Carmen to get royalty from bulkwater project

CEBU, Philippines - Executives of the Ayala-led Manila Water Company (MWC) briefed yesterday the barangay officials of Carmen town on the P702-million Cebu Bulk Water Project that will start soon.

MWC President and chief Executive Officer Gerardo Ablaza Jr. and Virgilio Rivera Jr., Group Director, Regulation and Corporate Development personally went to Carmen town yesterday to give residents an overview of the project and its benefits.

They emphasized that Cebu Bulk Water Project is the fourth of the Ayala Group’s investments in Cebu aside from telecommunications, banking and real estate.

With them were Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board Member Jude Thaddeus Sybico, Carmen Mayor Martin Gerard Villamor and other town officials.

Cebu Bulk Water Project is a joint venture of the Cebu Provincial Government and MWC that involves treatment of the surface water of Luyang River in Carmen to supply water in Metro Cebu.

Villamor, in his welcome message, expressed his gratitude for the project that will soon boost economic and tourism activities in their area.

“Two years from today, I’ll be standing prouder and taller because with the help of the governor and Manila Water, Carmen perhaps will be the next tourist destination in Central Visayas,” Villamor said.

Rivera in his presentation showed the components of the project which entails structure, treatment plant and transmission lines.

“We develop, we treat, we distribute water supply,” said Rivera.

Aside from the royalty fee Carmen will get from MWC, the project will also provide more jobs for the people.

Rivera said they believe that the municipality and the province need a viable water supply thus they will try their best to ensure that they will provide water since water is one of the most basic needs and problems in Metro Cebu.

 Rivera also thanked Garcia for providing the vision and the political will to push through in this project since it has been a long journey which started in 2000.

Ablaza on the other hand said that through this project, they will have a steady stream of contribution for Carmen’s development fund.

“Ang serbisyong tubig ay inter-generational,” Ablaza said adding that this project will serve from generation to generation.

Garcia reiterated her assurance to Carmen officials of not putting them down.

“Ania ako sa kanunay labaw sa tanan ang interes sa Carmen akong panalipdan,” Garcia said. (I will always protect the interest of Carmen.)

Garcia also distributed financial assistance for a total of P4.2 million for the improvement of barangay hall, multipurpose building and day care centers of the 21 barangays in Carmen yesterday.

The P1,500 cash assistance to each of the barangay tanods was also turned over yesterday.

The officials promised that they will come back in Carmen for the ground breaking of the project on May 21. — (FREEMAN)