CH to defray expenses for city jail septic tank
The Cebu City government will construct a P2.6 million underground
sewage tank at the male dormitory of the City Jail in Barangay Kalunasan to
address the stench and untreated wastewater of the facility following complaints from the residents in the area.
City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the council committee on peace and order, said the budget will be charged to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) funds.
“Dunay reklamo na gipaabot sa warden (Renante Rubio) gumikan kay naay mga residente nga ningreklamo tungod sa kabaho. Kita sa city government, ningtabang pud ta pinaagi sa paggahin og pundo gikan sa PAGCOR fund sa paghimo na pud og laing septic tank,” he said.
Tumulak said he was told by Rubio that the increasing number of inmates also increased the volume of septage from the jail facility. The City Jail male dormitory now houses over 5,000 inmates, a figure far beyond its 1,500 capacity.
Tumulak said the new septic tank can accommodate the new population of the jail facility.
Yesterday, the City Council approved the resolution of Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the council committee on infrastructure.
Guardo said the Department of Engineering and Public Works has already prepared the program of works and estimates for the underground sewerage tank.
Guardo said that Mayor Tomas Osmeña has already approved the use of PAGCOR funds for the project.
“The construction of a new septic tank also conforms to the provisions of Section 20 Republic Act No. 9275 (Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004) which provides that local government units shall share the responsibility in the management and improvement of water quality within their territorial jurisdiction,” the resolution reads.
Rubio, for his part, said the existing septic tank is being used by other jail facilities in Barangay Kalunasan. He said the city is also assisting the jail management in the extraction of the septic wastes every week.
“Naa tay regular cleanup. Pag may baho dili ra man ang sa gawas ang maapektohan, apil man kami diri sa sulod,” he added.