Puerto Princesa starts drive to reverse bay pollution

MANILA, Philippines — Palawan’s capital city has begun efforts to reverse the damage brought about by pollution in Puerto Princesa Bay.

The city government entered into a partnership last Sept. 27 with Ecosystem Technologies International Inc. and JCA 1221 Holdings Inc. to undertake a septage, sewerage and sanitation project.

The project stemmed from an unsolicited proposal by Ecosystem and was awarded after the firm complied with all legal requirements.

Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucilo Bayron said the project is in response to his desire for a lasting solution to the bay’s water pollution crisis.

The project is reportedly the first facility that will have a combined septage and sewerage system under a joint venture framework between the private sector and a local government unit, he said. 

The facility will be constructed at Puerto Princesa’s Baywalk.

The technology is based on Ecosystem’s proprietary sequence bioreactor, a technology acknowledged by the Department of Science and Technology in the 2018 Technology Fair as a viable solution for water security and sanitation.

The technology is in its third generation, and has been deployed by Ecosystem in over 600 projects in property development as well as industrial sectors in the country.

Bayron noted that the quality of the effluent – the liquid waste or sewage discharged into a body of water – will be fit for reuse, such as for watering plants at the city’s Baywalk and for firefighting.

A learning center will be constructed on the treatment plant grounds to help educate the public on protecting water resources and the environment.

“This makes the treatment plant not only a means to rescue and preserve natural tourist features of Puerto Princesa, but also become a valuable tourist destination itself,” Bayron said.