The Dumaguete Septage treatment facility in Barangay Camanjac is vying for the Galing Pook environment awards this year.

City Planning and Development officer Josephine Antonio said Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria and Dumaguete City Water District manager Esperatu Dicen will present the project to the GP panel of judges in Manila next week.

Antonio said she is optimistic that the treatment facility will land among the top 20 finalists, being the first septage facility in the country to be funded by the local government unit in a joint venture with the water district, pursuant to a city ordinance.

Under the ordinance, an additional P2 per cubic meter of water consumption is collected from consumers for use in the operation of the facility that is manned by the City Septage Management Authority.

The GP Awards was launched in October 21, 1993 as a pioneering program that searches and recognizes innovative practices by local government units. LGU finalists with outstanding initiatives are carefully selected and winners conferred by the President of the Philippines.

Winning programs or projects become models of good governance promoted for adoption in other communities. At least 230 programs of 152 LGUs were awarded the Galing Pook since its inception.*JG

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