MALOLOS CITY, Philippines – For more than 10 years, teachers and students of a Dumagat school in Norzagaray, Bulacan were wishing for their school to have water and power supply.
Ironically, the school is located inside the National Power Corp. (Napocor) Compound in Angat Dam, a major water source for Metro Manila, which also generates power for the Luzon Grid.
Their wish was granted last Wednesday after officials of the Napocor and the Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-Water) finally inaugurated the power and water supply installed recently in the area.
The project was made possible through the assistance of K-Water, the incoming owner and operator of the privatized Angat Hydro Electric Power Plant (AHEPP), said Gladys Cruz-Sta. Rita, Napocor’s president and chief executive officer.
Cruz-Sta. Rita said K-Water spent P1.7 million for the project, which includes the installation of solar panels for the school’s electric supply.
She said the Korean firm also installed water supply to the school after constructing the restrooms.
“We are cautious in the implementation of the project,” she said noting that as a matter of policy, power and water supply is limited to the school.
The policy was meant to discourage informal settlers from occupying areas near the school, which is within the Angat watershed.