MCWD to give P5M for Talisay's watershed

THE Metro Cebu Water District yesterday agreed "in principle" to provide seed capital for the reforestation of watershed area and for the rehabilitation of a subterranean aquifer in Talisay City.

But MCWD board chairman Juan Saul Montecillo said the agreed P5 million will be spread out in equal monthly installments of P12,250 per month until fully paid or until such time that MCWD shall continue to draw ground water from Talisay, whichever comes earlier.

The MCWD pumps 35,000 cubic meters of water from four stations in barangay Jaclupan, which are under the territorial jurisdiction of Talisay City. Water is also pumped from the subterranean aquifer of Jaclupan Valley for distribution to MCWD's concessionaires in Metro Cebu.

The memorandum of agreement signed by the city and MCWD states that the water firm shall also coordinate with the city in its reforestation program especially in Jaclupan.

The barangay shall have at least one seedling bank to be manned by a farmer who shall be a resident of the barangay. The nursery shall supply seedlings of different varieties of trees to be planted in the watershed area. The water utility shall also hire an agriculturist to supervise the tree planting activities and to oversee the work.

On the other hand, Montecillo has promised that MCWD will settle its tax liabilities to the city but protested the assessment of its payment on machineries and equipment.

MCWD has an outstanding balance of P200,000 in real property taxes. - Garry B. Lao