Dr. Emmanuel Estipona, chief of Legazpi City Veterinary Office. (PNA file photo)
LEGAZPI CITY – The City Veterinary Office (CVO) is now fine-tuning all the documents in preparation for the construction of a biogas plant here.
Dr. Emmanuel Estipona, CVO chief, said in an interview on Monday the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has downloaded PHP500,000 to the Office of the City Treasurer to be used for the construction of the project and payment for consultancy.
The project materialized through the memorandum of agreement (MOA) earlier signed by Mayor Noel Rosal on the part of the city government of Legazpi and DOST-Bicol regional director Rommel Serrano.
“The civil works of the biogas plant project will soon start at the adjacent area of the Double AA slaughter house at Barangay San Rogue in this city,” Estipona said.
He noted that the biogas plant project is under the CVO since they are the one managing the slaughterhouse.
"The biogas plant will use animal manure which we have in the slaughterhouse. The biogas will mitigate the public health hazard and environmental degradation, it will also produce high grade fertilizer that can be used in farming activities by all the members of the legitimate farmers organizations in this city,” Estipona said.
“The biogas will also produce methane gas for boiler fuel to substitute diesel and through this project, the city Double AA abattoir will become model on solid waste management practices,” he added.
Estipona said the DOST will provide training on biogas plant management, operation and maintenance and promoting the project through media release.
“The agency will designate a focal person who will coordinate and provide necessary technical assistance and monitoring project implementation,” he said.
Estipona also said the DOST will monitor and evaluate the project implementation and recommend appropriate actions for noted problems or deficiencies to ensure the success of the project.
He said on the part of the local government unit (LGU), it will provide for the site of the biogas plant project and hire workers for the operation.
Estipona also said the Legazpi LGU will buy the biogas-fueled engine generator and install biogas scrubbers/cleaners and electrical lines as well as tools, equipment including accessories and personnel protective equipment.
He said the LGU is responsible for the periodic preventive maintenance, necessary repairs and safekeeping of the equipment and will shoulder the utilities and provide operation cost including manpower support for its operations.
“The LGU will notify the DOST of any deviations in the activities and plans relative to the implementation of the project and will maintain an urban organic demo farm to showcase biogas digester effluents as organic fertilizer," he said. (PNA)
