Mactan Rock kicks off P6M missionary project

Cebuano-owned Mactan Rock Industries, Inc. has started its P6 million missionary projects in three islands in the Visayas providing cheaper and good quality water supply.

Mactan Rock will soon start supplying desalinated water to residents in Kinatarcan Island, in Sta. Fe, Cebu, Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental, and Limasawa Island in Southern Leyte.

In an interview with Mactan Rock president Antonio Tompar, he said the company would invest P2 million in the installation of the purified water processor in each island.

"This is our missionary project, we do not expect to make money in five years, the return of investments in these kinds of [missionary] projects will take long," he said.

Aside from the residents who are currently buying water per pail from mainland or towns, Tompar said providing enough water in these islands will also help the tourism potential of these areas.

Apo Island for instance in Negros Oriental, is one of the best diving spots in Asia, and number three in the world. Tompar said this has to be provided with basic necessities such as water so that resorts investment will perk up in the island.

In Apo Island, there are only two resorts, the Liberty Community Lodge, and Apo Island Beach Resort, he said with enough water supply investors will be encouraged to invest and put even high-end tourism facilities.

Limasawa Island, in the Southern part of Leyte, is also a one of the tourism assets in the country, where the first Christianity mass was held, he said the Island only has one resort, and there is no potable water readily available for 5,000 residents in the entire Island.

In Kinatarcan Island, Sta. Fe, the 8,000 residents are buying their water requirement from mainland, with P10 per pail. Mactan Rock is offering P3 per pail, with water quality that is already purified.

According to Tompar since, Mactan Rock is a water technology solutions provider it can make ways on how to provide potable water to "thirsty" communities like these three islands.

The company will first install the APO Island project, next will be the Kinatarcan, Limasawa Island will be installed towards the end of this year.

Mactan Rock has already signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the local government units (LGU) in these three islands. The three Islands are giving Mactan Rock a 20-year water supply contract.