LWUA okays Tacloban relocation medium-term water supply plan

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 22 (PNA) -- The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has approved the PHP159-million water supply plan as a medium-term solution to the water shortage problem at the Tacloban North Resettlement Area.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Eastern Visayas Regional Director Bonifacio Uy confirmed that the plan endorsed on June 22, 2016 by the Regional Development Council (RDC) recently got the nod from LWUA.

The project will run for six months while waiting for the implementation of the PHP527 million level 3 Tacloban North Water Supply Project of LWUA and Leyte Metropolitan Water District (LMWD).

“Pending the completion of the LWUA-LMWD project, which is estimated to take almost two years from the start of construction, there is an urgent and serious need to develop a water supply strategy for the medium term and improve the ongoing delivery of safe water,” said Uy, who is also the RDC vice chairperson.

The medium-term water supply plan will develop a source through infiltration wells and pumping facilities, pipe-laying, use of large reservoirs and procurement of water trucks to transport water from the infiltration wells to the reservoirs.

“The plan also includes the provision of rain water harvesting facilities to be provided to the housing units so that rain water may be collected and utilized for domestic use,” Uy said.

The city government admitted that water supply has slowed down the pace of transferring families from danger zones to newly completed housing units.

Tacloban city administrator Irene Chui said water supply is a major setback to their efforts to move families to northern relocation sites.

Of the 14,433 families living in danger zones, only 2,000 have been transferred to their new homes as of this month.

“The city government has been delivering water to the northern villages since they have no access to potable water. Each family needs three to five cubic meters per day,” Chui said.

Even if the central government is pushing for the PHP527 million permanent water supply project, the city government will not stop negotiating private investors.

“The city government had talks with private investors like Manila Water and Maynilad. We’re just waiting for their final proposal. There is a Supreme Court ruling that water utilities cannot be monopolized. Private companies come in and invest,” Chui explained.

Citing studies of the United States Agency for International Development, long-term water supply for Tacloban relocation sites require at least PHP2 billion investments.

The city’s resettlement sites cover 10 villages – Cabalawan, Camansihay, Kawayan, New Kawayan, Suhi, Salvacion, San Isidro, Sto. Niño, Tigbao, and Tagpuro. (PNA)
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