BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The city’s public and private schools shall be given six months to transition from being connected to the city’s Sewage Treatment Plant (BSTP) to having their own wastewater treatment facility.
This was discussed during a meeting between Environment Management Bureau (EMB-CAR) Regional Director Jean Borromeo, City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) Assistant Head Engr. Marivic Empizo and academic officials, Friday, Dec. 12, at the BSTP, Sanitary Camp.
This is in compliance with RA 9275 or the Clean Water Act, which states that structures with a wastewater volume of 12 cubic meters per day, and Section 149 of the Baguio Environment Code, that voluminous wastewater generators, including schools, to construct their own sewage treatment plant (STP).
The school authorities present during the meeting shall submit their compliance action plan (CAP) in January 2026, which contains details of the program; (school) population, water consumption, sewage treatment status and system, proposed STP budget, timetable of construction, and transition period. For big universities, with classification as large wastewater generators, there should be immediate compliance to have their own STP.
RD Borromeo mentioned the exceedance of river quality parameters in Baguio City as compared to DENR standards, which call for water and sanitation measures.
The school authorities, however, saw challenges such as the absence of space for an STP, property lines, and budgetary constraints, such that the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) Schools Division of Baguio needs to look over funding needs for STPs in public schools.
According to CEPMO assistant head Engr. Empizo, other commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants shall be invited during the first quarter of 2026 to discuss the requirements of compliance with the Clean Water Act and the Baguio Environment Code.
Atty. Mary Jane Onogon and Engr. Lowell Barton, Jr, from EMB-CAR and Waste Water and Hazardous Waste Management Division (WHWMD – CEPMO) Head Engr. Wilbur Suanding was also present during the meeting. -jgfianza, with reports from CEPMO
