DENR ordered drainage outfall closure - Canda

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Nestor Canda categorically clarified it was his agency that ordered the closure of the San Jose Street drainage outfall in Tagbilaran City.

District Engr. Celestino Adlaon of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-I) confirmed the statement of the Bohol head of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR).

Both officials put the record straight in the wake of media statements of Mayor Dan Lim that Rep. Edgar Chatto ordered the closure.

Canda and Adlaon clarified in separate radio interviews that the First District solon "has no involvement" in the non-opening of the outfall until the illegal sewerage connections to the CPG Avenue main drainage canal are cut.

Another "must" condition to the use of the outfall is the establishment of a water treatment facility, a commitment unfulfilled by city hall up to date, the environment and highways officials said.

The DENR Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Bohol then headed by Canda had long recommended in his June 14, 2007 inspection report to the EMB Regional Office not to open the outfall for environmental reasons.

The illegal tappings were aleady known then but have not been cut until now by either the Korean contractor, Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd., DPWH or city government.

An existing city ordinance prohibits the connection of sewer lines to the new CPG Avenue drainage, which is designed as a storm/rainwater drainage.

Bonoan stressed city hall's responsibility in the sewerage problem in Tagbilaran City, even citing the local government unit's police power against violations to what it prohibits.

Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera and the provincial board members agreed on the observation that city hall has its responsibility for the drainage problem in the city.

This was made clear when the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved a joint committee recommendation "for the city government to actively participate with the contractor in finding immediate solution on illegal tapping."

The recommendation was jointly made by the committees on natural resources and environmental protection, health, and public works respectively chaired by Board Members Alfonso Damalerio II, Cesar Tomas Lopez and Jose Veloso.

It was approved in the session of the provincial board presided by the vice governor.
Over and above the illegal connections, the major concern is the construction of the water treatment facility because without it the outfall cannot still operate, said the DPWH undersecretary.

Local highways and environment officials confirmed Bonoan's statement on the city mayor's promise in the coordination meeting to provide the water treatment processor.

The outfall was once opened with DENR clearance but later closed on instruction and reminder from the DENR thru the PENRO and EMB.

It occurred when the DPWH dug the three-meter long gap from the outfall to the drainage canal across the CPG Avenue for the complete construction of the reinforced concrete box culverts.

The inlet outfall was thereafter closed as Canda, in a letter to Adlaon dated March 24, this year, reminded the highways men "not to allow and let the drainage operate unless sewer discharges are closed."

Bonoan assured of a DPWH coordination with the contractor and city hall to unplug the sewerage connections illegally tapped by establishments and residences to the new drainage.

Tagbilaranons are awaiting the immediate action of Hanjin, city hall and DPWH on the prohibited tappings which, according to Bonoan, are a deviation of the drainage design if consented by the contractor while drainage works were on-going then.

In a meeting at capitol, Executive Director Jovenal Edquilag of the Maribojoc Bay Environmental Management Office (MBEMO) supported the urgency of the water treatment plant.

He was alarmed by leakages of domestic and industrial discharges noted in the sea vicinity of the outfall exit that caused algal bloom altering water temperature and biochemical oxygen demand in the Tagbilaran seawater, part of the Maribojoc Bay.

New EMB-Bohol head Rosalina Gaterin said DENR is merely consistent in not allowing outfall operation unless the CPG drainage illegal tappings are cut and water treatment plant is built.

In the same capitol meeting, Engr. Greta Mende of the Provincial Engineering Office echoed the call for action in soonest possible time. Mende is the Bohol president of the Philippine Society of Civil Engineers.