DENR to conduct study on Carmen town water

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will conduct a separate study to determine the effects of water supply in Carmen town over the proposed multi-billion Carmen Bulk Water Project.

Celso Loriega, Jr., regional executive director of DENR, said in yesterday's forum that they would conduct their own study in coordination with other government agencies concerned on water resources.

According to Loriega, the National Water Resource Board is the government agency tasked to issue permits and other necessary requirements for the use of Carmen water.

He said they would assist the local government units in protecting the watershed and planting of trees in the town's mountain barangays.

But Loriega said that based on the initial information received from his office, the surface water of the town will be the source of water targeted by the proponents of the project.

The P2 billion Carmen Bulk Water project was signed last week between the Metro Cebu Water District and the Ayala consortium.

Under the agreement, Carmen Bulk Water will deliver up to 46,000 cubic meters of potable water to MCWD under a 40-year build-operate-transfer arrangement.

The project is expected to increase the water district's current production capacity by about 26 percent and address the severe water shortage in Metro Cebu.

The price of water between 28,000 and 39,000 cubic meters would be P25.55 per cubic meter in 2007, and excess water up to 46,000 cubic meters would be fixed at P12 per cubic meter.

The Ayala consortium is expected to start with the construction of the project in 2007. - Jose P. Sollano