The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on third and final reading Wednesday the Septage Management Ordinance of Bacolod City.

The ordinance, authored by Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez and co-authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino, said one of the main sources of water pollution is largely untreated sewage, and human, commercial, industrial and other organic wastes.

It said untreated wastewater contributes to the increased transmission of water-borne diseases and making water unfit for human consumption and for other uses. Groundwater is the main potable water source in the city.

The ordinance requires all houses/buildings to have an approved excreta disposal system for the primary treatment of domestic sewage.

It said the City of Bacolod should appropriate the necessary land, including, the required rights-of-way/road access to the land for the construction of the septage treatment facilities.

Owners of a non-complying establishment or household, who fail to comply with the provisions of the ordinance and the prohibited acts under Republic Act 9275 as provided by the Local Government Code, must pay the fines per violation set in the ordinance in lieu of prosecution, it said.

Meanwhile, the SP also passed the groundwater protection ordinance and clean energy ordinance of Lopez on second and first reading, respectively, a press release from City Hall said.

Several sectors have favorably commended the city’s environmental thrust topped by the “Plastic Regulation Ordinance” authored by Councilor Em Ang which takes effect on November 23, it said.

The sewer jet acquired by the city from the U.S. with the support of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson and the city’s councilmen, meanwhile, is being operated under the management of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office headed by Joe Marie Vargas and is actively used in clearing the city’s drainages of wastes that may cause the clogging of the waterways, the release added.*CGS

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