By Xander Ledesma
The launch meeting for the “Sewerage Master Plan” took place on November 8, 2024, marking the start of an infrastructure project aimed at addressing Cebu City’s environmental challenges. The event was attended by local officials, delegates from Japan’s International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and urban planning experts.
The Sewerage Master Plan is a collaboration between the Philippine government and JICA. It aims to provide modern sewerage systems for Cebu City, addressing issues such as pollution, sanitation, and urban growth.
Cebu City has faced challenges from rapid population growth, urbanization, and expanding tourism. The lack of a comprehensive sewerage system has led to water contamination and inadequate waste disposal, creating public health concerns. This project aims to address these problems.
Japan’s involvement in the project builds on years of cooperation between Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT), the Philippine government, and Cebu stakeholders. Japanese engineers and planners will work with local government units to ensure the project meets both local needs and international environmental standards.
The plan will be implemented in multiple phases. It begins with the installation of primary sewer lines and the construction of wastewater treatment facilities to process residential and industrial wastewater, reducing pollutants in local waterways.
New sewer lines will be installed in key areas, including business districts, residential zones, and tourist attractions. The project will ensure wastewater is safely transported to treatment plants, where it will be purified before being discharged into rivers, lakes, or oceans.