Capitol to construct P3B water system

A water system that will cost Capitol up to P3 billion aims to provide over 800,000 cubic meter of water daily to the province, thus boosting local agricultural production.

Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., however, said only 500,000 cubic meters of the daily water supply from the water system, which will tap various springs in different towns, would be provided to the residents.

"The surplus of 300,000 cu/m water daily will be used for agro-environmental purposes," Sanchez said.

Sanchez's statement was a prelude to the creation of the Cebu Provincial Water Resource Authority that will take care of the water supply problem in the province.

The vice governor said there is a need to establish a provincial water system as water is a vital component before industries can invest in the province.

The move to put up the provincial water system is borne out of the ambitious plan to construct the trans-axial highway that will traverse the mainland province.

With a cost of up to P4 billion, the trans-axial highway is expected to boost the development in the province and address the problem of urban migration as investments will be promoted in the rural areas.

Sanchez said that with the major highway, water piping would be made easier from the springs in the towns of Badian, Balamban, Carmen and Argao.

He added that the spring in Badian can produce up to 400,000 cubic meter of water daily while the one in Balamban could produce between 100,000 to 150,000 cubic meter of water a day.

All springs in the province can provide around 800,000 cubic meter of water every day, according to Sanchez.

The province has 47 municipalities and five cities, with the exception of Cebu City, with a population of over 2.3 million. Cebu City's population is slightly beyond 700,000 based on the 2000 data from the National Statistics Office. The figure has grown steadily since then.

Sanchez disclosed that a Singaporean firm is said to be interested in the construction of the water system while two Malaysian companies have signified their intention to construct the trans-axial highway.

As for agriculture, Sanchez said a water reservoir with liquid fertilizer would be constructed and once operational, the fertilizer-infused water would be released to various farmlands in the province, thus raising production of agricultural products.

The construction of the reservoir and the water pumping station will cost between P500 million to P700 million.

Sanchez said he had already talked with Central Philippines Super Region czar and Department of Tourism Secretary Joseph "Ace" Durano, who promised government assistance for the project. He added that there is P17 billion funding for various projects under the Central Philippines Super Region plan.

Although Sanchez remains uncertain as to how much Durano could provide from the national coffers, he believed it would be sufficient enough to finance the project. - Gregg M. Rubio/LPM