MANILA, Philippines – PINASINAYAAN ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., araw ng Biyernes ang Aglipay Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) sa Mandaluyong.
Ang pasilidad ayon sa Pangulo ay tanda ng pangunahing hakbang tungo sa pagpapahusay ng kalidad ng tubig, protektahan ang kapaligiran at pangalagaan ang pampublikong kalusugan.
Binigyang diin ng Pangulo na ang access sa malinis na tubig ay isang “fundamental right that we must uphold and deliver to every Filipino.”
“So, today, we take a step towards fulfilling that responsibility as we inaugurate the Aglipay Sewage Treatment Plant, a facility designed to improve the water quality of Metro Manila waterways,” ang tinuran ng Pangulo sa kanyang keynote speech habang idinadaos ang naturang event.
“This plant serves a 2,115-hectare catchment area across Mandaluyong, San Juan, and Quezon City, benefitting over 650,000 residents. Its impact will be felt every single day – in our homes, in our rivers, and the well-being of our communities,” dagdag na wika nito.
Itinayo na may kapital na P3.93 billion at pinangasiwaan ng Manila Water, ang pasilidad ay may initial capacity na gamutin ang 60 milyong litro ng wastewater araw-araw, sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos na maaari itong palawigin sa 120 milyong litro kada araw habang patuloy na lumalaki ang populasyon sa Metro Manila at urban footprint.
“This means that more liters of safe water is available for public consumption and more rivers and seas are preserved for future generations,” ang sinabi pa rin ng Chief Executive sabay sabing “At this scale, wastewater management and sanitation become essential foundations of public health, of environmental protection, and of sustainable development.”
Aniya pa, ang bagong pinasinayaan na sewage treatment plant ay naglalayong bawasan ang pollution load na dumadaloy sa waterways o mga mga daluyan ng tubig, pagsuporta sa long-term rehabilitation ng Manila Bay,isang critical environmental at economic resource.
Aniya, maliban sa makinarya at teknolohiya ng planta, ang tunay na hakbang ng tagumpay ay “tangible improvement in water quality and the reduced exposure of residents to untreated sewage.”
“These are not abstract aspirations, but concrete and measurable actions towards protecting our (environment) and restoring our natural resources,” ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos.
“This is how carefully planned and thoroughly executed infrastructure directly improves the lives of our people,” dagdag na pahayag nito.
Sa kabilang dako, sinabi pa ni Pangulong Marcos na ang inagurasyon ay simula lamang ng mas malawak na government program para palakasin ang water at sanitation services.
“More water and wastewater facilities are in the pipeline. Five wastewater treatment plants across service areas are presently under construction,” ang tinuran ng Pangulo.
Ang mga proyekto aniya ay ginabayan ng Revised Concession Agreement sa ilalim ng Republic Acts 11600 at 11601.
Sa ilalim ng roadmap, “the government aims to connect 76 percent of households in Metro Manila, Cavite, and Rizal to sewerage systems by 2047, while the remaining 24 percent will have access to proper sanitation services.”
“This means that no community is left without safe and responsible wastewater management,” ang sinabi ng Punong Ehekutibo.
Kinilala naman ng Pangulo ang mahalagang papel ng private partners, kabilang na ang Manila Water at ang Megawide Consortium, sa paghahatid ng mga nasabing kumplikadong mga pasilidad.
Nanawagan naman ang Pangulo sa mga mamamayan na makilahok din sa pamamagitan ng pagpapamalas ng disiplina, binigyang-diin na ang “clean facilities must be matched by clean habits.”
“True progress also demands collective discipline and shared accountability,” ayon sa Pangulo sabay sabing “Just as clean water flows through healthy rivers, let responsible governance and community discipline flow through our communities – to bring good health, dignity, and hope to every single Filipino.” Kris Jose
