THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will pour P30 million worth of environmentally friendly projects for Cebu City.
The first one will make use of the City-owned Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at the North Reclamation Area.
The system is called the “volute dewatering press” that would clean the dirty liquid waste from septic tanks in Cebu City.
The product would not be potable but at least it would be clean when returned to the rivers.
Septage, said Amcon Inc. manager Seiji Kikuchi, contains water, organic pollutants and inorganic pollutants.
The equipment will dewater the septage. Remaining water can be returned to waterways, while the sludge cake from the dirt will be used as fertilizer.
Another company, Mansei Recycle Systems Co. Ltd., will handle the recycling of solid wastes at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.
Mansei will be responsible for processing 50 tons a day of waste from Inayawan.
The output will be the five tons of plastic fluff that can be converted to fuel.
Jica will spend P15 million for each facility.
But, while the dewatering press will be done at the STP, Amcon will have its own equipment.
Partnership
The grant is part of the partnership of Jica and the Yokohama Government for pilot survey on small and medium enterprises technology.
Yokohama and Cebu City also have a “comprehensive partnership” despite not having a sisterhood agreement.
Jica officials accompanied by officials of Amcon and Mansei presented their respective projects to the Cebu City Council yesterday.
The aim is to convince the council to authorize Mayor Michael Rama to sign a “minutes of the meeting” with Jica.
But Councilor Sisinio Andales, a lawyer, questioned why minutes would be signed rather than a memorandum of understanding.
Jica Director Takeharu Nakagawa acceded to Andales’ suggestion.
For two years, the two facilities will be managed by Jica, Cebu City Government and the two companies.
After which, management will be totally turned over to the City.
Costs for the City will include water, electricity and personnel who will man the facilities.
“Jica will maintain ownership of the product to be procured through its funding for the implementation of the survey through the survey implementation period. After completion of the survey, ownership of the product will be handed over to Cebu City,” the minutes of the meeting read.
Councilor Nida Cabrera said more investments will be pouring in.
She was recently in Japan where the Ministry of Japan is reportedly interested in reviewing Cebu City to make an “ecotown” out of the city.
The “ecotown” will be home to similar ecologically friendly facilities.