Puerto Galera Enacts EUF Ordinance

The Municipal Council of Puerto Galera passed its Environmental User Fee (EUF) Ordinance on January 24, 2007. After final endorsement by the Provincial Board, it will be implemented by the Mayor's office. The ordinance raises the hope of many stakeholders for the future of sustainable tourism and environmental conservation in Puerto Galera which has suffered much devastation in recent years. Among other uses of the fund, EUF collections will go to environmental projects like coastal and marine protection of the Bantay Dagat, solid waste management projects of barangays, and water treatment and sanitation facilities beginning with Barangay Sabang. Three aid agencies-SCOTIA, PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia), and WWF (World Wildlife Fund)-collaborated to help the stakeholders draft the ordinance through policy workshops, committee hearings, and numerous detailed discussions. (See SUCCESS STORIES)

More Sanitation Projects Call on SCOTIA Technical Assistance

SCOTIA is giving technical assistance to the following on-going projects in the different SCOTIA sites:

• Hale Kalinaw in Moalboal, Cebu - A natural treatment system for wastewater from the septic tank. Design to include a water garden / leaching field concept. An ecosan toilet is now being used by resort employees.
• Lemery, Batangas - Wastewater treatment facility for a new municipal slaughterhouse
• Dive Solana Resort in Batangas - Upgrading of central septic tank and design for cascading reed bed system.
• El Nido, Palawan - Construction of reed bed as leachate treatment facility in the municipality's controlled disposal site.
• El Nido, Palawan - Public Market
• Ten Knots Development Corporation (Miniloc Island Resort and Lagen Island Resort) in El Nido, Palawan - New wastewater treatment facilities completed. Effluent quality has passed Philippine Effluent Standards. Additionally, TKDC consulted SCOTIA for a wastewater treatment system for the planned expansion of its service operations-a centralized commissary, laundry facility, and food preparation and storage.
• Buri Resort in Puerto Galera - Wastewater treatment will be a single centralized reed bed and water garden system using collected wastewater from the resort's lavatories.
• Oops Bar, Panglao, Bohol - The structure of Panglao Island's first engineered reed bed system has been completed. Running on very low operating and maintenance cost, overflow from the conventional 3-chambered septic tank will be treated, passing through an aerobic filter before discharging. The treated water will be reused for irrigation in the resort grounds. This innovative reed bed system will serve as demonstration unit for other resorts.
• Sa Baybayon Resto Bar and Catering Services in Cordova, Mactan Island - Technical guidance in the construction of a reedbed wastewater system to replace its present one which drains directly into an area in the sea surrounded by mangroves.
• Public Market in Cordova, Mactan Island - In cooperation with BORDA, SCOTIA is giving technical assistance to the LGU or Cordova for the construction of wastewater treatment facility for the public market and its adjoining areas.

SCOTIA Partners with BCCAP for Sanitation Component of Bohol Housing Project

SCOTIA is providing technical expertise for the low-cost housing project of the Bohol Concerned Citizens' Action for Progress (BCCAP). Supported by World Vision which is an international aid agency, the USAID EcoGov Project, and the Dauis LGU, BCCAP will be constructing 180 low-cost houses for homeless families in Tagbilaran and Dauis. SCOTIA's share of the partnership is the technical design and supervision of implementation of the project's sanitation system which will include four central septic tanks, an anaerobic baffled reactor, and a 400-sqm reed bed for final treatment. BCCAP decided on SCOTIA's reed bed system over another wastewater treatment proposal that would be more costly. Recipients' counterpart funding will come in the form of monthly amortization payments and sweat equity.

SWM Program of Bgy. Maribago in Mactan Island, Cebu Boosted by SCOTIA-CTGMC Alliance

The Cebu Tour Guides Multi-purpose Cooperative (CTGMC) applied for a grant with SCOTIA to assist Barangay Maribago's SWM program, particularly its solid waste collection, biodegradable waste composting, recyclables collection, purchase of a waste collection vehicle, and the setting up of an MRF-composting facility. The tour guides, very active and able partners of the LGU's SWM program, have staunch support from big hotels in the area. CTGMC is counting on these owners and operators for financial support of their activities.

The most recent WACS which SCOTIA conducted in Maribago showed a 32% reduction in collected wastes. Citizens have become more conscious of waste segregation and minimization, contributing substantially to the barangay's improved collection system. More junk shops have also sprouted, encouraging residents to sell and earn income from their recyclable materials.

Badian Progresses in SWM with Strong LGU Support

SCOTIA continues to assist Badian, Cebu in solid waste management with the local government allotting a sizable amount of its budget to purchase a shredder, a road roller, a composting facility, and other necessary equipment. SCOTIA provided technical guidance in acquiring the equipment, filing DENR documentary requirements, and will conduct composting training, including a study tour of Moalboal's composting facility.

SCOTIA - PADAYON Partnership Advancing In Panglao EUF Groundwork

The proposed comprehensive EUF system of Panglao will soon be a reality. SCOTIA assisted the Panglao LGU in the process of enacting the ordinance. Through its Committee on Tourism, the council drafted the ordinance and refinements were made after thorough consultations with all stakeholders concerned.

The PADAYON BMT (Bohol Marine Triangle) Management Office received a small grant from SCOTIA to spread information to Panglao stakeholders on the proposed EUF. The Padayon BMT conducted workshops and barangay assemblies, secured pledges or manifestos of support, and disseminated IEC materials for public awareness of the EUF system. As it winds up its successful promotion, Padayon BMT is eyeing another grant from SCOTIA for a more intensive IEC campaign not just on the forthcoming EUF but also on waste management.

SCOTIA - SWAPP Partnership Strengthens Composting in Puerto Galera

The Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP) received a small grant from SCOTIA to conduct composting training and demonstration for nine barangays in Puerto Galera. With the practice of waste segregation well-entrenched in Puerto Galera (see SUCCESS STORIES Archives), this initiative was a needed technology and produced good results in most of the barangays. With sufficient proficiency they acquired from SCOTIA training in SWM and CP, many households with backyards dug their own compost pits, sold their recyclables, and even brought residuals themselves to dumping facilities. In addition to composting training and demonstration, SWAPP provided solutions and innovative ideas to the specific problems of some barangays. Aninuan, Poblacion, Tabinay, Villaflor, and Palangan are among the outstanding barangays in this project. A composting project was also set up in the municipal dumpsite.

Moalboal's EUF System Progressing Steadily

SCOTIA partnered with the Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation, Inc. (CCEF) to assist the municipal government of Moalboal in implementing its newly-enacted EUF system. CCEF used its grant from SCOTIA to assist the LGU in capacity building for all groups involved in the EUF management and to make necessary adjustments in the system as it develops. Various sectors of the municipality comprised the focus group discussions that ironed out matters such as ticketing and recording processes, revenue collection and appropriation, and maintenance measures.

The EUF system was then implemented for trial run from September 2006 to January 2007. This short period alone generated for Moalboal a revenue of almost P600,000. A bigger amount is expected with the coming summer months bringing in more vacationers. CCEF collaborated with SCOTIA to facilitate a workshop to finalize the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the ordinance with active stakeholder participation from the barangay councils, people's organizations, diveshops, and the LGU.

WACS Results Reveal Outstanding Waste Reduction in El Nido and Moalboal Resorts

SCOTIA facilitated WACS studies in 13 resorts in El Nido and 47 resorts in Moalboal. Both sites revealed an outstanding drop in waste collection, more than 50% which is the SCOTIA goal for the sites, after months of proper waste segregation and recycling. The El Nido resorts are members of CRRAEN, the resort owners' organization that has been very active in and supportive of SCOTIA's SWM program.

El Nido

Moalboal