Teddy Ouano pushes for septage management

CEBU, Philippines - A Provincial Board member is pushing for the establishment of a Septage Management Program in Cebu for proper collection and disposal of septage from households and establishments.

Board Member Thadeo Ouano said a local government unit can create its own septage treatment plant or by contracting accredited private entities.

“The Septage Management Program that must be implemented should be designed to collect septage from septic tanks of households and establishments, transport it using trucks, treat the septage at the treatment plants and finally dispose only the resulting clean water and bio-solids,” he said.

In a resolution, which will be discussed during the PB regular session on Monday, Ouano cited a study by the Department of Health-7 that there is no accredited septage treatment facility in Cebu.

“The current practice now shows that due to lack of proper septage management program, septic tanks are not properly maintained,” he said.

Ouano said the lack of proper sewage treatment and maintenance of septic tanks led to high levels of disease, death, economic losses and environmental damage.

He said another problem is that septage collected is dumped illegally without proper treatment.

“While other septic tank haulers directly dumped the septage to our rivers and seas, unless we have a proper treatment facility these problems on septage disposal will always continue,” he said.

Ouano said one way of addressing the problem is through cooperation from all LGUs in Cebu.

“We should consider the importance of looking after the province’s future, especially that of our drinking water; we should continue to strive hard to make it clean through compliance with advanced levels of environmental standards,” he said.

The board member said such standards should be adopted by cities and municipalities in the province as part of programs protecting the environment. (FREEMAN)