Hospitality sector reminded anew re wastewater facility

CEBU, Philippines — In a bid to help the government speed up its implementation of wastewater compliance especially among industries, a bulk water supplier is calling the hospitality sector in Cebu and Bohol to comply with Republic Act (R.A.) 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

In a press conference Mactan Rock Industries Inc., (MRII) chairman Antonio Tompar reminded hoteliers, specifically in Mactan and Panglao islands, that his company has been given the directive from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) to handle the wastewater treatment facilities of these areas.

According to section eight of the Act, the agency vested to supply water and sewerage facilities or concessionaires, shall be required to connect existing sewage line found in all subdivisions, condominiums, commercial centers, hotels, sports and recreational facilities, hospitals, market places, public buildings, industrial complex and other similar establishments including households to available sewerage system, in coordination with local government units (LGUs).

According to Tompar, despite a series of requests sent to hoteliers through Hotel and Resorts and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) and similar group in Panglao, the hospitality players have yet to respond favorably.

Tompar said MRII is just complying with the directive of DENR to work with the hotel operators. Besides, building of the proper waste water facility need not require huge investment, “only very minimal.”

In an interview with HRRAC president Carlo Suarez, he said that while the group is willing to sit down with MRII, most hotels or resorts however, already have their accredited supplier or they have own wastewater treatment facility. Most are already compliant.

Last year, Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has warned the island of Panglao in Bohol, to hasten the implementation of environmental compliance among resorts and restaurant operators.

Panglao is one of the hottest tourism destinations being closely monitored by the DOT following the Boracay rehabilitation last year.

“We will be making Boracay as a model for sustainable tourism and that tourism establishments should be 100 percent compliant to environmental laws,” Puyat said.

On the other hand, Tompar said MRII has to push the implementation of the law, as the company was made to commit for its implementation as a water concessionaire of these two islands.