The Cebu City government signed a deed of usufruct with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District for the use of the city-owned property at the North Reclamation Area for a sewage treatment plant.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Metropolitan Water District (MCWD) is set to build a new septage water treatment plant (STP) at the North Reclamation Area (NRA).
It is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through a grant of P1 billion for the construction and the purchase of equipment for the project.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama signed the deed of usufruct with MCWD for the use of the city-owned property at the NRA, which currently houses the city’s outdated septage treatment facility.
MCWD said the new facility will increase the capacity of treatment of the site from the current 120 cubic meters of sludge per day to 550 cubic meters of sludge per day.
The new plant would also increase the sludge collection of MCWD from the current 8.1 percent of its franchise area to 100 percent of its franchise area.
The upcoming facility is even capable of accepting and treating sludge from non-MCWD consumers.
To prepare for the three-year construction of the facility, MCWD said they will rehabilitate the current septage facility, remove the sludge and fill it up with clean water.
“This project was conceived to address the storage of waste to water facilities in the Metro Cebu area which may impact health and sanitation, and contamination of our groundwater resources if wastewater is left untreated,” said Azukizawa Eigou, the JICA chief representative.
Eigou said with the increasing population in Metro Cebu, there is an impending need for a water treatment facility.
“This project will play an important role in contributing to Mega Cebu’s vision of 50 and 90 percent population served with appropriate wastewater management in 2030 and 2050, respectively,” said Eigou.
MCWD General Manager Stephen Yee said this project is a great opportunity for the water district to expand its services in terms of septage treatment.
He said the project is a dream come true for the water district.
“I am confident that with this level of cooperation, future projects will be realized,” said Yee.
Mayor Rama expressed gratitude to JICA for the grant as the project is long overdue.
He said the city government will extend as much assistance it can give to the construction of the facility. /rcg
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