All septic haulers which have been collecting septic waste from residential and business establishments in Tagbilaran City have no permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the city’s local government unit.

This was revealed by Engr. Lito Taladua, head of the Tagbilaran City Solid Waste Management Office, after residents near the new Provincial Capitol Building complained of foul-smelling odor during septic pumping operations by haulers at a six-door apartment in the area.

“Way accredited sa Tagbilaran City. Kanang hauler, kanang mo-habwa. Walay permit na sila,” said Taladua.

Taladua also bared that septage siphoned from septic tanks have been dumped in Corella, the city’s main source of water supply.

Outgoing Corella Mayor Jose Nicanor Tocmo confirmed the report saying that they caught red-handed one of the operators disposing their waste into an underground cave in one of the town’s barangays.

In an interview with DYRD “Inyong Alagad,” Taladua identified two septic tank waste haulers as Añora Septic Tank Services and the operator of Rhubian SepticTank as among those who are tolerated by the city government to operate despite the lack of facilities required by the DENR.

On December 2018, William Cunado, Regional Director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)7 issued a 40-day directive or until January 15, 2019 to the two septic tank haulers including Bohol Septic and Manual Service to comply with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 9275 known as the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.”

According to Taladua, septic tank operators in the city lack the required facilities to operate their businesses even as RA 9275 mandates the Local Government Units (LGU’s) to complement the national program on sewerage and septage management by raise funds through local property taxes and the enforcement of a service fee system. (Chito M. Visarra)