Capitol earmarks P20M water projects

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) has laid out at least P20 million worth of projects to address water crisis in the province due to El Niño.

Rhee Telen, Jr., information officer, said the projects were included in its programs from 2016 up to the present. The projects are primarily preparedness measures and funded from the PDRRM-Disaster Preparedness Fund and re-programmed trust fund.

Part of the allocation was P8.9 million for the proposed construction of a portable water treatment plant in Bantayan Island. The project, however, is yet to be approved by the provincial board.

He said the proposed water project in the island was a product of the water summit in 2015 when Cebu was also affected by the dry spell. Telen said that based from the previous El Niño experience, the PDRRMO was able to learn from the setbacks and also gauge the needed preparatory measures that were later on incorporated in their regular programs.

He clarified that these PDRRMO-funded water projects do not include the programs mapped out by the Capitol’s engineering department. He said because an El Niño phenomenon is historically projected to recur every three to seven years, these projects are intended to heighten water security and maintain resilient livelihood in the communities.

“Bisan wala pa naabot ang El Niño, atong programs naglantaw na daan sa unsa’y mga mahitabo (Our programs are proactive without or without El Niño),” he said.

The PDRRMO records showed that there already completed projects. These include the P2 million piped water system in Barangay Manio, San Remigio, which was turned over this year.

There are also ongoing construction of water systems in Barangay Arbor, Boljoon; Barangay Sunog, Balamban; and Barangay Ticad, Bantayan. The Capitol also purchased 890 units of plastic drums worth P1.2 million, 598 units have already been distributed to different towns and barangays across the province.

The Capitol also funded P616,000 to procure water pumps; P250,000 for the polyethylene pipes (32 mm×100m); P390,000 for other polyethylene pipes (25mm×100m); P1.1 million for the 1000 liters Plastic Water Tanks; P160,000 for the 200 liters Plastic Drums; P1.07 million for the 1,000 liters Stainless steel Water Tanks.

Telen said two other PDRRMO-funded projects are being implemented by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist-- P1 million for the water impounding and storage facilities for farmers in the province and P600,000 for the construction of greenhouse structures. (FREEMAN)