(Reprinted hereunder, in toto, is the privilege speech delivered by Board Member Ae Damalerio during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol last week which was the main topic of the City Mayor's Report editorial yesterday morning over Station DYRD entitled "In the Name of Politics")

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"Honorable Presiding Officer, distinguished colleagues, members of secretariat, ladies and gentlemen, I stand on a personal and collective privilege on a matter which I believe would need the urgent attention of this August Body - the Tagbilaran City drainage problem, which, with the onset of the rainy season, constitute a clear and present danger not only for the city but to the acknowledged eco-tourism capital of the country.

How do we address a looming health hazard? How de we explain to our guests that the eco-tourism capital could not solve a pesky drainage system? The answer to these questions simply justifies, but do not answer the problem. The answers actually stare us in the eye and is already being talked about, those concerned are simply mouthing their thoughts.

The populace demands not only verbal solutions but immediate and effective action, before a catastrophe happens.

Allow me to outline the problems:
1. A drainage system designed as a storm drain or rainwater drainage into the sea has now become septic tank of around forty (40) or so establishments;
2. The illegal connections into the drainage system are called illegal, because there is an ordinance declaring the connections as such;
3. It is not possible to put up a water treatment facility along San Jose Street, as this is too near to the shoreline if we should follow existing DENR guidelines, and that there is not space large enough to treat a sewage/rain water from the system;
4. Storm drains or rainwater drainage should not be mixed with sewage, as this would create problems and overload any well designed treatment plant, during the rainy season, or simply when it rains as the volume to be treated would exponentially increase.

Various solutions has been advanced most of which has created more problems than those outline above.

The national government through the efforts of Congressman Chatto and Governor Aumentado has already poured in Forty Three Million Pesos (P43,000 000.00) to the San Jose outfall, and it is now due for completion. To recall, the DPWH was reluctant in giving the amount, funds were released only after the City Mayor committed a waste water treatment facility.

If there was proper planning beforehand the treatment facility would have been finished simultaneously with the San Jose outfall. The fact is a treatment facility, aside from filtration system would not have been needed, if there were no illegal connections that fed sewage on the system.

The city has proposed the "Polluter's Fee", but this polluter's fee sends a wrong signal to the people, as it would mean that it would be okay to pollute as long as you pay.

Just the same, this does not solve the problem, it simply mitigates the circumstances.

The city consultant proposes that during heavy rains, the drainage may be opened, but then I believe that this is the worst thing that could be proposed. Because the sewage water would by this time be carrying a very nutritious mix of contaminated water into our pristine seas, allowing a rapid algal bloom as soon as the sun shines, creating more problems and becoming the precursor of the red tide which this province has not experienced in the past.

Kingdom Point or Mabaw Reef is a drive area comparable to Balicasag, it lies in the seas between Parola and Manga. This has been declared by the city as protected area to the protest of the DENR. This is the same water the city would now destroy by allowing the sewage into that outfall along Graham Avenue.

If the solution has been found, there is no clear direction yet of this time, as to what scheme or mode of implementation, what would be the implementation scheme; whether it would be a loan, build operate and transfer (BOT), a joint Venture Agreement, or a purely city-funded project, or none of the above.

Our Governor and Congressman Chatto has offered to assist the city in whatever it decides to do, including the sourcing of funds. The time of talk should now stop, instead, I propose to convene a group to include expert representatives from the city, the province, DENR, DPWH, a representative of business, and other stakeholders to discuss solutions and answer these questions:

1. What is the funding requirement and budgetary allocation of the agreed solution?
2. Where would the funds be sourced (from the City, Province or where)
3. What is the specific timetable
4. What do we do with the illegal connections? Would we allow them to continue?
5. Should we impose that they voluntarily cut their illegal connections with specified timeframe?
6. Did the City Mayor consider a technical study and consultations if the site in Graham Avenue, Cogon be viable, feasible and safe, considering that the methane emitted during sewage digestion, could, in the presence of heat, cause an explosion, and therefore, is dangerous most specially within a proximate distance of gasoline depot?

Looking forward into the future, the planned conversion of the Tagbilaran Airport into an industrial zone should make a sewage treatment plant a part of its plans, so as not to aggravate our current situation.

We are promoting the province as the leader in eco-friendly utilization of our natural resources, gifted by God with an abundance of beautiful formations and a rich biodiversity; but then, if we recklessly spoil these resources with our waste without regards to sustainability, we may end up as an environmental disaster, and lose our status as eco-tourism capital of the country. Thank you".

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