General Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, a few weeks back in June 23, 2011, broke ground for the construction of the Wastewater Treatment Facility of the General Santos City Central Public Market.

This project was first mentioned in this blog in February 2008, when a MOA was signed by then Mayor Jun Acharon and then US Ambassador Kristie Kenny for the  “Preparation of the Detailed Engineering Design (DED) & Detailed Cost Plan for the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) of the City Public Market”. Read that account by clicking here.

The facility is located at the clearing beside the old site of the city abattoir along the area of the Sarangani Bay known as Pearly Shells Beach, about 60 meters from Queen Tuna Park.

This Wastewater Treatment Facility Project of the local government unit of General Santos costing P8,000,000.00 is in partnership with DENR-EMB and EcoGov2.  It is meant to treat the wastewater passing through a drainage coming out from the Central Public Market before it is released into Sarangani Bay. By treating, the wastewater is disposed of harmful bacteria.

"UNVEILING THE PROJECT SIGNATURE WERE CITY ADMINISTRATOR JONG GONZALEZ, HIS ASSISTANT TEODY DUMAGAN, CITY COUNCILOR RICHARD ATENDIDO, ECOGOV 2 DEPUTY CHIEF OF PARTY REBECCA PAZ, MAYOR DARLENE ANTONINO-CUSTODIO & DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE OFFICE OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT OF USAID, MR. JOSEPH FOLTZ.

During the Groundbreaking ceremony, followed by the unveiling of the Project Signboard, in attendance with Mayor Darlene were Mr. Joseph Foltz, Deputy Chief of the Office of Energy & Environment of the USAID; Mr. Ed Karl Galing, Country Program Coordinator of the World Bank; Ms. Rebecca Paz, Deputy Chief of Party of EcoGov2; Dr. Rolando Metin, World Bank Consultant; Director Alfredo S. Pascual, DENR Regional Executive Director; Mr. Ruel Divino of CENRO Buayan; and, Mr. Eduardo Saladero of PENRO Sarangani.

They were joined by City Councilor Richard Atendido, City Administrator Jong Gonzalez, Assistant City Administrators Glenn Gonzales and Teody Dumagan.

Congressman Jun Acharon of the First District of South Cotabato was represented by his Chief of Staff Atty. Paolo Acharon.

The Wasterwater Treatment Facility Project for the General Santos City Central Public Market will become operational by November 2011.  Next similar project to watch out for after this is the soon to be completed  GenSan Sanitary Landfill Project which had its own ground breaking in 2010.

Read:  GenSan Sanitary Landfill Project Ground-Breaking

Abangan!