INSPECTION. Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan (rightmost) together with CDC Chairman Atty. Edgardo Pamintuan (2nd from left), Clark Water Corporation (CWC) President and CEO Virgilio Rivera, Jr. (3rd from left), and CWC Market Sector Lead for Water, Prime Infra Melvin John Tan (leftmost) inspected the commencement of the siphoning activity and desludging works at the existing Anaerobic and Facultative Ponds in Clark Freeport Zone. (Contributed photo/R. Mamauag)
CLARK FREEPORT – As a preliminary step on this Freeport’s compliance to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Department Administrative Order 2016-08, a desludging and siphoning process on the existing ponds of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) here was commenced last Thursday, March 25, 2021.
The Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Clark Water Corporation (CWC) have put into motion the said activity that serves as an initial stage on the future improvement of the STP in this Freeport. This improvement project is also part of the response of CDC and CWC in adhering to the DENR’s DAO 2016-08.
The sludge removal project on the Anaerobic and Facultative Ponds of the STP is correspondingly part of the demands of DENR- Environmental Management Bureau Region 3 to issue and renew CWC’s discharge permit.
In a recent meeting with CDC Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan and CDC President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan, EMB Region 3 Director William Trajeco mentioned that their office wishes to see inceptive ground works to mobilize CWC’s compliance. However, RD Trajeco apparently did not take the event with utmost importance for he was a ‘no-show’ during the activity.
Gaerlan underscored the importance of the said event — which should have been attended by the Regional Director — for this preliminary move signals a significant action on the part of CWC, and the state-owned firm to meet all the instructions and requirements of the EMB R3.
The desludging works was also initiated due to the ultimatum given by EMB R3 insinuating that a cease-and-desist order (CDO) will be issued by their office if CWC does not start with the initial steps.
Recently, CDC hosted a townhall meeting attended by representatives of CWC and officers of Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA). In the said meeting, the state-owned corporation presented an alternative and cost-effective technology that will guarantee compliance to DAO 2016-08 and will be agreeable to all stakeholders in this Freeport.
This technology is a hybrid wastewater treatment system that incorporates microbe (bio) remediation and reed bed technology. It is a system designed to be environmentally friendly with low maintenance cost, and certified by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as a green technology.
It would not require major construction works and estimated to only take 4-months project timeline for full adaption and it is a modular and portable design patented in various countries such as the US, China, Indonesia, Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Korea among others.
