City launches new septic plant
FOR almost two decades, the Cebu City Government was without a septage treatment plant (STP), until yesterday.
The City launched its new and fully operational P15-million STP.
It stands in the same spot where the old STP was located, which is at the North Reclamation Area (NRA).
The STP was unveiled to the public yesterday with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and Amcon Inc., a manufacturing firm based in Yokohama City.
The STP was funded by Jica and was manufactured by Amcon.
Department of Public Services (DPS) assistant head Randy Navarro said the old STP was built in 1980 yet and was operational only until 1996 when it was damaged.
Haulers
Since then, Navarro said the City does not know where the private septic haulers are disposing its septic waste.
DPS received reports of private haulers dumping the collected wastes in rivers, drainage systems and canals, among others.
With the newly launched STP, Navarro said private haulers don't have to resort to illegal disposal as wastes will be accommodated at the plant.
Navarro said the new STP has a capacity to hold 200 cubic meters of septic wastes.
It can process 100 cubic meters of waste per hour.
Private septic haulers collect an average of 175 cubic meters of waste daily from the city's residential units.
The STP has been in place for two months but it was only used for testing.
Starting today, however, Navarro said private septic haulers can use the facility.
Fees
Temporarily, the City will not be collecting any tipping fees since the Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) has not come up with the appropriate amount to collect from tippers.
SWMB is the interim body handling the management of septic waste in the city pending the creation of a Septage Management Board, which is mandated under the newly approved Septage Management Ordinance authored by Councilor Nida Cabrera.
Navarro said SWMB is proposing a tipping fee of between P200 to P250 but it is yet to be approved.
The establishment of a new STP at the NRA is an offshoot of the memorandum of understanding that the City signed with Yokohama City in March 2012 for a technical cooperation for sustainable urban development.