The Manila Water Services Inc. (Manila Water), World Bank and Marikina City yesterday launched the $4.69-million Olandes Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to clean up domestic wastewater from Marikina and Quezon City and help reduce pollution in the Marikina River.
The Olandes STP was financed through a loan from the WB’s Manila Third Sewerage Project (MTSP), which also finances Manila Water’s five major wastewater-treatment facilities in its concession area.
Through a $64-million loan from the MTSP, Manila Water will be able to complete three more STPs this year—in Poblacion, Makati; Pinagsama, Taguig; and Project 6, Quezon City. The MTSP’s biggest facility in Taguig Central is set for completion in 2012.
The MTSP aims to reduce pollution in Metro Manila waterways, including Manila Bay, as well as reduce health hazards caused by human exposure to sewage, the WB said.
The Olandes STP can process up to 10 million liters per day (MLD) of domestic wastewater from 40,000 residents of Cinco Hermanos, Industrial Valley, and sitio Olandes in Marikina City, as well as some parts of Quezon City.
Bert Hofman, World Bank country director, said the bank supported the establishment of the Olandes STP because it’s in line with the requirements of the Clean Water Act of 2004, the Philippine Medium-Term Development Plan targets from 2004-2010, and a recent Supreme Court ruling ordering the government to clean up Manila Bay.
“This project demonstrates how a strong partnership and collaboration among the government agencies, the private sector and multilateral institutions like the World Bank could achieve so much in terms of cleaning up the environment and ultimately improving the health of Metro Manila residents,” Hofman said.
Geodino V. Carpio, Manila Water’s operations director, said the Olandes STP is one of the sewage treatment plants that Manila Water recently established in its concession area covering Makati, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan, Taguig, most parts of Quezon City, some parts of Manila, Pateros and some cities and towns in Rizal.
Prior to the MTSP, Manila Water said it has already built 27 STPs through the Manila Second Sewerage Project, another World Bank-assisted initiative.
Carpio said apart from improving the environment, Manila Water’s wastewater-management efforts aim to improve sanitation and health conditions in the community, and promote urban renewal.
