The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday urged the establishment owners during a technical conference to help protect Puerto Princesa Bay by ensuring that wastewater are treated as mandated by law.
Speaking before restaurant, hotel and resort owners, Leonora Mansueto, technical staff of EMB-Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) in Palawan, reminded those who are directly discharging wastewater to water bodies should secure Discharge Permit from their office and ensure that the result of their water analysis should be within acceptable environmental standards so that it will not harm Puerto Princesa Bay and the environment.
“Ito ay proteksyon para sa ating mga katubigan kaya ni-require ang mga establishments na nagtapon ng wastewater to secure discharge permit from the DENR. Ni require kayo na mag apply ng discharge permit at nung water analysis. Dapat lahat ng resulta ay within the standards. Kung hindi tayo pumapasa nyan ay huwag tayong magtatapon ng wastewater sa water body o sa lupa man,” said Mansueto.
Puerto Princesa Bay is officially classified as Class SB. Honda Bay, on the other hand, is proposed to be classified as Class SB but its result has not yet been released. Class SB is considered as fishery water, tourist zones and recreational water which is Intended for primary contact recreation such as skin diving, swimming.
Since Puerto Princesa Bay is classified as Class SB water body, its water quality should be maintained.
Mansueto further explained that in case, the result of the water analysis of the wastewater of an establishment owner, they will be given a chance to fix its deficiency until such time that the result will be within the standards of the DENR.
“Bibigyan ka ng office ng pagkakataon na gagawa ng compliance plan. Kaya gagawan nyo ng paraan. Kailangan natin na may gawin, baka marumi dahil kailangan nating maglinis at maari ring lalapit kayo sa DOST (Department of Science and Technology) kasi sila yung magbibigay ng technology,” she said.
Belly Cabiso, staff of the solid waste management division of the DENR Central Office, on her part said that non-segregation of food and kitchen wastes from the wastewater will cause the malfunction of the existing treatment facility of the establishment. Mixing kitchen and food waste to the wastewater will produce foul odor that might affect the operations of an establishment like hotel and restaurant.
“Start the basic principle in waste management which is segregation. This is very basic. Kaya pagsabihan nyo ang mga dishwashers nyo na ihiwalay ang mga tiring pagkain, at hindi yung e buhos lang kasi mag suffer ang treatment facility. Kayo pa rin ang mag suffer kasi pag nabara sya kailangan nyo na naman ng heater at ito ay additional cost,” she said.
She reminded that Puerto Princesa Bay being classified as class SB, all establishment owners should be more conscious and aware that their contaminated wastewater might affect the water quality of the bay. She urged establishment owners to help protect the city’s image as tourism destination.
“Magtulungan tayo para Puerto Princesa will retain its image, mananatili ang pagkakakilala sa kanya na pinupuntahan ng mga turista,” Cabiso said.