By Minerva Newman  TAGBILARAN CITY -- The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) approved the P100 million Panglao Septage Treatment Project (STP). In March this year, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Sec. Roy Cimatu and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Sec. Ernesto Pernia inspected Alona beach area and other beaches in Panglao in relation to the liquid waste problem confronting the local government units. Then Gov. Edgar Chatto, now First District congressman, directed then Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II to work with JICA officials in Manila and Tokyo, Japan for the province to avail of the project grant. The DENR secretary highly evaluated PJW’s water environment protection approach. But a septage treatment plant is not enough and a sewage system should be considered and required. Thus, Bohol government intends to leverage the country’s only technology for the biological simultaneous removal (BSR) of nitrogen and phosphorous for effluent water. The first phase of the project will include septage management. The next phase will be the sewage system affecting Alona, Tawala and Danao areas in Panglao. Both Yap and Chatto have strongly lobbied through NEDA, for JICA to grant the phase two of the project. During his administration, Chatto created the Panglao-Dauis-Tagbilaran City Executive Committee (PADTEC) for an integrated approach to address the issues involving Panglao island waste management. Bohol governor Arthur Yap discussed with Phil-Japan Worldwide (PJW) Management Service, Inc. President Yoshiji Matsuda, General Manager Dorcas Matsuda and Engineering Manager Ronald Navarro the next steps for implementation.