AS per mandate of the Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004,” the administration of Caloocan City Mayor Oca Malapitan is now working on the strict imposition of a proposed measure aimed at improving sewage and septage management systems designed to ensure the protection of environment and promote public health.
Proposed Ordinance No. 10-001, sponsored by Councilors Anna Karina Teh, Tino Bagus and Carmelo Africa III, orders the establishment of “a sewage and septage management system, providing penalties for violation thereof and for other purposes.
The ordinance will require all residential structures, commercial establishments, industrial establishments, government structures, and institutional structures within the city to install hygienic septic tanks or wastewater treatment facility through the services of accredited Septage Haulers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH).
For new structures, the policy directs that “no building permit shall be issued for commercial, governmental and institutional establishments and housing facilities unless the design of the hygienic septic tank or wastewater treatment facility in the building plan conforms with existing environmental laws and policies.”
“No business owner shall be issued new business permit unless the owner has obtained the pertinent clearances and permits such as discharge permits and environmental sanitation clearances prescribed by DENR, DOH and/ or the Laguna Lake Development Authority,” the ordinance also reads.
To avoid spillage and contamination of the environment, septic tanks must be regularly cleared every three to five years by DENR or DOH accredited private entities with complete and necessary permits, the proposed measure said.
It also lists down acts that are prohibited: (a) Refusal to desludge; (b) Refusal of new and existing residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, and institutional facilities to connect to available sewer lines; (c) Dumping of septage and untreated wastewater to drainages, canals, rivers, and other natural and artificial waterways and other open areas; (d) Desludging and transporting of septage without the pertinent permits and accreditation from the authorized permitting agencies; and (e) Hiring/availing the services of illegal/non-accredited desludger, transporter by any person or establishment to desludge septic tanks or dispose of their waste water.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the ordinance shall incur penalties for every violation for residential homeowners and commercial, industrial and other establishments for first to third offenses.
The City Building Official, in coordination with the City Health Department, Environmental Sanitation Services, and the Business Permits and Licensing Office are directed to evaluate the strict adherence of the facilities one year after the effectivity of the ordinance.
The council’s presiding officer, Vice Mayor Maca Asistio, and Councilors Obet Samson, Carol Cunanan, Rose Mercado and Onet Henson have thrown their full support to the measure saying this is part of the local administration to transform the city into a more developed and progressive locality all over the country. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
