POWER

The FAB has a dedicated power supply, providing the cheapest electricity costs in the Philippines. GN
Power keeps the FAB running, operating a 600MW clean coal-fired power plant.

WATER

The FAB has 2.4 billion gallon-capacity dam, complemented by a water treatment plant capable of
delivering 14 million gallons of water everyday. The dam is fed by 1,500 hectares of a forested and well-
protected watershed.

SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT

The FAB has a fully-functional sewage treatment plant that can process 15,000 cubic meters of waste
per day.

AFAB JOINS CLEAN WATER ACT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

MARIVELES – The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) is taking its
environmental protection program a step further by committing to help key government
agencies in supervising and maintaining the water quality in the province.

The AFAB recently forged an agreement with the provincial government of Bataan, the
Environmental Management Bureau Region III (EMB R3) of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, QSR Management Link Association, Inc., and
Soliman E.C. Septic Tank Disposal for the implementation and enforcement of Republic
Act (RA) 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

Under the signed memorandum of agreement (MOA), the 3 government agencies and
the 2 private entities are mandated to ensure that all establishments near the Manila
Bay and river systems are complying with RA 9725.

“We are very happy for this development. We are very fortunate that EMB R3 for
Region 3 Director Lormerine Claudio is very passionate to push for this project. She did
not give up on getting this thing off the ground,” AFAB Chairman Deogracias G.P.
Custodio said.
“Small gains like what we inaugurated today will go a long run in inspiring other people
to do the same. There are commitments that the different signatories to the agreement
will implement various projects under this new partnership,” he added.

For its part, the AFAB will utilize its Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to preserve and
maintain the quality of water being used by the locators and households within the
freeport. The Authority is also mandated to determine reasonable charge rate per
treatment for households and establishments in Bataan and nearby areas, and submit
to EMB R3 a quarterly report on the number of establishments and quantity of septage
treated.

The AFAB is also set to sign a separate MOA with Soliman E.C., which will give the
private company a permit to treat all of the sewage that it hauled at the freeport’s STP.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Bataan will initiate an information, education

and communication (IEC) campaign about the importance of septage and sewage
treatment. The IEC Campaign will be assisted and supported by EMB R3.

The provincial government will also issue a provincial ordinance requiring the regular
treatment of septage and sewage for all households and all industrial and commercial
establishments within its jurisdiction.

The administration of Bataan Gov. Raymond Albert Garcia also vowed to ensure that
the government, through business permits and clearance from the Department of
Health, authorizes all hauling activities of septage in the province.

Non-profit corporation QSR Management Link, on the other hand, committed to facilitate
the participation of all its branches within the Manila Bay watershed to exercise proper
maintenance and treatment of its effluents.

The new development will help in assuring the locators at the freeport that aside from a
booming economy, they will also enjoy a well preserved and developed environment.

The FAB is the emerging fashion manufacturing hub of the Philippines, as it possesses
a budding cluster of companies producing high-end brands of garments, apparel, shoes
and accessories, like bags, jewelries, among others. Its vision is to be the Freeport of
choice in the country by 2020, becoming a center of trade, innovation and sustainable
development in Asia and promoting work-life balance, global competitiveness and
environmental protection.

Bataan freeport regulator signs water treatment deal

Posted on May 10, 2015

BATAAN FREEPORT REGULATOR SIGNS WATER TREATMENT DEAL

THE AUTHORITY OF FREEPORT AREA OF BATAAN (AFAB) HAS FORGED A
PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ENSURE
ACCESS TO QUALITY WATER IN THE PROVINCE.
AFAB said in a statement on Friday it signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the
provincial government of Bataan; the Environmental Management Bureau -- Region III (EMB 3);
QSR Management Link Association, Inc. and Soliman E.C. Septic Tank Disposal “for the
implementation and enforcement of Republic Act No. 9275 or the Clean Water Act of 2004.”

Under the agreement, the parties have the responsibility to ensure that all
establishments near the Manila Bay and river systems are complying with the law.

AFAB Chairman Deogracias G.P. Custodio said in the statement: “Small gains like what
we inaugurated today will go a long way in inspiring other people to do the same.”

The signatories to the agreement “will implement various projects under this new
partnership,” he added.

As part of its participation, AFAB will utilize its own sewage treatment plant to preserve
and maintain the water quality used by locators and residents within the area.

It was also mandated to determine reasonable charges to treat water for households
and establishments in Bataan and nearby areas.

A report -- determining the number of establishments and quantity of septage treated --

will have to be submitted to the EMB on a quarterly basis.

AFAB is also poised to sign another MoA with Soliman E.C., which in turn will be in
charge of treating the sewage hauled.

The provincial government of Bataan will be in charge of carrying out an information

education campaign IEC on the importance of the septage and sewage treatment.

“The provincial government will also issue a provincial ordinance requiring the regular
treatment of septage and sewage for all households and all industrial and commercial
establishments within its jurisdiction,” AFAB said.

QSR, a non-profit entity, for its part will facilitate the participation of all its branches
within the Manila Bay watershed to exercise maintenance and treatment of effluents.

“The new development will help in assuring the locators at the free port that aside from
a booming economy, they will also enjoy a well preserved and developed environment,”
said AFAB.

AFAB is positioning the free port area as a fashion manufacturing hub in the Philippines
given the cluster of companies producing high-end garments, apparel, shoes and
accessories in the area.
“Its vision is to be the Freeport of choice in the country by 2020, becoming a center of
trade, innovation and sustainable development in Asia and promoting work-life balance,
global competitiveness and environmental protection,” AFAB said.

Data from its web site showed that AFAB approved P390.6-million worth of investments
at end-2012 -- four times more than the previous year.

 
Source: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=bataan-freeport-
regulator-signs-water-treatment-deal&id=107606

WRITTEN BY

Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano

Business World Online

Reference

http://afab.gov.ph/?p=906