Nine Tabuelan mountain barangays get water system

CEBU, Philippines - The Province of Cebu and the Municipality of Tabuelan has signed a memorandum of agreement yesterday for the implementation of the P19-million waterworks system for its mountain barangays.

The water system will serve the mountain barangays of Kanlim-ao, Mabunao, Villahermosa, Kantubaon, Kanluhangon, and upper sitios of coastal barangays of Tabunok, Olivo, Tigbawan and Maravilla.

The signing was led by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Tabuelan Mayor Rex Casiano Gerona and witnessed by fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon and Provincial Board Members Sun Shimura and Joven Mondigo, Jr.

The construction of the project shall be implemented and undertaken by the Provincial Government. The operation and management of the said water system shall be undertaken by the municipality subject to applicable rules and regulations and consultation with the province.

Under the agreement, 50 percent of the gross proceeds/revenues of the operations of the water system shall accrue to the province and the remaining 50 percent shall accrue to the municipality to be used exclusively in the operation, management and maintenance of the water system.

Gerona said they will utilize the Gumbang Spring as source of water system that will provide potable water to its constituents. He added that with the signing of the agreement, they already saw the solution of the problem in the mountain barangays though the project still has to be bid out.

In her speech, Garcia emphasized the unity among the officials of the province and municipality that led to the realization of the dream of the people.

While she is barred from seeking another term as governor, Garcia urged the officials to choose a governor who could sustain the unity.

Also, Garcia turned over yesterday to Gerona a P1.3 million worth of check for the construction of its birthing center and the P.5-million seed fund for the Coastal Resource Management Council Far North cluster.

The senior citizen’s building worth P805,000 was also inaugurated and a multicab worth P114,000 was turned over to the Tabuelan Skills Training Center.

There was also a distribution of anti-rabies vaccines and group accident insurance to barangay officials and volunteer workers; famers and fisherfolks.

Garcia also led the inauguration of two-classroom buildings each in barangays Kantubaon and Mabunao. — (FREEMAN)