SIQUIJOR, Siquijor (PIA) — The provincial government recently broke ground for the construction of a waste treatment plant here.
Gov. Jake Vincent S. Villa, together with Vice Gov. Mei Ling Quezon, led the ground-breaking ceremony.
The project is one of the priority projects of the provincial government that aims to improve waste management as Siquijor continues to grow and attract more tourists.
“The main purpose of constructing this structure is to treat waste materials,” said provincial engineer Engr. Jaime Bongbong.
Bongbong said this is one way of preventing crystal clear sea water from becoming contaminated and polluted.
Septage treatment plant
The treatment plant has an estimated cost of P24.96 million that will come from the 2022 Development Fund of the province.
The project site is located at Cang-adieng, Siquijor, Siquijor with a total area of 400 square meters.
It is planned as a modern containerized septage facility to be constructed by Presidium Controls and Industrial Technology Corp.
The project is expected to be fully operational by Dec. 25.
Community response
Cyril C. Honculada, 42, and a business owner of Swakihan Guest House in San Juan town, said that the project would bring a positive change particularly for local business owners.
“Maayo nuon na naa’y kaugalingon na septage treatment sa Siquijor kay dili ra man usa na business ang mo benefit ana,” Honculada said.
(It is good that we have our own septage treatment in Siquijor because not only one business will benefit from it.)
San Juan Vice Mayor Rubilyn M. Ragay said the project offers significant support to investors and resort owners in proper waste disposal.
“Malipayon kaayo mi labi na ang lungsod sa San Juan aduna ta uy daghan na mga resorts, mga restaurants. Dako kaayo ni ug tabang sa atong mga investors, sa atoang mga resort owners nga kini ma realize na puhon diri sa atoang isla para makasave sila and para pud ma properly dispose ng atong mga water waste,” Ragay said.
(We are very happy especially in the municipality of San Juan where we have many resorts and restaurants. This is a great help to our investors and resort owners once it is realized here in our island so that they can save and dispose of water waste properly.)
For Ruby G. Bomediano, 32, manager of Elnora Del Mar Traveller’s Inn in San Juan, the treatment plant will cut costs and will make it easier for them to comply with regulations.
“Mas okay na naa ta’y septage treatment aron dili nami mo gasto. Mukuha pa mi’g permit. Additional charges pa kay mo request pa, e travel pa,” said Bomediano.
(It is better that we have a septage treatment so that we do not have to pay for additional costs. We have to get a permit and there are additional charges because we need to request and pay for the travel as well.)
Bomediano said she is grateful for its construction as it will alleviate concerns on septage management.
“Thankful mi nga naa na diay. Dili na hassle ba. Wala uy septage treatment diri, so, dili mi kapa treat jud sa among septic tank,” she said.
(We are thankful that the project is there. It is no longer a hassle for us. There is no septage treatment here, so we cannot treat our septic tank.)
Bomediano hopes the treatment plant will sustain its operations and can cater to the entire province.
“Akoang paglaum is ma sustain na sya, ma cater tanan, dili lamang businesses, the whole province,” she said.
(My hope is that it will be sustainable and will be able cater to everyone, not just for businesses but the whole province.)
Sustainable tourism
During the groundbreaking ceremony, the governor said in his message that this project will also provide other benefits aside from being a septage treatment plant.
“Kani atong septage treatment plant, not only mo produce ni sya ug fertilizer, but mo produce pud ni ug gas to electricity and mo produce pud sya ug biogas,” said Villa.
(This septage treatment plant will not only produce fertilizer but also convert gas into electricity and produce biogas),” he said.
The vice governor also emphasized that the project is aligned with the advocacy for sustainable tourism.
“Nakita gud pud nato nga isa gyud na sya sa panginahanglanon kay (we can see that this is an important need because) we are advocating for sustainable tourism. We want development but we want it not to destroy the environment because we are stewards of our province,” she said. (RAC/PIA7 with reports from Marifel Faith S. Hammond)
