Along Bulacao River 100 households lack septic tanks

CEBU, Philippines — Over 100 households living along the 11-kilometer Bulacao River in Cebu City have no septic tanks and their wastes are directly thrown into the waterway, an environmental officer said.

It was found out during the profiling conducted by the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).

CENRO Chief Ma. Nida Cabrera said her office is yet to complete the profiling of residents living along the three-meter easement zone of the riverbanks of Bulacao and Lahug.

The profiling aims to assess both sources of waste and best course of action.

City Ordinance No. 2398 or the Septage Management Ordinance prohibits the construction of residential, commercial, industrial or institutional buildings without toilet facilities.

Violators will be fined P1,000 while the succeeding offenses will cost them P3,000 and P5,000, for second and third offenses, respectively.

Violators may also face an imprisonment of not less than one month or up to six months.

Cabrera said the city will provide septic tanks to residents to ensure that wastewater will not be thrown into the rivers.

“Based on water tests, the downstream portions of the rivers were found to have a high level of coliform.  It is important for us to take urgent action,” she said.

She said her office has started canvassing the design and amount of a septic tank, which would cost the city government P250,000 each.

The tank can be used by three families, she added.

“Will present to the mayor the report about households without septic tanks,” she said.

Cabrera said she will ask the executive department to use the P12 million budget in purchasing septic tanks.

Last year, the city’s septage management board collected P12 million from the registration and accreditation of the septic haulers and other entities.

Moreover, thousands of volunteers are set to conduct a cleanup drive along the Guadalupe River on Saturday.

After the cleanup, CENRO will start conducting a profiling.

CENRO and other stakeholders conducted cleanup operations along the Bulacao River and the 17-kilometer Lahug River on February 23 and March 9, respectively. (FREEMAN)