CEBU, Philippines — Water shortage in some barangays in Cebu City is now expected to be solved with the Lusaran water project distributing more supply of water.
A simple ceremony yesterday was attended by Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Raymond Garcia, both of whom signed the project’s marker together with the of the Metro Cebu Water District(MCWD) key officials.
The said project was undertaken by the JE Hydro and Bio-Energy Corporation. M.E. Sicat Construction Incorporated is the contractor of the two modular tanks that have a capacity of 3,000 cubic meters of water each, while JFAP Construction is undertaking the installation of transmission lines from the reservoirs to different barangays.
“This is a very historic event sa Cebu City. Kay madungagan na gyud ug 20 million liters per day ang supply sa MCWD didto padung sa atong mga households sa Cebu City," said Garcia in a report by Ramil Ayuman, who also serves as Mayor Michael Rama’s special assistant on media concerns.
The Lusaran water project sources water from the Lusaran River and uses the conventional way of treating water.
The purchase of the water supply equipment was done through competitive bidding under RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.
At least nine mountain barangays in Cebu City that do not have access to MCWD water will finally be served soon.
These barangays include Budlaan, Pulangbato, Binaliw, Agsungot, Guba, Malubog, Cambinocot, Lusaran, and Paril, based on MCWD’s press release earlier.
“Puhon, give it a few more weeks, dili na ni sila ma shortan og tubig… Ang MCWD steady na kaayo ang ilang pag supply sa tubig,” added Garcia, who earlier expressed full support for the MCWD board headed by Joey Daluz.
With the development, MCWD can already start accepting new water service applications from residents of Busay, Apas, and Lahug.
These barangays are among those classified as ‘suspended’. As such, the processing of all applications for water service connection had been temporarily suspended as there is no adequate supply to serve the existing demand for water.
“I’m very very happy nga nahitabo ni karon sa panahon gyud ni Mayor Mike Rama kay mao biya na ang atong vision nga Cebu City would become Singapore-like. Tan-awn nimo ang Singapore, wala gyuy shortage sa tubig, naa gyuy pirming tubig,” said Garcia. — Sanden J. Anadia, JMD (FREEMAN)