Proposed dam will ‘displace’ 500 families

CEBU, Philippines - Around 500 households will be relocated and some parts of the three barangays in Cebu City and Talisay City may be inundated.

These are the challenges being considered by the Japan International Cooperation Agency while conducting a study on the construction of the proposed 70-meter high Mananga II dam in Cebu City.

The matter was brought up yesterday during JICA’s steering committee meeting at the Capitol.

Ernie Delco, acting general manager of the Metro Cebu Water District, disclosed that relocation for the residents in the affected areas has become a problem since more houses have been built near the watershed and the residents have established a living there.

He said the project will affect parts of the mountain barangays of Sinsin and Pamutan in Cebu City, and Barangay Camp 4 in Talisay City.

“But according to JICA, naa na sila’y initial talk with the barangay chairmen didto sa bukid. We are hoping to get the support of the council and the mayor,” Delco told reporters.

If realized, the P6-billion dam is projected to supply around 77,000 cubic meters of treated water daily and benefit around 55,000 households-subscribers.

Delco pointed out the need to establish the Mananga II dam, otherwise, the gap between the future water demand for MCWD and Metro Cebu and the required water supply will become critical beyond year 2020.

“We have just to be optimistic sa project because if we don’t have Mananga, beyond 2020 naa na’y mga deficit sa supply and demand. For the meantime, wa pa ta’y kulba sa the next 5 years,” he explained.

In the report presented yesterday, at least 1.5 percent is the projected population annual growth ratio in the service area of MCWD.

Further, Delco said they are still reviewing the price of water per cubic meter from the dam to make it more affordable especially to marginalized sectors.

The project will also be presented before the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board during its meeting in March.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, for his part, commended the project, saying it is a good way of planning for the future.

He suggested to JICA during yesterday’s meeting to include in its studies the other areas in the province. — (FREEMAN)