BAGUIO CITY – As a result of the legislative monitoring and evaluation conducted by the sangguniang panlungsod, city ordinance no. 7, series of 2009 requiring carwash establishments to have a drainage system is not being fully implemented considering that most of the carwash establishments have no drainage systems of their own.
It has been reported that the water used for washing vehicles goes directly to the canals, rivers, street gutters or storm drains.
Meanwhile, some provisions of city ordinance no. 18, series of 2016 also known as the environment code of the city of Baguio states; “auto repair and carwash establishments must conduct their business anywhere near and at least ten meters away from roadsides, pavements, drainage lines, creeks, rivers, gulleys and streams to prevent the discharge of motor oils, petroleum products and untreated waste water into the waterways. Owners or repair shops shall install appropriate catchment and receptacles for used gas and oils that must be properly placed in sealed containers and disposed of through authorized means. Carwash owners must construct/install a treatment facility like septic tank with grease separator before water is disposed to the drainage line”.
The City Environment and Parks Management Office and the Permits and Licensing Division of the city mayor’s office are tasked to monitor the activities of all auto repair shops and carwash establishments and accordingly close any business establishments found to be violating the provisions of the city’s environment code.
No business permit shall be issued for non-compliance.
City council recently passed resolution numbered 302 tasking the CEPMO and the PLD to closely coordinate with all the 128 barangays in Baguio to strictly monitor the compliance to the existing ordinances of all carwash establishments and auto repair shops operating in the city of Baguio.
The monitoring will be at the same time benefit the PLD considering that there are reports that a significant number of establishments around the city were not in the list provided by the PLD. /Jho Arranz
