Capitol assures to solve jail wastewater problem

CEBU, Philippines -  By end of this month, the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) will be able to provide a permanent solution to their problem on water pollution.

Engineer Adolfo Quiroga, head of the Provincial Planning and Development Office of the Province of Cebu, said they are currently constructing two ponds to permanently solve the problem that was subject of complaint from nearby residents.

As reported earlier, the complaint was filed by parents of the pupils of the University of Cebu day care center located near the CPDRC and the Cebu City Jail.

In their complaint, the parents invoked the rights of their children to a healthy ecology, expressing concern over what they believe are “toxic wastes dumped by the jail facilities.”

Quiroga said the ponds, which are being constructed outside the CPDRC, will contain chlorine that will recycle the wastewater that would be used again by the facility.

The CPDRC will maintain the ponds.

Last June, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 gave the Cebu Provincial Government three months to check and clean the wastewater treatment facility of the CPDRC.

Quiroga said they gave an immediate solution to the DENR’s call by cleaning up the sewage treatment facility.

“We conducted an immediate solution while working for a permanent solution. Mao na ning ponds,” he told The FREEMAN.

In case there is another water overflow while construction of the ponds is ongoing, Quiroga said they have provided facilities called aerobic buffers that will prevent the water from leaking outside the jail.

“Nagbuhat mi ug laing treatment facility called aerobic buffer para sa mga hugaw na mu-overflow,” he said. “Through the aerobic buffer, ang mga hugaw na gikan sa septic tank i-process siya then after, ingadto sa duha ka-pond nya adto i-pump na sad para sa tanke o treatment facility nya naay chlorine para marecycle ug balik,” he explained.

Quiroga said with a single septic tank to accommodate the wastewater, the water would really overflow especially every 5 a.m. when inmates simultaneously take a bath and wash their clothes. — (FREEMAN)