THE DEPARTMENT of Natural Resources (DENR) released its recent memorandum order, which detailed the guidelines on the installation or construction of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Boracay Island.
The Memorandum Order No. 2018-04—dated September 18 and signed by Secretary Roy Cimatu—states that hotels, resort, and similar establishments can now connect to Concessionaires, such as BoracayIsland Water Company, ordering the said Concessionaires to collect and treat the wastewater of their own respective clients.
The Memorandum directs the Concessionaires to issue certifications that their respective customers are either connected to the sewer line or have their own compliant individuals STPs. This certification will serve as a requirement for the hotel or establishment to operate.
As part of this directive, the Concessionairesare also asked to provide DENR with data on water billed volume and volume of wastewater received for treatment for monitoring and planning purposes.
In relation to this Order, DENR strictly requires all hotels and similar establishments along the White / Long beachfront with 40 rooms and above to establish or construct their own STPs that are fully operational with capability of full treatment for Class-SB effluent not later than October 28, 2018.
Hotels, which are unable to comply, will not be allowed to open and operate their business until they have established their own compliant STPs.
Other STP Requirements
All other hotels outside the White / Long beachfront with 50 rooms and above are ordered to establish or construct their own STPs that are fully operational with capability of full treatment for Class-SB effluent not later than November 30, 2018.
While the STP establishment is ongoing, these hotels are directed to connect to the existing sewer line or if not available, avail of the existing sewerage services of the concessionaires until completion of their compliant STPs.
These hotels, according to the Order, will be issued provisional Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) by EMB and may be allowed to operate upon the re-opening of the Boracay Island provided that the establishment of their STPs has commenced as of October 26, 2018.
The Memorandum further stated that hotels, which failed to comply with the STP requirement by November 30, 2018,would be ordered to stop operation and its provisional ECC cancelled. Such hotel will only be allowed to resume operation upon compliance of the STP requirement and securing of all necessary permits from EMB.
As for hotels and similar establishments along the White / Long beachfront with 39 rooms and below and those outside White/Long beachfront with 49 rooms and below, they are given the option to establish their own STPs that are fully operational with capability of full treatment Class SB effluent or connect to existing centralized sewer system.
But given this, the Memorandum required existing concessionaires to provide sewerage services to their respective clients in places where there are no existing sewer lines.
For hotels with their own individual STPs, they are requested to only discharge their treated effluents through the underground lines of their water providers for eventual proper disposal. The local government unit of Malay is said to provide the site of the needed communal STP facility.##
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