De Guzman calls for proper waste disposal in food establishments

April 28, 2019 Provincial

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, La Union – Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member (SPM) Annabelle S. De Guzman conducted an ocular inspection on identified food establishments that stemmed from various complaints that reached her office and presented her findings in a privilege speech she delivered recently.
In her speech, she mentioned that there are popular food establishments in the province which do not have their own sewage treatment facilities and just let their waste water flow into the canals along the national highway that was supposedly for rainwater.
She said that “sebo” or used oils from food establishments, have accumulated on canal floors, are hardened like cement and are deposited into the waterways in canals causing clogging during rainy seasons.
She stressed in her speech that food establishments should stop discharging their wastewater into the canals and that they should put up their own sewage treatment plants.
“Carinderias” are also supposed to have their own septic tank for waste water following specifications stated in local ordinances.
She requested all concerned authorities to conduct a massive ocular inspection on all drainage systems of all food establishments including “carinderias” that are located along the national highway the soonest possible time so that appropriate actions would be undertaken before the onset of the rainy season.
She stressed that if these food establishments are found to have committed violations, they should be penalized as provided in the law.
She emphasized that these food establishments should also be morally and environmentally responsible.
De Guzman commended some Local Government Units (LGUs) that are conducting annual dredging of canals as proactive actions to prevent flooding during the rainy season and encouraged other LGUs to practice the same.
A copy of her speech and the corresponding resolution will be forwarded to concerned offices and agencies for their appropriate action.
“I will not stop until I see our roads that include the canals free from the waste of food establishments and that it shall only be used as canal for rainwater,” she said.
The Provincial Environmental and Management Code provides that no sewerage dangerous to the public health, safety and general welfare shall be discharged into any public sewer system, and natural waterway of drainage channel.
All sewerage disposal shall comply with the pertinent rules and regulations promulgated by the National Pollution Control Commission.
The Department of Public Works and Highways mentioned over and over again that the canals constructed alongside the widened portion of the national highway are specifically for rainwater only.
 
Jane T. Flores (GPC-SP)/ABN