Baguio: The city government is hopeful of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority's (TIEZA) commitment to help in the rehabilitation of the sewerage treatment plant (STP), following its submission of an initial funding request for the purpose.

According to Philippines News Agency, Mayor Benjamin Magalong expressed confidence in TIEZA's support, noting a personal commitment from General Manager Mark Lapid during his visit earlier this year. The city has already requested an initial funding of PHP500 million for the project. The total cost of the project is estimated to exceed PHP1 billion, which will cover the establishment of a new sewerage treatment plant and the upgrade of the existing sewerage network leading to the Balili Catchment Area.

The project aims to accommodate the city's projected population growth by 2035 and ensure compliance with stricter environmental standards. Currently, 10,415 households are connected to the old STP, but the city plans to increase this number to 35,991 by 2035 to serve an expected population surge, including residents, tourists, and visitors, estimated at 460,000.

The aging STP, in operation since 1986, was originally designed to process 8,600 cubic meters of wastewater per day. However, it is now overwhelmed due to increased wastewater generation. The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) has raised concerns about fecal coliform levels in the Balili and Bued Rivers, attributed to the STP's limited capacity and other human activities.

Compounding the issue, damaged sewer lines have caused leakages that further contaminate the environment, posing a threat to local water systems. The city government is awaiting TIEZA's response to their funding request to address these challenges.

In a previous interview, TIEZA GM Mark Lapid mentioned their involvement in a similar project in Coron, Palawan, highlighting the importance of preventing tourist site closures due to environmental violations. Before the pandemic, the DENR had warned Baguio's government about water pollution, but plans in place led the agency to withhold fines.

However, the lack of foreign funding for the project has left the city at risk of incurring fines ranging from PHP10,000 to PHP200,000 per day, potentially diverting crucial funds from essential services.