For excavation permits’ approval: MCWD hopeful with Garcia at helm

CEBU, Philippines — The Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) officials have expressed optimism that with the assumption of Raymond Alvin Garcia as Cebu City acting mayor last Monday, pending projects to provide more water to concessionaires would already push through.

Atty. Jose Daluz III, MCWD Board of Directors (BOD) chairman, said they are they are “100 percent confident” that with Garcia’s leadership, he would be supportive of their projects, including excavation applications.

Yesterday, the MCWD Board paid Garcia a visit as a courtesy call at City Hall.

The MCWD management also called a press conference and tackled, among others, its anticipation of Garcia’s support for MCWD’s projects.

Previously, the MCWD has been vocal about the unsigned excavation permits from the Cebu City Government that would have paved the way for the provision of more water supply.

During the press conference, MCWD General Manager Edgar Donoso said that once the excavation permits are signed, the upland barangays will be provided with water lines.

“For 50 years wala gyud silay tubig from MCWD. This time, kung mapirmahan na, naay construction period; after that, ready na man atong supply didto,” he said.

Donoso said the construction will last up to six months.

He narrated that while before their applications for excavation permit would only require the Technical Infrastructure Committee’s (TIC) concurrence, this was changed recently to already include that of the Office of the City Administrator.

“Di na mi ka monitor og asa na padung,” Donoso said.

He said that of the six they applied for this year, only one was signed.

MCWD reported that as of yesterday, MCWD water production was at 201,000 cubic meters per day, which is significantly low from its 301,000 cubic meters per day total production capability.

In particular, for the Jaclupan Dam, production is down to 6,000 cubic meters per day from 30,000 cubic meters per day; Lusaran, 8,000 cubic meters per day from 30,000 cubic meters per day; Buhisan Dam, 2,000 cubic meters per day from 6,000 cubic meters per day; and zero production from the Compostela town source.

“Nagpadayon gihapon ang kainit so taas na gyud kaayo atong deficit sa production,” Daluz said during the press conference.

He said that to make up for the deficit, they get supplies from wells within their service area.

Just recently, MCWD reopened pipes connecting to deep wells in Barangay Guadalupe to provide water to residents in the area.

Aside from this, MCWD is also hopeful that the desalination facility in Mandaue City will begin operating this May 17.  This facility is expected to produce 5,000 to 10,000 cubic meters per day.

“So far, stable pa ang atong supply sa tanan natong dams,” said Donoso. — (FREEMAN)