The Paranaque City government is now requiring all commercial and industrial establishments in the city to register with and secure clearance from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
Mayor Edwin Olivarez said that with the approval of the “ordinance establishing the comprehensive water quality management and user fee system in Paranaque City and appropriating funds thereof,” CENRO shall be implementing and enforcing the ordinance in compliance with RA 9275, the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2001, and in support of the Supreme Court's continuing mandamus to clean, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay.
Olivarez said CENRO is now part of the Business One Stop Shop (BOSS) processing in issuing environmental permits with a fee of P1,000 and a filing fee of P200.
He explained that under the ordinance, establishments discharging effluent/wastewater into drainages and other water bodies shall be required to secure a clearance and discharge permit.
Engr. Tere Quiogue, supervising environmental specialist management of CENRO, said those that need to apply for a discharge permit are the industrial establishment/infrastructure projects and other similar projects; condominiums; institutions, industrial subdivision; theme parks, malls, golf courses; land transport terminals and parking areas; warehouse/storage facilities; car wash and repair shops and water retailer, water stations and laundry shops.
Quiogue also said the CENRO will also implement the mandatory desludging of septic tanks.
She said all owners and users of septic tanks shall be required to desludge once every five to seven years and must be done only by the concerned water utility or a private desludging company duly accredited by the Department of Health, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and CENRO.
Quiogue added that violators will be fined P10,000 and not more than P200,000 for everyday violation and the fines will increase by 10 percent every two years to compensate for inflation and to maintain the deterrent function of such fines.