THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 urged establishments to secure permits from the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) before discharging their wastewater.
Supervising Environmental Management Specialist Marco Andrew Silveron of EMB 7 said that violators will be fined from P10,000 to P200,000 a day until violations are corrected.
The creation of a national sewerage and septic management program is mandated under Section 7 of Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 to monitor wastewater from households and buildings.
He said that wastewater from households and buildings, which are connected to the drainage system of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), must be strictly monitored.
Silveron added that local government units (LGUs) are mandated to coordinate with DPWH in stopping violators who endanger the public’s health.
“This monitoring of wastewater is included in the land use program of LGUs,” he said.
He said they sent “notices of violation” to establishments that have no permit to discharge their wastewater.
One of the conditions in the permit is to treat the wastewater before disposal.
Silveron said companies that have no permits must hire an accredited firm to haul their wastewater and get their certificate of hauling.
He said that the EMB 7 is giving violators 45 days to comply, after a technical conference to correct the defects is held.
Silveron also said that EMB 7 has deployed inspectors to check every establishment if they have permits to discharge wastewater.
Meanwhile, Silveron said that they are now monitoring the seawaters of Mactan Island and Panglao in Bohol following Boracay Island’s troubles.
The EMB 7 is also monitoring the seas off the towns of Moalboal, Oslob, Bantayan Island and Camotes Island, all in Cebu. (EOB)