Dear Mayor:
Greetings! I am a student from Silliman University. I have been living here in this City for three years now, and have found a special place for Dumaguete in my heart. It is indeed true that Dumaguete, my home away from home, is a city of Gentle People.
However, it has disturbed me this past few months how part of the Rizal Boulevard doesn’t seem to smell right.
I thought it was only the seabreeze or the food being sold in the boulevard that I smelled. But upon closer look and more keen observation, I realized that there are pipes that spill untreated and polluted water to the open sea.
Moreover, I also noticed similar pipes at the Silliman Beach area in barangay Bantayan.
I am aware there’s an area in Quezon Park that has a water treatment facility that uses plants as wastewater filters.
I am curious if there is another wastewater treatment facility existing in the City?
Section 27 of R.A. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 states that the “discharging, depositing or causing to be deposited material of any kind directly or indirectly into the water bodies or along the margins of any surface water, where, the same shall be liable to be washed into such surface water, either by tide action or by storm, floods or otherwise, which could cause water pollution or impede natural flow in the water body” is prohibited.
I hope that the City government, with the respective offices concerned, attend to this matter as soon as possible for the reason that Rizal Boulevard is supposed to be a major attraction of the City, the frontline showcase of the beauty this City possesses.
It is important that we maintain the quality of life many people have enjoyed here through the years and for the generations to come.
Much more importantly, the City has gained many recognitions in the past years as one of the best cities in the world to live in, and many people have fallen in love with the vibe and charm that this City radiates.
But all these would amount to nothing when we take for granted the small yet vital parts that make up the reason why Dumaguete City is indeed a home away from home for everyone. God bless!
Nikko Paolo V. Calledo
Concerned SEAtizen
