Metro Cebu residents can expect a more efficient septage collection and treatment system after Japan International Cooperation Agency approved a grant of P827 million for a new septage treatment plant in Cebu City.

With Metropolitan Cebu Water District providing its counterpart of more than P200 million.

MCWD chairperson Lawyer Jose Daluz III told Daily Tribune that the agreement was signed on February 27,2023 between the Philippine government and JICA.

He said the MCWD counterpart funds will be used for on site development and customs duties and taxes for the equipments arriving from Japan.

JICA will select a construction firm and award the contract.

The new STP will expand MCWD’s septage collection and treatment program as it will address the shortage of wastewater management facilities in Cebu.

This was echoed by JICA chief representative Azukizawa Elgo during the signing ceremony.

MCWD already operates an existing STP in the town of Cordova since 2016. But it can only accommodate 120 cubic meters of sludge daily.

Once the new STP will be operational, it can process up to 430 cubic meters of sludge per day and it will increase its capacity to 550 cubic meters daily.

JICA will provide 35 vacuum trucks and four dump trucks for the project which will increase MCWD’s septage collection rate for consumers from 8.1 percent to 100 percent.

MCWD general manager Edgar Donoso said the timeline to its construction depends on JICA as the bidding will conducted in Japan.

The lack of STPs in Cebu has forced private desludgers to dispose of waste into the sea or rivers which contaminates water sources.

The new STP will be constructed on a property owned by the Cebu City Government in the North Reclamation Area. There is an existing septage treatment facility in the area and MCWD is in the process of procuring new equipment to upgrade the plant in compliance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources standards.