Related Articles...
Featured Video
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
We have 4,262 guests online
| Pasig River system improvement |
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 09 February 2010 18:09 |
|
THREE densely populated areas in Metro Manila -- Sta. Ana and Paco in Manila and Baesa in Quezon City -- stand to benefit significantly from the recently-launched U.S. AID-Rotary Pasig River Improvement Project. The project will support the efforts of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) and Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig to improve the state of the Pasig River by undertaking wastewater treatment, solid waste management, sanitation promotion and related activities in Paco and Santa Ana, Manila and in Baesa, Quezon City. Overall, the project will work to improve: * Wastewater treatment * Solid waste management * Sanitation In Sta. Ana, there will be three components to the project: * At the public market, not too far away from the historic Sta. Ana Church, a wastewater treatment plant will be built behind the market to meet government environmental regulations and proper grease management by vendors will be promoted. * Solid Waste Management (SWM) will be done in the market and the six barangays surrounding the market, with the barangay leaders, residents and other stakeholders actively participating in writing the SWM plan, undertaking site visits to see first hand best practices on the management of solid waste, executing promotion campaigns and participating in the measurement of the results. * Community Sanitation Initiative -- handwashing will be promoted in schools; toilets and sinks will be improved in Fernando Amorsolo Elementary School (FAES) and in Sta. Ana Elementary School (SAES); a drinking water system will be built in SAES; and public toilets will be improved and built. PLAN International Philippines will work with the Sta. Ana community to implement community-led total sanitation. These activities will contribute to reduce poverty in Sta. Ana by encouraging the development of tourism. But of course, for tourism to grow, there is need to beautify the area, especially along Pedro Gil Street -- the main thoroughfare in the Sta. Ana district -- and engage the local community. The complex work to restore the health of the Pasig River will clearly be helped, by stopping the flow of polluted water from public market into the river and by reducing the amount of garbage entering the river. The project will also improve the health of local residents by promoting hand-washing with soap; improving sanitation; and improving access to and cleanliness of public toilets and toilets in schools. The partners in the Sta. Ana segment constitute an impressive list. They are as follows: RI District 3810 and Rotary Club of Manila Sta. Ana; USAID Philippine Sanitation Alliance; the City of Manila; MMDA; Lola Grande Foundation; Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP); Schools; Public Market vendors’ association; the Our Lady of the Abandoned Catholic Church; Manila Water and Maynilad Water; and local businesses. In Paco, the focus will be on solid waste management in the public market, with the following segments: * Solid Waste Management – develop a plan with market vendors, training, site visits to see best practices, implement and monitor; * Grease Management – training and develop plan for market vendors to properly manage grease so it does not clog the drainage and sewerage system; * Wastewater Treatment – Maynilad will build a wastewater treatment plant for small community near Paco Estero and Pasig River, PSA will assist with promotion campaign; and * Community Sanitation Initiative – a handwashing event will be held at the Lucban Elementary School. The partners in the Paco segment are: Rotary International District 3810; USAID Philippine Sanitation Alliance; the City of Manila; the Paco market staff and vendors’ association; and Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP). It is expected that these activities will improve the quality of the Paco Estero, which flows into the Pasig River. For this to happen, there is need to reduce the amount of garbage and grease going into the estero. There is need to make functional the sewerage system operated by Maynilad Water within the market. Improvement in the health of local residents will happen with improvement in the cleanliness of the market area, and with the promotion of handwashing with soap among the residents. The expected results that will be reaped in Manila are significant: • Wastewater treatment plant for Sta. Ana Public Market. • Improved solid waste management in Sta. Ana and Paco public markets (plans and promotion campaigns implemented, measurement of the increase in proper management). • Community support and cooperation with Maynilad Water’s soon-to-be-built wastewater treatment plant in Paco. • Improved sanitation through handwashing with soap in at least two schools (measurement of the increase). • Drinking water system in Sta. Ana Elementary School. • Public toilet repair and construction. • Repair of toilets and sinks and provision of soap in SAES and Fernando Amorsolo Elementary School. • Improved sanitation in Sta. Ana. In Baesa, the focus will be on supporting the wastewater treatment plant that Maynilad Water Services will build near Dario Creek, which flows into the San Juan River and into the Pasig River. 1. Community Development – promotions campaign to raise awareness and support for the Maynilad treatment plant. 2. Solid Waste Management – develop a plan with the community, training, site visit to see best practices, implement and monitor. 3. Sanitation – handwashing event at public schools. Implementing partners are Rotary International District 3780 led by District Governor Dulce Coyukiat and Rotary Club of Talipapa; USAID Philippine Sanitation Alliance; and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (The author, Connie Beltran, is District Governor of Rotary International District 3810). |
Most Popular Articles
- Richard magnitized on Solenn's beauty ( 698 views )
- Nadine confirm tension at ‘Endless Love’ set ( 641 views )
- I'm not jelous & telltale - Marian ( 464 views )
- Marian insecure to Bela ( 451 views )
- Francine's career shines again ( 369 views )