DPWH grants P150M for treatment plants of PG

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through the help of Congressman Doy Leachon has allocated 150 million pesos for the construction of modern waste water treatment plant facilities in Sabang and White Beach.

Mayor Rockey Ilagan said the construction of a plant in Sabang is now ongoing and will be followed by White Beach which will be also funded from a grant of the national government subsidy program for the implementation of sewerage management projects for first class municipalities like Puerto Galera.

Construction of the Sabang SWTP is now ongoing

Mayor Ilagan said they are very grateful to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar for announcing that Puerto Galera is already qualified for the subsidy which he said will pave the way for the lasting solution to the issue of uncontrolled sewage discharges into the sea.

The Mayor said that this projects will address the coliform contamination problem that was reported earlier by the DENR. The DENR even went to the extent of recommending the closure of the entire Sabang Beach and business district due to the coliform contamination which was about 100 times the tolerated level.

Mayor RDI reviewing the plans for the SWTP

The DPWH has already downloaded 100 million pesos for the Sabang project while 50 million pesos has been approved for the White Beach project after it qualified for 50 percent subsidy for the project capital expenditure (CAPEX) as it awaits for the submission of other documentary requirements such as local ordinance for sewerage management, feasibility study, local and environmental permits.

Under the plan, wastewater will be collected from all households and commercial establishments through a piping system and will be pumped to a sewerage treatment plant after which it will be treated before being discharge to the sea or reused.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Marlon Lopez said that the Sangguniang Bayan will soon be considering a proposed ordinance to set the guidelines for connecting to the sewerage treatment plant (STP). For commercial establishments, the connection to the STP shall be mandatory and shall be a pre-requisite in securing and renewal of the Mayor’s Permit and Business License.