Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro has expressed her full support for a proposed large-scale wastewater treatment system that would serve eight local government units (LGUs) across Metro Cebu.
The plan was presented to the governor on September 16 by Yosuke Deguchi, team leader of the JICA-funded master plan study for the sewerage system. If fully implemented, the study aims to establish the groundwork for a comprehensive wastewater management system in Cebu.
“I’m very positive about this because it’s the first time the people of Cebu will have this kind of system—a proper water treatment facility,” said Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) General Manager Edgar Donoso, who also attended the meeting.
If realized, the project will cover four cities—Talisay, Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu—as well as four municipalities: Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan, and Compostela. The Capitol will be hosting a meeting with the concerned local government units to discuss about the project in the coming weeks.
Donoso noted that wastewater treatment is already a standard service in many countries, citing Singapore’s advanced system that recycles used water due to its limited freshwater resources.
“Our goal is to ensure that Cebu has a reliable and sustainable water supply, along with improved sanitation for our people,” he added.
Governor Baricuatro and Donoso serve as co-chairs of the project’s steering committee. The governor affirmed her commitment to rallying provincial LGUs to fully support and participate in the program’s implementation.
Donoso explained that the planned Metro Cebu wastewater treatment system will consist of a network of pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities designed to collect and process sewage and surface runoff—ultimately protecting public health and the environment. The system will employ multiple stages of treatment before safely releasing the cleaned water back into the environment.
“We’re not yet used to reusing water like Singapore does, but at the very least, we can return treated water cleanly to the water table,” Donoso said.
The JICA-funded master plan study, which began in 2024, will span three years and include a full feasibility assessment. The MCWD initially requested the study in 2018, and it was approved in 2019 with a budget allocation of 315 million Japanese yen. |𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶
