Status of Water Pollution in the Philippines

Blogger's Note: Wastewater is treated as such in the Philippines: waste. We always hear about new waterworks system development. Remember that Metro Manila was divided between Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services. Water districts are sprouting in the provinces. Yet little is known about wastewater treatment system. I hope this article can somehow enlightened this murky issue (pun intended).

Disturbing facts about water pollution
By Amada T. ValinoThe Philippine STAR 03/13/2005

The buzz words nowadays seem to be environmental degradation, pollution, global warming, Kyoto Protocol, etc. etc. Equally disturbing is water pollution or wastewater in the Philippines as outlined by Lisa Kircher Lumbao, project manager of the USAID-funded LINAW project.

"Untreated wastewater spreads disease-causing bacteria and viruses, making water unfit for drinking and recreational use, threatening biodiversity, and deteriorating overall quality of life. Water-related health outbreaks including deaths are going up. However, awareness regarding the need for improved sanitation and water pollution control is very low." Lumbao cited grim statistics from a recent World Bank report on water quality:

"Annual economic losses caused by water pollution are estimated at P67 billion. These include P3 billion for health, P17 billion for fisheries production and P47 billion for tourism." Since only 6 out of 115 Philippine cities have sewerage systems, 31 percent of all reported illness are caused by water-born sources. Nearly 22.2 million metric tons of organic pollution are produced annually by domestic (48%), agricultural (37%) and industrial (15%) sectors; up to 58% of groundwater for drinking is contaminated with coliform bacteria, according to the report. "More than 90% of the sewage generated is not disposed or treated in an environmentally acceptable manner. Septic tanks alone are not environmentally acceptable. In Asian cities, Metro Manila ranks second to the lowest in providing piped sewerage system. Only 7% of the population of Metro Manila is connected to a piped sewerage system and only a few households have acceptable effluent from their septic tanks."

Aware of these problems, the Senate and the House of Representatives enacted Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, an act providing for a comprehensive water quality management and for other purposes. Under this act, "the State shall pursue a policy of economic growth in a manner consistent with the protection, preservation and revival of the quality of our fresh, brackish and marine waters.

To achieve this end, the framework for sustainable development shall be pursued. In response to the Clean Water Act, the Local Initiatives for Affordable Wastewater Treatment Project or LINAW has come up with an Integrated Wastewater and Septage Management Program. According to Engineer Jay Y. Tecson, project coordinator, LINAW is a two-year project that aims to identify and develop solutions to wastewater pollution.

Under LINAW, four cities–Naga, Iloilo, Dumaguete and Muntinlupa–are pilot testing small-scale, low-cost treatment systems and developing plans and projects for longer-term solutions to their domestic wastewater challenges. Recognizing the impact of water pollution on the quality of life in urban areas, these four cities are taking a proactive role in developing innovative solutions to reduce pollution. Only recently, LINAW, in cooperative with the Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP), held a training seminar on "Operation and Maintenance of Low-cost Wastewater Treatment Systems" at the SEAMEO Innotech Regional Center in Quezon City. WEAP itself is committed to the preservation of water and the environment and is member of the Water Environment Federation in the United States.

Resource speakers included eminent technical experts such as Jay Tecson, Carlito Santos Jr., WEAP president; Dave Robbins R.S. of Arizona, Rico Ongcoy, Renato M. Labadan. Diosdado Doctor, Jose de Jesus, Ado Marinay, all of WEAP, and university professor Gerry Parco. LINAW is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with technical and coordination assistance by PADCO, Inc. in Manila.

The United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), a regional USAID program, is providing management support and opportunities for technical exchange with counterparts from Asia and the US.
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/business200503154501.htm

Local Initiatives for Affordable Wastewater (LINAW) Project

Contractor: PADCO, Inc.
Period Covered: October 2004 to September 2005
Mechanism: Task Order under SUM IQC

Domestic and industrial pollution caused by rapid urbanization and industrialization pose significant health risks and long-term economic consequences for the Philippines. According to the World Bank, only 6 out of 115 Philippine cities have sewerage systems, resulting in a high incidence of water-borne diseases responsible for over 30% of all reported illness from 1996-2000, and P2.3 billion a year in lost income. To address this enormous problem, the Philippine Congress has drafted new national pollution control legislation that requires local government units (LGUs) to play a central role in water quality management.

Recognizing the impact of water pollution on quality of life in urban areas, four Philippine LGUs are taking a proactive role in developing innovative solutions for reducing pollution.

Naga, Iloilo, Dumaguete, and Muntinlupa Cities are engaged in Local Initiatives for Affordable Wastewater Treatment (LINAW), a two-year project to identify and develop solutions to wastewater pollution. In particular, they are pilot testing small-scale, low-cost treatment systems and developing plans and projects for longer-term solutions to their domestic wastewater challenges. LINAW is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP).

Under LINAW, the four participating LGUs are developing strategic interventions and solutions based on a participatory action planning process where city officials and stakeholders work together to identify and develop priority projects. LINAW assists LGUs in this process through:

§ Targeted technical assistance, including project design and packaging support;
§ Site visits to learn about best practices;
§ Participatory planning workshops;
§ Information and resource materials on technology and financing options;
§ Public awareness campaigns ; and
§ Sharing project results in both local and national forums.

Operating under a two-track program, LINAW supports development of “rapid response” solutions that address immediate pollution problems through specific on-the-ground interventions. For the second track, LINAW addresses more significant wastewater challenges that require more comprehensive assistance in planning, project design, technology and financing solutions, project packaging, and outside funding.

For more information, please contact:

Daniel Moore Lisa Kircher Lumbao
Chief, Office of Energy and Environment Project Manager, LINAW
USAID, 8/F PNB Financial Center PADCO, Inc.
Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard Tel (632) 812-3932
Pasay City Fax (632) 813-0168
Tel (632) 552-9821 E-mail: lumbao@mozcom.com
Fax (632) 552-9997
E-mail: dmoore@usaid.gov I:/Onepager LINAW Aug. 2004