SPM DE GUZMAN CALLS FOR PROPER WASTE DISPOSAL ON FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS

By:  Jane T. Flores |  Photo By: GPC-SP |  Date: April 11, 2019

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Before she delivered her privilege speech on April 11, 2019, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member (SPM) Annabelle S. De Guzman conducted an ocular inspection on identified food establishments that stemmed from various complaints that reached her office and presented her findings in her speech.

She mentioned in her speech that there are popular food establishments in the province which do not have their own sewage treatment facilities and just let their waste water flow into the canals along the national highway that are supposedly for rainwater. She explained that “sebo” or used oils from food establishments, as it accumulated on canal floors, are hardened like cement and are deposited into the waterways in canals causing clogging during rainy seasons.

She stressed in her speech that food establishments should stop discharging their wastewater into the canals and that they should put up their own sewage treatment plants and for “carinderias” to have their own septic tank for waste water following specifications stated in local ordinances. She also requested all concerned authorities to conduct a massive ocular inspection of all drainage systems of all food establishments including “carenderias” that are located along the national highway the soonest possible time so that appropriate actions would be undertaken before the onset of the rainy season.

She stressed that if these food establishments are found to have committed violations, they should be penalized as provided in the law. She emphasized that these food establishments should also be morally and environmentally responsible.

She commended some Local Government Units (LGUs) that are conducting annual dredging of canals as proactive actions to prevent flooding during the rainy season and encouraged other LGUs to practice the same.

A copy of her speech and the corresponding resolution will be forwarded to concerned offices and agencies for their appropriate action. “I will not stop until I see our roads that include the canals free from the waste of food establishments and that it shall only be used as water for rainwater,” she exclaimed in her speech.

The Provincial Environmental and Management Code provides that no sewerage dangerous to the public health, safety and general welfare shall be discharged into any public sewer system, and natural waterway of drainage channel. All sewerage disposal shall comply with the pertinent rules and regulations promulgated by the National Pollution Control Commission. The Department of Public Works and Highways mentioned over and over again that the canals constructed alongside the widened portion of the national highway are specifically for rainwater only.

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