What the El Nido municipal government needs to do is strictly implement the “no STP connection, no business permit” policy to address the town’s water sanitation problem, a water quality management expert said.
Engr. Ann Michelle Cardenas, who designed the sewage treatment plant (STP), said the LGU must enforce ordinances already in place to resolve the issue. She noted that the policy requiring STP connections before business permits are granted was enacted even before the facility became operational.
“Yun ang hindi napapatupad kung kaya hanggang ngayon ay meron pa ring 70% na wastewater na hindi nati-treat, which is the number 1 contributory sa water sanitation problem ng El Nido,” she added.
In a presentation before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday, August 19, Cardenas said only 33%, or 500 out of 1,500 registered business establishments in the poblacion barangays of Maligaya, Masagana, Buena Suerte, and Corong-corong are connected to the system.
She explained that businesses continue to question the cost of STP connection despite rates being much lower than in other places.
“We always compare the rates of El Nido and other STP like sa Boracay. Ang Boracay is ₱1,200 per room per month while ang sa kanila is only ₱419 so ano ang kinu-question nila about the rates,” she noted.
“Dini-deflect lang naman nila doon sa issues diniscuss ko kanina. Dapat kasi, walang makalusot. Sa renewal pa lang, automatic di ba? Na hindi bibigyan ng business permit kung hindi naka-connect,” she added.
She also recommended that the government subsidize the construction of septic tanks for 487 households to enable their connection to the STP.
“Kasi septic tank talaga yung problema sa mga households, i-subsidize na lang natin yung septic tanks, mag-provide tayo ng septic tanks and connections sa STP. Estimated nasa ₱44 million,” she said.
“May ibang (household) na wala talaga[ng] (septic tank) so lalagyan. Kung meron man, defective – yung bottomless so good as wala ring septic tank yun, panibago rin,” she added.
On proposals to suspend new business applications, Cardenas said enforcement of the ordinance should come first.
“Ito yung pinaka-unang gawin natin kasi what’s the use of moratorium kung hindi natin nire-resolve yung existing (problem). May moratorium pero walang enforcement ng mandatory connection ay nandoon pa rin yung sanitation problem. Responsibility ng LGU na i-ensure na lahat ng binibigyan nila ng business permits ay ayon doon sa policy na sila rin ang gumawa which is yung sanitation ordinance, sila rin ang nagvi-violate,” she emphasized.
“The existing STP is already in place. All we have to do is connect and it will only take two months. If we all decide and unite na yun ang problema, yun ang sosolusyonan natin together – provincial govenment and LGU, pagtulungan i-connect, in two months, yung remaining 75 percent waste water and ma-treat natin, resolved yan automatically, hindi na kailangan patagalin ng ilang years,” she said.
