DVMF fund eyed to improve city’s septage facility

CEBU, Philippines- The Cebu City Septage Management Board wants to utilize the P5 million fund of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries to improve the city’s Septage Treatment Plant at the North Reclamation Area.

This, after DVMF head Dr. Pilar Romero proposed to the Office of the Mayor to improve the existing STP of the city to treat abattoir wastes and wastewater rather than constructing a new facility. The existing STP only treats septic wastes.

“The DVMF has an allocation of P5 million that could be utilized for wastewater treatment which could be optimized by re-aligning it for use by CCSMB to improve the current setup that will allow it to treat wastewater,” read CCSMB’s resolution.

CCSMB asked both the Office of the Mayor and the City Council to realign the amount for the improvement of the STP, capacitating its function to treat wastewater aside from septic wastes.

On February 6, 2015, Romero sent a communication to Mayor Michael Rama proposing the improvement of the STP rather than constructing new facility at the city’s abattoir considering that they have a plan to transfer it to other location within the next three to five years. Rama referred the letter of Romero to CCSMB.

CCSMB is mandated to administer and coordinate the implementation of the city’s septage management program.

“In order to carry out its mandate, the CCSMB is currently overseeing the operation of the City of Cebu’s Septage Treatment Plant located at the North Reclamation Area, made possible through the assistance of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and AMCON, Inc. and the sister city cooperation with Yokohama City, Japan,” the resolution read.

The City Council has deliberated the resolution submitted by CCSMB.

City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance, asked CCSMB to get a formal approval from DVMF head and the Office of the Mayor before it will approve the realignment of the budget. (FREEMAN)