A Paper OnALABEL SEPTAGE TREATMENT FACILITY Sitio Mahayahay, Barangay Bagacay, Alabel Sarangani Province Submitted To Prof. ANTONIETTE PAÑA- TAUTHO IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF GM 206 PHYSICAL SCIENCE MELODY O. BALICAT MSERM October 24, 2015 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION....................................................................................3 Rationale:...........................................................................................3 SEPTAGE CONDITION IN THE PHILIPPINES........................................4 ALABEL AS MUNICIPALITY.................................................................6 Description of the Project.....................................................................9 I. ALABEL SEPTAGE AND TREATMENT FACILITY.................................12 II. MANAGEMENT OF ALABEL SEPTAGE AND TREATMENT FACILITY.....17 CONLUSION: Bain work: Discourse........................................................22 The study of physical science is imperative. if not. the marine protected area. the standard septage so to speak. educate the members of the community regarding the proper and correct establishment of septage tank. This is due to the ballooning of human population that demands food for subsistence that leads to urbanization and settlements. This is particularly. However. coastal resources and marine ecosystems. This exposure would possibly replicate. on how to implement and manage a septage facility in a community as a means to secure the health of the general public in terms of sanitation. This learning exposure is taken in a Septage Treatment Facility (STF) that is located . Rationale: As managers or persons who are responsible to take care of the environment we should necessarily be exposed to different avenue that can increase our knowledge and experience. locality where we share our expertise and knowledge.INTRODUCTION Everyone has the responsibility to take care of the environment considering that climate change is apparent and imminent. This will enhance on how we manage our environment especially for the protection of the life and the health condition of the people based on the water that we intake and the food that we eat. Constitutionally. marine sanctuaries. Inputs of this learning will basically give us an idea of what are some of the projects that we may articulate and possibly put up through a project to the community. this right is always entwined with sense of responsibility in all aspects in life particularly in terms of health and sanitation. Danger to our flora and fauna are at stake. even the natural forces of the earth that life and safety of human beings are in paramount consideration. the right of the people to abode in a community is highly respected. in every household. the polymers and chemical conditioners available today have considerably reduced these requirements. and parasites. It is one type of fecal sludge.in Sitio Mahayahay. SEPTAGE CONDITION IN THE PHILIPPINES It is important to understand the word septage. Sarangani Province. This was held on September 4. many septic tanks have open bottoms. The liquids and solids pumped from a septic tank or cesspool have an offensive odor and appearance. Septage is highly variable and organic. bacteria. hair. it is better to take a look into the brief condition of septage in our country. Many who have toilets do not have septic tanks. The Philippines has invested very little in proper sewage collection and treatment. Septage is a by-product from the pretreatment of household wastewater in a septic tank where it accumulates over time. most septic tanks are not regularly desludged. More than 20 million Filipinos do not have access to proper sanitation. and a resistance to settling and dewatering. and debris. Barangay Bagacay. with more than 100 million practicing open defecation all around the world. septage requires special handling and treatment. 2015. and about 7 million practice open defecation. As a result. Alabel. grit. Septage refers to sludge which is a term used in some countries to describe the partially treated sludge stored in a septic tank. and the septage . Septage is also a host for many disease-causing viruses. with significant levels of grease. a tendency to foam upon agitation. The WSP Sustainable Sanitation for East Asia study (SuSEA 2008) reported that the design of most septic tanks does not conform to the standards prescribed by the Department of Health (DoH). Before proceeding to the STF in Alabel. According to the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) million people lack access to improved sanitation. However. The Philippine government through the NSSMP finds the need for action in order to improve sanitation as a key to achieve successful management in local governance through its direct beneficiaries who mostly belong to the lower class Filipino people. Phnom Penh 50% and some other developing countries. 64% of rivers fail test for Class A waters (swimming). in national less than 4% in Dhaka 30%. That there is economic losses due to poor sanitation exceed P78 billion per year (World Bank and USAID. 2007). Septage management (emptying septic tanks) is only in Metro Manila.removed is not treated and disposed of properly. and about 55 daily from all water-borne diseases due to poor septage and proper sanitation.338 Filipinos who die yearly from diarrhea. also requires improvement. some strategies that have to be applied in order to meet the target as duly desired by the Philippine government. up to 58% of groundwater contaminated. There are constraints that need to be overcome. Furthermore. Less than 10% of the population has access to piped sewerage systems. especially desludging. Some of these constraints are the following: Low level of awareness and demand from public Low capacity to develop projects Weak enforcement of existing regulations Limited resources of LGUs and water districts . Septic tank management. Dumaguete and Alabel (Sarangani). The sewerage coverage in Metro Manila is 15%. Probably. Accordingly. Sad to note that there are more than 11. Philippines. No national program or budget.056 XII SOCCSKSARGEN which belongs to the group of islands. The fact that there is a threat on environmental degradation that comes from the increase human settlements. it has a total voting population of 41.98 km². According to the 2010 census. The municipality Alabel is seated km south-south-east of Philippine main capital Manila. ALABEL AS MUNICIPALITY Alabel is a first class municipality and also the capital of the province of Sarangani. Perhaps. Furthermore. these are the challenges that our government particularly local government through our local officials to address weakness stated in the above. there is a need for a leader from the LGU level who will sponsor or push through with the program.872 residents.279 voters. as per record. Alabel occupies an area of 510. it has a population of 75. . The unwelcome effects of domestic and human waste on water quality and inevitably on marine and human lives have become apparent and alarming. By the end of 2007 Alabel was the home of 71. it is of necessity to have one in a big community. Nonetheless. In Region Mindanao about 1. Let us take a look the brief profile of Municipality of Alabel. As of 2010. Alabel is a 1st class Municipality. the Municipality of Alabel is able to reach the successful implementation and management of Septage Treatment Facility in the country. Indeed.66 people are living on one km². Thus by average 140. Regarding urbanization Alabel is classified as partly urban.477 people. Discuss how it is being managed. Discuss how the waste water and septage treatment operates. Among the bigger cities and municipalities in the neighborhood of Alabel there are General Santos City (Dadiangas) (South Cotabato) 12 km west-northwest. Spring. and 2. The most populous are Paraiso. City Of Koronadal (South Cotabato) 66 km north-west. To travel from Davao City to the Municipality of Alabel using private vehicle takes less than three (3) hours. Malita (Davao Del Sur) 40 km north-east. work and support of the Executive and Legislative branches of the local government of the . Sultan Kudarat (Nuling) (Maguindanao) 88 km west-northwest. Allan V. Tokawal. Datal Anggas. The distance is 159 kilometers. Domolok. Polomolok (South Cotabato) 28 km west-north-west. Maribulan. Pag-Asa. During the said travel guide questions were given by our Professor for our intellectual consumption and for our academic assignment. not to discount the wisdom and noble effort. The whole class of GM 206 Intro to Physical Science arrived in the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO). Baluntay. Isulan (Sultan Kudarat) 96 km north-west. One forms the center of the city whereas the other 11 are in the outlying areas. Kawas. Rivera is the brains behind the successful implementation and management of Alabel STF. Some of them are even several kilometers away from the center of the Municipality. City Of Tacurong (Sultan Kudarat) 95 km north-west. Glan 31 km south-south-west as well as 28 km north of Alabel the municipality Malungon. City Of Digos (Davao Del Sur) 75 km north. Alegria. of course. The MENRO Engr. Bagacay.Administratively the Municipality of Alabel is subdivided into 12 barangays. Guide Question: Below are the given guide questions: 1. Poblacion (Alabel). the project was intended to be established in General Santos City. due to some circumstances.Municipality of Alabel. . Accordingly. the STF project was transferred and/or distributed among five (5) other coastal towns of Sarangani province as a GRANT from the DENR. Manuel Pacquiao as Representative of Congress that has territorial jurisdiction over the Municipality of Alabel. Picture 1. Alabel is a Recipient of Php 63. Thus. Taken during planning for STF The nitty-gritty of the project has been thoroughly and intensively discussed with the heads of local offices and national government agencies in Alabel. As per original plan. the caucus or initial discussion has been emboldened after the declaration of financial support through a loan or funding that came from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JICA).7-Million STF grant Project from DENR under Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (SMICZMP). Rivera threw his kindness to the group by giving lecture on how the STF was born and the tedious process they went through in order to secure the approval of the local executives including its legislators and significant endorsement of Hon. Engr. However. 2. Allan Rivera. as well as it describes the capacity of the project on the following: 1.m per day (optimal capacity is 84-cu. by the Southern Mindanao Integrated Coastal Management Project (SMICZMP) of the DENR. Alabel STF adopts a Pond Stabilization and a Natural system – “a type of wastewater treatment system in which the process of biological degradation of . The Alabel Septage Treatment Facility. including one in Malalag Bay. the STF project provides specific benefit to the environment based on the natural resources found in Alabel. Different STF Sites Description of the Project Based on the power point presentation of Engr. the legal framework that governs the project.m/day). with Design Capacity of 60-cu.Picture 2. is the LARGEST of the six (6) that were constructed along Sarangani Bay. Stabilization pond system – “a man-made pond system in which wastewater is allowed to stand for a time. dugongs. Compliance with National Standards and Regulation such as the following: • Republic Act 7586 (National Integrated Protected Area System Act of 1992) • Presidential Decree No. 856 (Code on Sanitation of the Philippines) • Presidential Decree No. seagrass. d. STF is designed to ONLY to accept and treat wastewater which are domestic in nature. c. Believing that in our area of responsibility.organic compounds is not aided by the input of significant amounts of energy or chemicals”. Protection and conservation of coastal and marine habitats and resources such as mangrove. 4. b. coral reefs. As we learned from the power point presentation of Engr Rivera. below is the standard septic tank (Illustration 1) that we could possibly recommend for a sanitation project to the community where we managed. etc. This proposed project that we will adapt is considered as the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the company where we worked. 3. under the influence of microorganisms and the forces of nature. The noble objectives of the project are the following: a. Reduction of water pollution in Sarangani Bay. 1152 (The Philippine Environment Code) • DENR Administrative Order 35. Series of 1990 (Effluent Standards) • Republic Act 9275 (Clean Water Act of 2004)-mandates LGUs to share responsibility to ensure water quality management (safe water supply) within territorial jurisdiction. crustaceans. there . so that it is converted to effluent that meets the quality standards established for final disposal and reuse”. Improvement of health and sanitation condition (reduce health riskscontact with sewage). reef fishes. the smell of human waste will also move where the wind blows. Our exposure will help to educate the Indigenous Peoples where our mining tenement is situated. After a very informative lecture of Engr. Rivera. Illustration 1. Approaching and getting nearer to the STF area. I was expecting foul order upon arrival in the area. . As observed. we did not smell anything.are many households that do not have adequate/proper septic tank. it is a vast track of land that is needed in order to implement the project perfectly. the students of GM 206 proceeded to Sitio Mahayahay. Alabel where the STF is located. Prior to our arrival. The size of the area matters for the said project. my thoughts were playing as I might see human waste floating in a big swimming pool and as a wind dances. Barangay Bagacay. The supernatant or the liquid fraction will flow to the anaerobic . The first pond is a 3. the waste are then poured into the sedimentation pond.I. The picture below (Table 1. It indeed impressed me and these are what I have seen.5-m deep sedimentation pond where solids will be allowed to settle. 2 anaerobic ponds.3). 1 maturation pond and 1 constructed wetland pond. shows the different treatment ponds of the Alabel Septage Treatment Facility. 2 facultative ponds. such imagination is very far from its reality and as what I have seen in the STF of Alabel. In the Alabel Septage Treatment Facility. There are 3 sedimentation ponds. Picture 3. ALABEL SEPTAGE AND TREATMENT FACILITY Gladly. no flow will be made to the sedimentation pond. which can be removed manually by shovel and cart or by small loaders or “bobcats”.pond. water shall pass through a constructed wetland. . septage will move slowly through a shallow bed of sandy/gravelly material.5 meters. anaerobic conditions will prevail and the remaining settled solids will undergo further anaerobic digestion. Here. algae. (Picture 4. organic matter is anaerobically degraded. Zoom view) which is relatively shallow at 2. At the end of this series of ponds. septage will flow to the facultative pond. and surface wind will provide the oxygen necessary for microorganisms to degrade the septage. The constructed wetland is a very efficient system for “polishing” treated septage. BOD removal from 50% to 70% can be expected. the maturation pond. or a so-called “cake”. is a shallow pond where most of the pathogenic microorganisms are destroyed by sunlight. The final pond. which is planted with water tolerant plants such as cattails and reeds. has a depth of 5. The second pond. and the solids will thicken to a dry state. if available. further improving effluent quality to levels exceeding the DENR Class A effluent standards. the anaerobic pond. in the presence of sunlight. After some time. In this pond.0 meters. In a constructed wetland. From the anaerobic pond. At the bottom of the facultative pond. At this pond. As shown in the table.4 million tons/year. The human waste freshly defecated is the one that smells. . MENRO Rivera explained that human waste after it is exposed to the elements actually do not emit any foul smell. Alabel Septage Treatment Facility was created. The study likewise revealed that the BOD Load Distribution is 3. or the amount of oxygen microorganisms must consume in order to oxidize all the organic compounds in a liter of wastewater. Table 1. the biggest per centage of BOD load distribution comes from the domestic or the households with 67% followed by the Agricultural at 31%. shows Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD).This is one of the anaerobic pond and there are human wastes floating on it. The Table 1. but there are none. What was also surprising is that I was expecting a lot of flies to be swarming around the area. by addressing the septage waterwaste of the household. it would solve more than half of the BOD Load Distribution. Boad Load Distribution .Hence. Illustration 2. m/day). However. . using only one truck will require 375 days to service all DST in Alabel (2250/6). As per inventory made by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) in November 2007 there are only 2. The estimate is that the STF can service the existing 2. the Alabel STF is so large that it has the Design Capacity of 60-cu.252 DST in three months or less.The Alabel Septage Treatment Facility was basically created as an answer to the huge BOD Load distribution.252 DST in Alabel as reflected in Table 2. Even at a more conservative assumption of 6 septic tanks being desludged daily.m per day (optimal capacity is 84-cu. .Table 2. Indeed. There is a high call to stewardship. tourism is one of the bigger source of revenue in the locality. fish cage. The serene beaches there are described as paradise. It does not allow commercial fishing vessels to anchor on the cost.II. seaweed culture. The ordinance also regulates floating beach. Thus. Fisher folks are dependent upon the water resource provided by God to people in Sarangani. This ordinance allows only traditional fishing and bangus fry gathering. the Alabel local government crafted a “Coastal Zone Ordinance”. Pictures 7 & 8 . Picture 6. fish pens and use of nets. Foreigners and locale alike considered Alabel a place of recreation and relaxation. Therefore. Family bonding and fellowship is made perfect by the place. there is a need to protect and preserve the area It is the sanctuary of the marine resources. MANAGEMENT OF ALABEL SEPTAGE AND TREATMENT FACILITY It is known that Alabel is rich in tourist attractions. The marine resources are the basic livelihood in Alabel. The calm and blue pristine waters that gently touches its shores is one of the main attractions in the place. Tourism (recreation & diving sites). It also has 1 unit Bobcat Truck Loader. that Sarangani Bay is declared Protected Seascape Thru PP #756 during the time of former Pres. it will gear up to the protection of the fish as number one source of food of the people and the natural water resources as attractive tourism in Alabel.000 fishers in the area. Accordingly. then it would result to the facility being idle for most of the time and its continued existence will be a financial liability for the LGU unless. attaining its objectives will not only facilitate compliance with various environmental laws (Clean Water Act of 2004) but will also exemplify GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE as per MENRO Rivera. spawning and feeding grounds of many commercially important fish species in the area. Alabel’s STF is a large facility with a big responsibility. In fact the Alabel STF has 2-units Vacuum Trucks with a capacity of 5-cu. This processing of wastes at the STF REDUCES the public risk from pathogens and nutrient contamination of ground and water resources. Rivera.m and can take a maximum of 5 to 6-trips per day. particularly from domestic sewage by processing septic tank contents before wastewater drains to the bay. Major fishing ground of about 50. Specially.According to Engr. Fidel Ramos due to its economic and ecological significance not just in the Province but in the entire SOCSKSARGEN area: Plays an important role in the economic growth of the SOCSKSARGEN Area where most industries are located along Sarangani Bay. Thus. These trucks are responsible for desludging household septic tanks and bringing them to the STF. Ecologically important as breeding. If it would only be limited to servicing the deludgeable septic tanks within Alabel. as admitted by the MENRO. noble intention for the construction of STF’s is to protect the coastal waters of Sarangani from pollution. However. The MENROffice hired drivers for the trucks and these truck . The STF does not have sufficient source of household waste to fully make it operational. They also have two (2) security guards assigned in the STF in Sitio Mahayahay with two (2) other assistants. Fact that the Alabel STF has big capacity to disludge human waste. They are six (6) in all performing the activity with such huge or large capacity of STF. Nonetheless.m per day (optimal capacity is 84-cu. because some of the households lack of awareness or perhaps because of the culture of the Filipinos that they will be cautious and aware of it IF there is an imminent and foreseen immediate danger as to health and safety of their loved ones or themselves. According to MENRO Rivera. courage and strength to perform his job and to take the challenge as Manager. Thus: a) More of the other Alabel households (about 10. These workingmen were equipped to faithfully performing their daily operational duties and responsibilities definitely because their leader as head of the team (Engr. Rivera) is ordained by God to share his talent of good leadership brains.000) construct properly designed/built toilets and septic tanks and have them desludged every three years. Maybe.drivers are also designated to disludge the septic tanks within Alabel. the same has not even filled up half of the pond. since its creation and the facility being idle for most of the time and its continued existence will be a financial liability for the LGU unless the following shall be seriously taken into consideration not only the local government leaders of Alabel but most importantly its constituents.m/day) has never been reached. the huge capacity of the facility at 60-cu. even if it rained the whole night and even during the incidences of tropical depression that brings huge amount of rain. hence the flow of the septage has not even reached the third pond . Alabel extends the STF service to its big neighbor. plus the government offices including NGAs and GSC-based desludgers. the mandatory septic tank desludging every 3 years. this project was originally intended for General Santos City. b. As discussed earlier. the city of General Santos and possibly. to the business establishments. to the migrants with intention to establish permanent settlement in the area. this can help to augrment the income of the municipality. All Alabel households regularly pay the desludging fee prescribed by the town’s STF ordinance. .000 households of Alabel. north of General Santos City.(the facultative ponds). General Santos City definitely hosts a bigger population in terms of household as well as industrial and commercial establishments. even Polomolok. etc relative to the importance of health sanitation vis-a vis protection to the environment. At the same time. and the incorporation of the said provisions during renewal and application of business permits. The Alabel Septage Management Ordinance 2008-048 has made mandatory the establishment of correctly-built septic tanks. but the STF projects were transferred/distributed among six (6) other coastal towns of Sarangani province as a GRANT from the DENR. The government of Alabel through the MENRO will not be discouraged and I commend their continuous conduct of Information Education Campaign (IEC) to the 10. General Santos: approximately 94.00/m3 shall be imposed on private desludgers/septage haulers who will use the STF. This is also one way of creating job opportunities for others.The table above shows General Santos City is 15x larger than Alabel with household deslugeable septic tanks estimated at 34. The latter is almost 10 times larger than Alabel’s in terms of number of households (2009Alabel: 11.187 compared to the 2. septage management. This would allow those with sufficient capital to purchase vacuum trucks to engage in desludging business.950. the Alabel STF also allows and even encourages private desludgers from undertaking the desluding activities. c. A larger market exists in neighbor General Santos City.252 of Alabel. Encouraging private desludgers Another way of ensuring that there would be sufficient household wastes collected. However. The MENRO and staff had a discussion with General Santos City and talked about the desludging GSC-owned DSTs at a mutually acceptable/attractive price which eventually graduated into a MOA signing. the GSC coordinated with other government agencies and STbuilders to enlarge the supply base. d.625. there is no tangible products that can be easily . Develop a marketing plan to make the facility financially viable and self-sustaining The team of Alabel STF have exerted efforts to market their “product”. Furthermore. A tipping fee (treatment cost) of P 250. based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (CPH). malls and offices is a must call to put up a septage facility like in Alabel.seen or noticed by the people. TV advertisements. The Alabel IEC-Team developed a communication and marketing plan. Considering the population of Davao City at present with high end subdivisions for the elite. The marketing plan spelled out possible approaches and strategies to make Alabel’s STF a fully operational and VIABLE INVESTMENT for the benefit of the environment and the people. Davao City. Leaflets and Flyers/Brochures. unless the people can imbibed and advocate that the long term result of the STF is the protection of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape. Roadshows. a highly urbanized city in the province of Davao del . Tarpaulins. The unstoppable booming of the City by the construction of different buildings. Billboards. recoridas. It is sad to note and I even got envy during the exposure and I even asked why is it that Davao City has no septage facility like in Alabel. To figure out statistically. numbered middle class subdivisions and various low cost housing that sets in the City. Alabel STF have intangible products to market and this makes it doubly hard to influence the people unless there is a change in social behavior/attitudes. The people have to fully realize that protecting the Sarangani Bay which is one source of livelihood and income for the vast majority of people cannot happen without sustaining the STFs operation and steady revenue.and other related promotional activities) CONLUSION: Bain work: Discourse In view of the above foregoing. Included in the plan are the BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES and CORE MESSAGES for each type of intended “Publics” and the recommended media processes (Radio Messages. the size of the Alabel STF will fit to the size and population of Davao City. the environmental protection and improved sanitary practices of the people. Its goal is to improve water quality and protect public health in urban areas of the Philippines by 2020. all other important marine resources as a means of livelihood and food for the people and the water resources in general.180 persons compared to its total population of 1.Sur. it is a challenge to our political leaders to set their agenda this coming 2016 elections and this agenda will not limit only to secure peace and order situation of the Davao City but also they will include the establishment of septage facility for the health protection. The political leaders and local legislators in Dava City should consider this project seriously.04 percent annual PGR of the city between the census years 1990 and 2000.449. At the same time.296 persons as of May 1.36 percent annually.36 percent during the period 2000 to 2010 continues.116 persons counted in the 2000 CPH. This is larger by 302. posted a total population of 1.147. . If the average annual PGR recorded at 2. In fact. to maintain the balance of marine ecology. The Population of Davao City most likely will increase at the rate of 2. of Davaoeños as well as to ensure the protection marine-life sanctuaries in nearby sea. according to the Philippine Water Act (CWA) of 2004 is a landmark piece of legislation that mandate the preparation of National Sewerage and Septage Management Program (NSSMP) and requires highly urbanized cities (HUCs) to provide sewerage and septage services to minimize the adverse impacts of domestic wastewater discharges on water quality and water resources in general. Davao City has vast rack of land where it can cater the demand of such kind of facility. 2010. the population of Davao City would double in 30 years. responsible to address various issues on sanitation and treatment and disposal of wastewater in the country.36 percent. The increase in the population count from 2000 to 2010 translated to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 2. In this mandate. safety. This is lower than the 3.