Tabuelan takes over water system

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu provincial government has waived the Tabuelan waterworks system project, including the agreement on the proceeds of its operation, to the municipal government.

This means that the completion and management of the waterworks system will be entrusted to the municipality, said Vice Governor Agnes Magpale.

This after the memorandum of agreement entered into by the province in April 2012 during the administration of former governor, now third district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia, has already been amended, said Magpale.

“Kay ang nahitabo ana, ang MOA during the time of Governor Gwen, nig katubig naay bahin ang province. But gi-waive na man na ni Gov (Hilario Davide III). So ilahon na,” Magpale told reporters.

It was earlier agreed upon that the province would implement and undertake the construction while the operation and management of the said water system shall be undertaken by the municipality, subject to applicable rules and regulations and consultation with the province.

Further, as provided in the agreement, 50 percent of the gross proceeds and revenues of the operation of the water system shall accrue to the province and the remaining 50 percent shall accrue to the municipality to be used exclusively in its operation, management and maintenance.

Magpale said the contractor hired during the previous administration for the installation of pipe lines from a spring in the town to a reservoir in Barangay Mabunao had already received over P9 million out of the total phase I contract price of P12.4 million.

However, the vice governor said, the project is still unfinished and has not yielded potable water for the barangays, which are the recipient of the water system.

The recipients are barangays Kanlim-ao, Mabunao, Villahermosa, Kantubaon and Kanluhangon and upper sitios of coastal barangays Tabunok, Olivo, Tigbawan and Maravilla.

“Nakit-an nila ang depekto sa construction sa winning bidder; ang pipe nga gigamit dili mao,” Magpale said.

The province has granted the town P2 million for the replacement of the pipes.

Magpale said her office will also shell out P200, 000 to fund for the pipes to be used for the distribution.

Tabuelan Mayor Rex Gerona earlier said the town is now working on the distribution of water and its operation will be fully completed by the end of the month.

Around 1,600 families will benefit from the project once it is completed. —/NSA (FREEMAN)