Septage management system eyed
BAGUIO City Councilor Elaine Sembrano is pushing for the creation of a septage management system in the city.
The lady councilor, in her proposed measure, said most of the residential and commercial buildings or establishments in the city utilize septic tanks or on-site sanitation as a means of sewage treatment and disposal.
She said the city is committed to the improvement, maintenance and conservation of the environment and protection of public health.
Septage management refers to comprehensive programs for managing septic tanks and other on-site sanitation and the procedures of dislodging, transporting, treating and disposing of septic tank contents.
Under the ordinance, a Septage Management Board (CSMB) will act as a local special body will be created with the mayor as chairman and the head of the City Council committee on health and sanitation, ecology and environmental protection as vice–chair.
The CSMB will be in charge of accrediting mobile service providers/ private septage haulers or service providers and prepare guidelines for such an accreditation; receives and hear complaints from the owners and/or administrators or agents of buildings or structures and act on them; endorses the application for Environmental Sanitation Clearance (ESC) by existing and new mobile service providers to Department of Health upon compliance with existing local policies and regulations; recommends the revocation of the ESC of the mobile service provider or service provider to the Secretary of Health or his duly authorized representative; provides appropriate training programs regarding domestic sludge and septage handling, treatment and collection, disposal, emergency and disaster response for operators and septage personnel; plans and implements an information and education program on wastewater and septage management system; implements and adheres to the rules and regulations set forth by the Department of Health and Environmental and Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in handling, transporting, treatment and disposal of septage; exercises other functions necessary for the effective and efficient implementation of the ordinance.
Violators may be fined or the business establishment closed.
Sembrano cited Republic Act 9275, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which relates directly or indirectly to wastewater and septage management.
Section 7 of the Act provides among others, that local government units (LGUs) should appropriate the necessary land including the required rights-of-way/road access to the land for the construction of the sewage and/or septage treatment facilities servicing their area of jurisdiction through local property taxes or imposing a service fee system.
The lady lawmaker added the move is to improve or enhance health and sanitation, environment and the economic conditions in the city implementing measures to prevent and control water pollution to promote health and ensure a balanced ecosystem through the establishment of a comprehensive septage management program.
The new law will cover residential structures, commercial buildings, institutional buildings structures, industrial buildings and government buildings.