CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Millions of households nationwide face serious health risks due to polluted water supply and poor waste disposal management.
Thus, warned Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali as he challenged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to effectively implement RA 9275 (Clean Water Act of 2004).
Umali called attention to what he described as the silent crisis facing not only Central Luzon but the entire country as well over the weak implementation of the law in an interview with local news channel CLTV-36 at the sidelines of a recent meeting of the Regional Development Council Region 3 here.
The Clean Water Act is the country’s primary legal framework for protecting, preserving, and reviving its water bodies from land-based pollution. The law treats water quality management as a shared national responsibility and shifts the focus from simply cleaning up pollution to preventing it at the source.
Umali, chair of the RDC 3 infrastructure development committee, challenged the DENR to conduct an investigation on the compliance of local government units and private septage operators on the proper disposal of septic wastes generated by households and business establishments.
Umali said his attention was called to a proposal related to the disposal of untreated water from septage facilities, noting that “LGUs and water districts have not been fully compliant as far as the delivery of services to their constituents are concerned.”
“What is alarming here is we do not know where and how septic wastes are disposed of,” the governor pointed out as he warned that the present situation can result to “more sickness and more problems in the communities.”
According to reports, septic waste in two areas in Central Luzon – Angeles City and Apalit, Pampanga – is no longer being collected after both local governments suspended the collection of septage/environmental fees paid by consumers to private concessionaires.
The suspension was the first executive order signed by Angeles City Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II after taking office last year. This was followed by the signing by Apalit Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr. of Resolution No. 20 passed by the sangguniang bayan three months later. Photo: Screengrab from CLTV-36
