THE DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology’s (DoST) Davao office is planning to set up more small-scale wastewater treatment facilities within the region in the country’s south, targeting both public establishments and private enterprises.

The treatment facilities will use the Vertical Helophyte Filtration System (VHFS) technology that allows filtration and reuse of wastewater.

The European-developed VHFS has already been adopted for domestic use at a community along the Davao River and the Davao City-Maa slaughterhouse.

Davao Region, composed of five provinces and the independent city of Davao, does not have a sewerage system.

DoST Regional Director Anthony C. Sales, in a virtual briefing last week, said they are already working with the different local government units for setting up VHFS projects in the various slaughterhouses, public markets, and schools.

He said they are also offering the low-cost system to micro, small and medium enterprises.

“With this technology, we want to help the government, especially the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), entrepreneurs and even households comply with DENR standards on wastewater… so that the environment will not be negatively impacted,” he said. — Maya M. Padillo

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