NEGROS ORIENTAL | September 12, 2022 – FPA Region VII visited the wastewater treatment facility and the proposed treatment site of the Universal Robina Corporation (URC) distillery last September 07, 2022, at Bais City, Negros Oriental.

Under the Department of Agriculture Administrative Order (AO) No. 11 series of 2019, re-use of wastewater for fertilization would only be allowed after securing a Certification of Safe Wastewater Re-use from FPA.

The certification would consider:

• Location and access – including topographic, characteristics, and soil condition;
• Characteristics of wastewater – including the concentration of macronutrients, micronutrients, heavy metals, pH level, electrical conductivity, and presence of pathogens;
• Plan on the re-use of wastewater – which area are to be fertilized, proposed crop/s, method of application, quantity of wastewater, schedule of application, nutrient management plan, and storage management.

The company passed the standards and is expected to submit all the necessary documents to the Fertilizer Regulations Division for the issuance of certification of safe wastewater re-use as fertilizer.

The inspection was spearheaded by Regional Officer Arnulfo Arausa, Jr., together with Provincial Officers Sunday Flores and Jesus Muring and was assisted by Mr. Remwel Estrallado – URC Environment Health and Safety Officer. ###

Source:

Department of Agriculture. (2019). Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 11 series 2019: Revised Guidelines on the Procedures and Technical Requirements for the Issuance of a Certification Allowing the Safe Re-use of Wastewater for Purposes of Irrigation and Other Agricultural Uses, Pursuant to Section 22.C of R.A. 9275 Otherwise Known as the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.