Composting, Water Management and

Piloting a New System of Wastewater

Treatment
Puerto Princesa City
 Puerto Princesa - A city in a forest

 A city richly endowed with natural resources, Puerto Princesa possesses an

array of diverse ecosystems with healthy biodiversity from ridge to reef,
making the city a tropical paradise in this part of the world.
 Strategically located in the central portion of the island province of Palawan
in southwestern Philippines, Puerto Princesa is typhoon-free and far from
major earthquake fault lines.
 Puerto Princesa is considered the largest city in the country covering a total
land area of 253,982 hectares with a coastline of 416 kilometers abounding
with marine life. Having a forest cover of 161,209 hectares which is believed
to be the biggest in any city in the country, Puerto Princesa is aptly referred
to as the “Princess City in the Last Frontier”.
 The City is a home to a wide range of life-giving natural tourist
attractions such as mountains, lush virgin forests, endemic flora and
fauna, exotic islands, unspoiled beaches, world-class diving sites,
waterfalls, hot springs, and the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River
National Park, a World Heritage Site, where the famous 8.2 km
underground river flows – the longest underground river in Asia and
second longest in the world – is located. It is an official nominee and
finalist to the search for the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The
Underground River gained further recognition with the recent discovery
of a 20-million-year-old “Sirenia” (sea cow) fossil found in the inner
cavity by a team of Italian scientists from the University of Florence.
The 22,202-hectare Park is a unique tourist attraction, a total
destination offering high quality of experience to tourists through a
wide range of nature, adventure, and recreational activities. The karst
limestone ridges around Mt. St. Paul, the diverse ecosystem, the rare
flora and fauna and its fine beaches indeed make Puerto Princesalive up
to its reputation as the Princess of the Philippine Islands.
 Puerto Princesa is the thriving center for trade and commerce,
communication, education and government service, being the capital and
lone city for the 23 municipalities of the province. Yet in the pursuit of
socio economic development, the city is consistent with its thrust on
preserving its environmental integrity. Its economy is centered on tourism
and agriculture. It has a community-based sustainable tourism platform
that cares for the environment, develops and uplifts the people’s way of
life, provides for economic development and strengthens local
governance.
 Puerto Princesa is also a Hall of Fame Awardee for being the cleanest and
greenest city in the Philippines. Consistent with its environmental
programs and advocacies, its local government initiated massive tree
planting programs such as the “Pista Y and Cagueban” (Feast of the
Forest) and the Love Affair with Nature program, which paved the way for
the reforestation of its watersheds and coastal mangrove areas
 Puerto Princesa is a home to the culturally rich, lively and diverse community.
There is respect for individual worth, tolerance of differences between people
and collective responsibility for a shared vision of becoming a Model City in
Sustainable Development. People have high regard for the environment, and
recognize the consequences of previous environmental neglect and lack of
respect for natural resources. The city in itself, its people, the beautiful
beaches, the pristine waters and mountain views attest that socio-economic
development can go hand-in-hand with environmental protection
and rehabilitation.

 Puerto Princesa is guided by the Code of Conduct for the conservation,

Protection, and Restoration (CPR) of the Sources of Life. City Ordinance # 396-
2008. It covers all ordinances enacted by the Sangguniang Panglungsod which
are relevant to the conservation, protection, restoration, utilization and
management of the environment, specifically along the areas of land, air and
water. To prevent, reduce, minimize and, where practicable, eliminate harm to
the environment:
Among its objectives and purpose is to:
 To prevent, reduce, minimize and, where practicable, eliminate harm to the environment:
 by programs to encourage and assist action by industry, government authorities and the
community aimed at pollution prevention, clean productions and technologies,
reduction, reuse and recycling of materials and natural resources, and waste
minimization;
 by regulating in an integrated, systematic and cost effective manner:
 activities, products, substances and services that through pollution or production
of waste, cause environmental harm,
 the generation, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste;

 To coordinate activities, policies and program necessary to prevent,

reduce, minimize or eliminate environmental harm to ensure effective environmental
protection, restoration and enhancement;
 To facilitate the adoption and implementation of environment protection measures
agreed on by the national government, environmental non-government organizations and
the City Government for greater uniformity and effectiveness in environmental protection;
Section 56. Drainage Systems. - The Mayor shall adopt necessary measures to
ensure that adequate city and barangay drainage systems are established and
maintained to prevent the negative effects of all types of effluents on both
surface and underground water quality. The Mayor shall also provide assistance
to barangays for the purpose of ensuring that solid wastes are properly disposed
for the protection of water resources.

Section 57. Organic Farming and Soil and Water Conservation. - The Mayor
shall assist barangays in the implementation of community-based forestry
projects for the purpose of instituting improved soil and water conservation
techniques and generate resources to implement the measures. Likewise, the
Mayor shall promote the application of organic farming techniques among
farmers and use all its powers to enforce the laws governing the use of
prohibited agricultural chemicals.
 In response to the promotion of organic farming, the City Agriculture
Office, City ENRO and City Sanitary Land Fill Project and NGO’s initiated to
established a demonstration to promote a “Vermiculture” Project. It
utilizes the vegetables trash collected from the market and animal waste
accumulated from the slaughter house. Likewise, the city sanitary landfill
provides an area for agricultural waste composting.
Cont. Vermiculture

Organic Fertilizer
Agricultural Waste Composting:
Cont. Agricultural waste
Cont. Composting
 Piloting a New System of Wastewater Treatment Puerto
Princesa City

 With the partnership of DENR, PPCLGU and NGO’S it initiated to Adopt

and Estero Program
 The project were pioneered at Barangay Mandaragat, Puerto Princesa
City.
There are 2 strategies applied in the program.

1. MUD BALL MAKING/THROWING

2. VETIVER PLANTING FOR BANK STABLIZATION
Results:
Served to encourage other barangays to adopt the program
Other initiatives undertaken on City’s Water Management:
1. Assistance to DENR Project on ambient water quality monitoring for
classification of water bodies.
2. Conduct trend monitoring of water quality of underground river.
3. In coordination with the DENR-EMB assist in the conduct of evaluation of
waste water of establishments for securing discharge permit..
Special Thanks to the Following:

 Barangay Council of Barangay Mandaragat headed by Hon. Gerry

c. Abad
 Sanitary Landfill staff headed by Mr. Joseph Carpio.
Thank You Very Much