Firm vows more water by June

CEBU, Philippines - At least 35 percent of Cebu's water shortage in the next 20 years would be addressed starting middle of this year once a joint project of the Cebu Province and the Cebu Manila Water Development, Inc. (CMWD) starts operating.

This is the projection presented in yesterday's ceremonial turn-over of an P800-million term loan facility to CMWD at the Marriott Hotel in Cebu City graced by Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) president Gil Buenaventura.

"The 100 million per liter gap supply in Cebu will be slowly filled up. And probably a few more after that," said Gerardo Ablaza Jr., CMWD chairman.

DBP granted Ablaza's company an P800-million loan for CMWD's water project in Carmen town, which is said to be operational by June this year.

Jonathan Urbano, CMWD project manager, said the new water plant in Carmen town would have a 35-million-liter-per-day (MLD) capacity.

He said CMWD would produce the bulk water while the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) would distribute it to households all over Metro Cebu "at a cheaper price per cubic meter."

Urbano said the additional water supply would hopefully solve a portion of the water shortage in Cebu in the next 20 years.

Manila-based contractor JH Patawaran Construction Co. would undertake the construction of other facilities like the diversion weir intake structure, raw water pipelines, 35 MLD water treatment plant, pumping stations, treated water pipelines, and a reservoir with a capacity of nine MLD.

Urbano said construction in Carmen town has been completed, while the facility construction in Casili, Consolacion town is expected to be finished in May for operation to start by June this year.

"We would like to mitigate the supply gap versus the customer demand (disparity) in the target areas to be served and diminish the reliance on expensive vended water," read the CMWD statement released to the media.

"We are also keen on being part of the first surface water source of the province which will lessen the dependence on deep well sources to augment the supply gap," it added.

Ablaza exhorted Cebu Province for its "courage" and "very strong" conviction to realize the project amid the many concerns and parties involved. (FREEMAN)