The heirs of the late National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin have donated a 1.14-hectare property in Oriental Mindoro to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the construction of the “second and bigger” sewage treatment plant near the province’s famous White Beach, Barangay San Isidro in Puerto Galera.
With the donation, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the agency could start next month the construction of the P194-million STP that is expected to be operational by the last quarter of 2020.
About 2,000 square meters of the donated property would be used for the STP, while a sub-office of the DENR-Batangas provincial environment and natural resources would be built in the remaining 9,444 square meters.
To have a second STP and a DENR satellite office within Puerto Galera’s White Beach area would enhance efforts to preserve it and help avoid another temporary closure of a tourist destination because of environmental problems, just like what happened to Aklan’s Boracay Island.
“Puerto Galera was ahead of Boracay in terms of gaining international attention as a major tourist destination and I commend its local executives and stakeholders for taking a proactive stance to prevent a Boracay-like scenario in Puerto Galera,” the DENR chief said.
He thanked the Locsin family and Puerto Galera Mayor Rockey Ilagan for his serious commitment to protect and conserve Mindoro’s prime ecotourism destination.
Puerto Galera’s first STP, a P100-million facility located in Barangay Sabang, became fully operational last December.
It has since been treating 1,750 cubic meters of uncontrolled wastewater per day.
Leandro Locsin Jr. was the signatory in the deed of donation.
The second STP would have a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters and would service residents and business establishments in Barangay San Isidro.