Study on sludge treatment to start in December: Jica

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/09/24/study-sludge-treatment-start-december-jica-499682
• Sunday, September 25, 2016

By Oscar C. Pineda

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will start its preparatory study for the septic tank sludge treatment project in Cebu in December and hopes to complete it by March 2018.

The Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) passed last Sept. 21 a resolution, thanking Jica and the City of Yokohama, Japan for helping Cebu realize the project.

Jica officials presented before the board its timetable for the project with Yokohama City sewage specialists, led by Yasuaki Nakamura, head of the Development Cooperation Division, International Affairs Bureau.

Waste

The project will treat septic tank wastewater, regularly collected from households, so that septic sludge will not seep into the island’s natural water tables and bodies of water.

Collected waste water will be treated and reused.

The preparatory survey will help the proponents agree on different scopes of the project. It will also share the schedule of the survey and discuss the issues like land acquisition, right-of-way and legal arrangements.

According to Jica’s presentation, from December 2016 to February 2017, the bidding of prospective consultants will be conducted.

Work

The consultant will work on the preparation of the treatment project to identify the site, capacity of the treatment facility, and the total cost of the project, said Mimpei Ito, head of Global Environment Department of Jica.

The first and second survey will be done from March 2017 to July 2017.

Ito said during this time the consultant will review and examine projects and the terms of reference (TOR) for the first survey.

The TOR of the first survey includes necessity of the project; the topographic and geologic survey; choosing the ideal project site; study the septage collection and treatment; study the sludge reuse plan; and make a technical timeline on these activities.

Cost

As to the TOR of the second survey, the consultant will estimate project cost; make a construction plan; study the institutional and financial arrangement; study the environment and social consideration; recommend organization structure and training plan; and other things needed in the project.

Coverage

From August to November 2017, the total cost of the project and its coverage will be presented.

From December 2017 to January 2018, the consultant will explain the draft final report to MCDCB and its members, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District, National Economic and Development Authority, the governor and the mayors of Cebu, especially the local government units covered by the septic tank sludge treatment project.

The draft of the final report will also be explained to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Japan, said Ito.

By March 2018, will be the approval of the project.

“Since this is the grant aid scheme (Overseas Development Assistance of the Japanese Government), we will have to get an approval from the Japanese Government.

Then both the Philippine and Japanese Governments will make an agreement to implement this project,” said Ito.