On 4th September 2006 the City of Bayawan had it’s big day: More than 200 guests from all over the Philippines came to attend the inauguration of the first constructed wetland for the treatment of domestic waste water in the Philippines . Special guests were the representatives of the DILG, the Provincial Government of Oriental Negros and the German Embassy.

Before this event, the City of Bayawan , especially the City Engineers Office, mobilized all its workforce and power to complete the treatment plant in time. They succeeded and were able to proudly demonstrate the operation of the constructed wetland to their guests.

After the visit and demonstration of the treatment plant the guests were invited to attend the inauguration speeches of the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Austere Panadero, Governor of Oriental Negros, George V. Arnaiz, Mayor of Bayawan, Herman P. Sarana and GTZ Country Director Andreas Kanzler.

Andreas Kanzler, Country Director of the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ) described the wetlands as a perfect solution to treat the sewage of a small community since it cost effective, easy to maintain and very efficient in the cleaning process. “The technology of constructed wetlands is successful and reliably applied in several countries in Asia . With this solution, we can contribute significantly to the very serious situation of contamination of drinking water resources by waste water in many regions of the country,” Kanzler said.

With around 12 to 14 Filipinos dying everyday from diseases caused by untreated sewage and contaminated water, Kanzler stressed the need for more sanitation programs using affordable technology. “Centralized treatment systems with kilometers and kilometers of collecting sewer pipes become so expensive, that they are not affordable in developing countries, especially not outside the mega cities. Affordable cost, low maintenance and simple technology solutions are needed,” he said. The project is a model of cooperation between the GTZ and its national partner, the Department of Interior and Local Governments, the Academe and the Bayawan City Government.

But without the initiative and determination of City Mayor German Saraña to conceptualize and finance it, this project would haver never materialized. “It was always a project of the city of Bayawan , which GTZ supported with long term and short-term expertise from Germany to ensure a state of the art construction and to avoid mistakes,” Andreas Kanzler concluded his speech.

“We just hope that the constructed wetland technology will be replicated in other LGUs so that we can comply with the Clean Water Act and address the sanitation problem in urban areas,” Mayor Sarana said during his message. This was echoed by DILG Assistant Secretary Austere Panadero who appreciated the island of Negros for pursuing innovative projects in sanitation.

The City of Bayawan plans to apply the constructed wetland technology for another treatment facility for the waste water from the proposed new bus terminal.

Ulrike Lipkow
GTZ Water Program
Provincial Planning and Development Office Capitol Area
6200 Dumaguete City , Oriental Negros
Phone: +63 (0) 35 422 1421 / Fax: +63 (0) 35 422 1421
e-mail: ulrike.lipkow@gtz.de
www.watsansolid.org.ph