Quick service restos urged to manage wastewater

MANILA, Philippines - Secretary for Environmental Protection and concurrent Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) head Neric Acosta has warned quick service restaurants operating in the Calabarzon region and Metro Manila to follow the rules on wastewater treatment provided under the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, which he principally authored.

If wastewater management among restaurants is not properly imposed, Acosta said it would cause severe pollution to Laguna de Bay and may pose a danger to food security.

The lake serves as the source of 70 percent of fish supply in Metro Manila. Worse, fish may be poisoned which in turn may poison consumers.

This developed as Acosta announced the signing of an agreement between the LLDA and Golden Arches Corp., owner of the McDonald’s franchise in the country, for the company’s phased-in installation of wastewater treatment facilities in its branches within the Laguna de Bay region.

Acosta said McDonald’s would install water treatment facilities in 45 company-owned branches in the region from July this year to December 2014.

In turn, Acosta committed to McDonald’s that the LLDA would formulate a system of incentives to encourage compliance with the effluent standards of the Clean Water Act (Republic Act 9275) prescribed for quick service restaurants.

The LLDA would also extend all reasonable assistance to the company to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

Acosta said the LLDA is continuously seeking the private sector’s commitment, especially quick service restaurants, to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act and help in preserving and rehabilitating the Laguna de Bay region.

“The LLDA recognizes the indispensable role of the private sector in carrying out its mandate for the promotion of the sustainable resilience and development of the lake basin and the Laguna de Bay region,” he added.