ILOILO City – Over 2,000 kilos of mixed waste and 120 kilos of sebo (solidified grease) were removed from the clogged drainage of the frequently flooded portion of Delgado Street in Barangay Mabolo-Delgado, City Proper.
The General Services Office (GSO) of the city government did the cleanup Friday last week, according to Engr. Neil Ravena, assistant department head.
The grease was likely from nearby restaurants and eateries, said Ravena.
“The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) should make sure that eateries and restaurants observe the proper discharge of their waste. They should have grease traps in their drainage systems,” said Ravena.
A grease trap (also known as grease interceptor, grease recovery device and grease converter) is a plumbing device designed to intercept most greases and solids before they enter a wastewater disposal system.
High-viscosity fats and cooking greases such as lard solidify when cooled, and can combine with other disposed solids to form blockages in the drainage system.
Mayor Jose Espinosa IIII ordered the CENRO to be strict with eateries and restaurants.
“There are penalties for the improper discharge of restaurant waste,” he said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Iloilo City District Engineering Office (ICDEO) has long been appealing to residents not to clog the city’s drainage system.
A drainage system is an essential part of living in a city or urban area as it reduces flood damage by carrying water away.
According to Engr. Rodney Gustilo, ICDEO chief, last year he requested the city government to require medium range-commercial establishments to have mechanisms preventing kitchen solid wastes from entering the drainage system.
“Kay ining mga sebo nga ‘ni kun mag-go directly sa drainage system, it will solidify. It will clog our drainage system,” said Gustilo.
He was referring to the use of grease traps that should be a must for businesses like fast food chains and restaurants.
The drainage system is supposed to cater to run-off water only and not wastes from the kitchens of these commercial establishments.
The city government, in cooperation with the Iloilo City Police Office, Bureau of Fire Protection and non-government organizations launched Oplan Tag-Ulan cleanup operations Friday last week.
Espinosa urged barangay captains to lead cleanups in their respective villages to avert flooding due to recklessly thrown garbage this rainy season.
Only about 30 percent of the city’s 180 barangays have materials recovery facilities or MRFs. Under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, these are solid waste transfer stations, sorting stations or drop-off centers, or a composting or recycling facility.
“Barangay officials will be penalized if they do not comply with that provision of the law,” said Espinosa./PN
