PH gets aid from Japan to improve sewerage systems

The Philippines is getting help from Japanese technology to give the country’s aging sewerage system a much-needed upgrade.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Thursday that it has joined the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan in a seminar on the sewerage sector and a handover ceremony of the draft Pipe Jacking Standards for the Philippines.

MLIT also extended its assistance in formulating plans on Philippine standards for draft pipe jacking, a trenchless method used to install underground pipelines for sewer, water, and utility pipelines in urban areas with minimal excavation and disruption to surface activities and the environment.

“This initiative aligns with the commitment made at the Asia Wastewater Management Partnership General Assembly in August 2023 to enhance the adoption of the pipe jacking method among participating nations,” DPWH said in a statement.

“With the introduction of Japanese expertise and the establishment of tailored standards, the Philippines is poised to benefit from enhanced sewerage systems and improved wastewater management practices, contributing to sustainable urban development and environmental preservation,” DPWH Bureau of Equipment director Toribio Noel Ilao said.

Meanwhile, MLIT director Nishi Shu expressed a positive outlook on the effects of draft pipe jacking in improving sanitation and environmental sustainability in the country after its success in Japan.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News