City to penalize residents, establishments illegally discharging excrement, septage

The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) will strictly implement a “one-strike-policy” in the issuance of notice of violation (NOV) to residents and establishments illegally discharging excrement and septage into the open environment.

Once an NOV is issued, violators must pay the P5,000 administrative penalty and conduct necessary corrective measures within three days in lieu of any legal action to be undertaken by the city government.

Atty. Rhenan Diwas, CEPMO department head said households and establishments illegally discharging wastewater and other discards like grease and used oil into the city’s waterways including those with leaking or overflowing septic tanks violate environmental laws.

CEPMO records show 562 individuals have been issued NOV last year for violating City Ordinance No. 18, series of 2016 or the City Environmental Code.

However, only 376 paid their penalty and complied with the corrective measures.

Violations vary from discharge of liquid waste from private sewer lines and septic tanks, soil dumping of solid waste, burning of garbage or solid waste, hog-raising activities and discharge of animal waste in inland waterways among others.

“Any illegal discharge of septic tank or leaking septage will be penalized including overflowing pipes,” Diwas said.

Diwas explained that even kitchen and bathroom drains should be treated before discharged or septic tanked per the National Building Code.

The presence of grease deposits in drainage pipes is one of the determined causes of clogging of the water passageways that lead to flooding of streets as cooking oil deposits mixed with water, soil and waste materials solidify and form a compacted blockage that is difficult to dislodge. – JMPS