LWUA undertakes P9 billion worth of water projects

MANILA, Philippines - In a last-ditch effort to help the outgoing Arroyo administration meet its legacy program target of providing water for all barangays by the end of this year, the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is currently pushing for the implementation and completion of P9 billion worth of water supply projects in 452 provincials areas, including the still numerous identified as waterless island and hinterland communities in the country.

Not since LWUA first embarked on a nationwide water supply development program in the mid 70s with the promulgation of Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended, otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973 which created LWUA and the local water districts to promote the development of provincial water supply systems, is the agency-carrying on with an effort of such massive scale, LWUA officials said.

According to LWUA, last year, the agency completed 107 water supply projects worth P655 million in as many provincial areas, including erstwhile waterless communities. But as of the same period, a total of 168 more water projects worth a combined P2.8 billion covering as many communities were still undergoing construction.

Presently, LWUA has already completed the programs of work for another 284 water supply projects worth more than P6 billion and these are already on the pipeline waiting for funding from the national government for their eventual implementation.

LWUA said its main preoccupation now is the completion of these numerous ongoing water supply projects and the implementation of the equally numerous water projects now on the pipeline to be able to help the Arroyo administration at least make good on its commitment to improve access to safe drinking water supply, especially for the so-called waterless communities.

On area basis, the still ongoing water projects are distributed as follows: 54 in North Luzon worth P1.6 billion; 63 in South Luzon, P1.2 billion; 36 in the Visayas, P766 million and 15 in Mindanao, P173 million. Projects on pipeline include 43 in North Luzon worth P1.5 billion; 64 in South Luzon, P1.7 billion and 172 in the Visayas and Mindanao worth P2.8 billion.