The city government is hopeful of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority’s (TIEZA) commitment to help in the rehabilitation of the sewerage treatment plant (STP), following its submission of an initial funding request for the purpose.

“We are confident that the TIEZA will help us with the project as personally committed by GM (General Manager) Mark Lapid in his visit this year. We have already submitted the request for the initial funding of PHP500 million as instructed,” said Mayor Benjamin Magalong in an interview on Wednesday.

The entire project would cost more than PHP1 billion that will fund the new sewerage treatment plant, including the upgrading and rehabilitation of the sewerage network leading to the Balili Catchment Area.

The project is designed to meet the city’s growing population demand by year 2035 and comply with stricter environmental requirements.

There are currently 10,415 households connected to the old STP but the city is hoping to increase to 35,991 by 2035 as the city is projected to increase population — residents, transient occupants, tourists and same-day visitors by 460,000.

The continued operation of the city’s aging STP under strained capacity poses a direct threat to local water systems as untreated or partially treated wastewater may still be discharged into nearby rivers and drainage channels.

The Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) cautioned the city for the fecal coliform levels of Balili River and Bued River caused by the STP’s limited capacity and other human activities.

Operating since 1986, the facility was designed to treat 8,600 cubic meters of wastewater per day but its current inflow has already surpassed the capacity due to increasing wastewater generation over the years.

Compounding this issue, damaged sewer lines have resulted in leakage that further contaminates surrounding areas, aggravating the city’s environmental challenges.

Magalong said they are awaiting a favorable response from the TIEZA regarding its request for funding assistance for the project.

Earlier interview with Mark Lapid, TIEZA GM and Chief Operating Officer said that they have assisted a similar project for Coron Palawan.

“We entered the picture because the DENR will shutdown the place from tourists and we did not like that. Same holds true for Baguio, we cannot allow its closure,” he said.

Prior to the pandemic, the DENR has warned the city government for causing water pollution but with plans in place, the agency withheld its order to fine the city.

However, with the city government unable to obtain a foreign fund for the project plan to be pursued, it is again facing to pay fines of PHP10,000 per day or PHP3.65 million annually to as much as PHP200,000 per day or PHP73 million annually depending on the severity of violations which could drain the city’s coffers and divert funds away from other essential services. (PNA)