Residents discharging excrement, septage into river, waterways warned

Mayor Benjamin Magalong warned residents discharging excrement and septic tank waste materials into the river and other waterways saying they are culpable for violation of environmental laws.

The mayor said the Baguio City Police Office under P Col. Francisco Bulwayan Jr. had been tasked to investigate, monitor and apprehend violators.

The City Environment and Parks Management Office has said a total of 370 households and establishments had been caught illegally discharging wastewater and other discards like grease and used oil into the city’s waterways in 2022.

Assistant City Environment and Parks Management Officer Marivic Empizo said all of them were issued notices of violations and were subjected to follow-through monitoring.

Violators included households and establishments with leaking or overflowing septic tanks.  Others were illegal piggeries directly discharging wastewater to the sewer or canals and establishments that dump grease and used oil into the sewer.

CEPMO Head Atty. Rhenan Diwas said these are all in violation of the city’s Environment Code, Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act, Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Water Act and Republic Act 9904 or the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners Associations.  Dumping of grease and used oil in the city’s storm drains meanwhile constitutes violation of Republic Act 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990. – Aileen P. Refuerzo