San Fernando City in La Union Province is one of the few cities in the Philippines to have both a City Environment Code and a City Sanitation Code (download both from the "Downloads" section of this web page). Over the next few months, the Technical Working Group will be reviewing these documents as well as how other cities have incorporated septage management into their rules and regulations. The Technical Working Group is currently drafting both an amendment to the City's Sanitation Code as well as a new ordinance. The amendment will update and strengthen the Sanitation Code in the area of septic tank management, including adding details regarding proper septic tank design and installation, maintenance, and desludging procedures and schedules. It will also clarify roles and responsibilities, fines and fees, and allowed exceptions to septic tanks. The new ordinance will formally introduce the Septage and Sewerage Management Program by establishing the details for a septage treatment plant, new desludging fees, and the installation of pilot sewage treatment projects in the City. Once finalized by the Technical Working Group, these updates will be recommended to the City Council, subjected to public hearings, and formally presented for approval.
Taken together, this legal update will provide a strong framework for the achievement of San Fernando's sanitation goals and will serve as an excellent example for future cities to mimic.
The draft text will be posted here once it is submitted to the Technical Working Group.
Notices of public hearings will be posted in this web page as well as in the local paper.
