s sixstory central office along roxas Boulevard in Manila includes a stateof-the-art sewage treatment facility that is now operational, way ahead of the Duterte administration’s program to rehabilitate the heavily polluted Manila Bay, the DoF reported.

In line with the President’s directive to the Department of environment and Natural resources (DeNr) to rehabilitate Manila Bay, establishments surrounding the area, including the DoF, were instructed to put in place their respective sewage treatment plants (STPs) within three months or face sanctions.

Director Alvin P. Diaz, who heads the DoF’s Central Administration office, explained that the DoF was “way ahead of the curve” in relation to the ongoing rehabilitation efforts because its building now has its own STP that became operational in November 2018 using the latest technology in treating sewage water effluent discharged into Manila Bay.

According to Diaz, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III approved in 2017 the recommendation of the project design and management team in charge of the DoF Building refurbishment to include an STP isolated from the adjoining Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) compound, using the latest sewage treatment technologies.

“The DoF Building’s sewage treatment facility discharges effluent into the Manila Bay that is classified as Class C, which is fit for fishing and the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources. This is the minimum standard of the DeNr for water being discharged into the bay. we are now conducting tests to check what still needs to be done so that our STP can meet the Class B requirement, which is fit for bathing and swimming,” Diaz said.

He said the STP and other environment-friendly features incorporated in the ongoing renovation could be considered a model for other government structures up for refurbishment.

“In fact, we are currently working for the DeNr’s issuance of a discharge permit that will validate DoF’s compliance with existing rules and regulations,” he added.

on top of the STP, the DoF also uses LeD lighting systems to minimize power consumption, and a building management system to monitor and control the building facilities such as its centralized air-conditioning and other equipment and utilities.

“even the impressive glass envelope in front of the building serves a purpose, other than to be aesthetically pleasing. The glass cladding cuts the noise entering the building and also reduces the heat, which makes it energy-efficient,” he said.

The STP which costs P2.8 million to implement, is self-maintaining, thus incurring no maintenance costs for the DoF.

“Among the government agencies with their STPs are the City Hall of Caloocan, the Casimiro Henares Hospital in rizal, Antipolo Hospital, Langhari Public Market in Malabon, and the Molino Public Market in Bacoor, Cavite, to name a few,” he added.

Last week the DeNr held a stakeholders’ meeting in preparation for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Some 200 representatives from national government agencies and local government units, including barangay units, attended it.

environment Secretary roy A. Cimatu said the Duterte administration is determined to rehabilitate the Manila Bay and will sue violators of environmental laws.