Resto sewer line out; int’l school, Lucnab residents air relief

 BAGUIO CITY – Residents here heaved sighs of relief after the sewerage pipeline of a  popular restaurant located at Outlook Drive was finally removed.

    Barangay Lucnab folks said the pipeline, which ended at a forest creek, some 200 meters below, polluted their water source and made the environment and air odorous beside the Disciples for Christ Independent School Inc.      

    Workers started removing the pipeline Tuesday, earlier installed by Lemon and Olives Greek Taverna Restaurant management located at 26, Outlook Drive.

    Residents said it was ironic that people were lining up to get inside the restaurant which was discharging human waste below the site.

    City, health and environment officials earlier ordered the source sealed and the pipeline removed.

    City Environment and Parks Management Office head lawyer Renan G. Diwas sent a team to the area after the restaurant management didn’t remove the pipeline for a week despite orders from, authorities. 

    At the end of the pipeline is an underground tunnel wherein water and seepage flows down polluting farms below.

    Lucnab folks said they used the water earlier to wash their clothes but when the sewer pipelines were installed, due to seepage, they stopped doing so.   

    Residents earlier appealed to Mayor Benjamin Magalong and City Council to address their complaint.

    Representatives from the city government which included the CEPMO, Dept. of Health, Environment Management Bureau and Barangay Lucnab earlier ordered the sewer pipeline source sealed Jan. 10.

But the following days, the foul odor was again strong at the school compound even as classes had started.

    The past weeks staff, teachers and students said the smell was unbearable making them on the verge of vomiting.

    Complainants urged authorities to address the issue.

    The DC ISI sent a complaint letter dated Jan. 3 addressed to CEPMO asking that the pipeline be removed as it polluted the environment considering one of main programs of the City Government was addressing environmental degradation.

    The letter was brought to the CEPMO by Lucnab barangay officials headed by Jerry M. Esteban.

    Another letter complaint made by Lucnab folks was also given to the CEPMO by Lucnab barangay officials regarding the problem earlier, saying their water source was polluted by said septic tank seepage.

    The seepage pipeline installed by restaurant or building staff reportedly passed through residential properties including a government forest reservation, but when owners complained, restaurant management reportedly added more pipes until it reached the creek within the forest reservation beside the school.

    DFCIS and Lucnab folks thanked authorities for addressing the problem fast. – By Alfred Dizon