LIVESTREAM PROGRAM | 09/21/2020
ANG PROBINSYANA - HON. MAYOR ESTER HAMOR AND ENGR. TED TEJADA
with SM KAYE ATUTUBO & MS. ANNE FLORES
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This is how SCWD Interim General Manager Engr. Eduardo P. Tejada described the upcoming water source development that will finally put an end to the water supply problems in Sorsogon City, during a live interview over Pasalinggaya 88.1 FM radio yesterday, September 21 at 8 AM.
IGM Tejada cited that the new source development will address the 4 million liters per day (4 MLD) deficit in the water supply for Sorsogon City due to dwindling production of spring sources between May and October of every year.
The project has the full backing of Sorsogon Gov. Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero and Sorsogon City Mayor Ma. Ester E. Hamor. Once completed, processed water from the Rangas River extraction point will be conveyed from Barangay San Jose to the 1,800 cu m Baribag Reservoir and the 950 cu m Macabog Reservoir, to augment the supply for the city’s East and West Districts, respectively.
IGM Tejada joined Sorsogon City Mayor Hamor in the morning program “Ang Probinsyana” hosted by Kaye Atutubo and Anne Flores, during which they officially announcced the interventions provided by the local government to SCWD and its private partner PrimeWater-Sorsogon City to address the water supply insufficiency in the City.
“Isa po sa top priorities ng inyong lingkod ay matuldukan ang problemang ito. Tutulungan na natin ang ating Sorsogon City Water District at ang kanyang mga partner kasama na dito ang PrimeWater. Ang sabi ko nga hindi natin kalaban ang PrimeWater. Huwag po tayong makipaglaban kasi sila po talaga ang may kontrata dito. ‘Pag po kinalaban po natin wala po tayong laban,” said City Mayor Hamor.
She was referring to the 25-year joint venture agreement between SCWD and PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp. for the operation and maintenance of the SCWD water system which began last October 17, 2016. Now almost on its fourth year, the partnership has faced a number of challenges, notably on water supply insufficiency experienced by majority of 71,000 water consumers in 34 barangays.
“Ang kailangan lang po suportahan sila at sabihan ng katotohanan kagaya ng gusto nilang magtaas ng presyo, ang Board po nila Ted Tejada ay hindi pumayag. Sinabi ko na kailangan ‘wag tayong papayag, magagalit sa atin ang mga taong bayan. Kasi ang gusto nila tutulungan tayo pero magtataas, eh sobra na pong taas wala nga pong tubig. Eh si Mayor Hamor po hindi papayag niyan, siyempre mahal ko ang taong bayan,” she further said.
Mayor Hamor cited the two upcoming additional SCWD water sources for the West and East portions of the city. These are the deepwell source inside St. Raphael Subdivision, Barangay Pangpang with an estimated yield of 1.2 MLD and expected to be online by October 2020 and another proposed deepwell source inside Sts. Peter and Paul Ville Subdivision, Barangay Bibincahan, whose drilling is expected commence once all requirements for the project are complied with.
IGM Tejada acknowledged the support and assistance of Pangpang Punong Barangay Bert Balde and the rest of the council as well as the homeowners of St. Raphael Subdivision which led to the completion of the project which will ultimately benefit a large portion of Sorsogon West.
“An pagsuplay sin tubig bako lang yan sa gobyerno obligasyon. May obligasyon man po an satuyang mga konsumidores na makipagtabangan sa saindong water district asin saindong lokal na pamahalaan para masakatuparan an mga plano," said Engr. Tejada.
In closing, both City Mayor Hamor and IGM Tejada assured the water consumers of Sorsogon City that, in as far as water supply is concerned, there is light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.
“Sa lalong madaling panahon magiging sapat na ang ating tubig sa syudad ng Sorsogon. Huwag kayong mag-aalala, sa susunod na taon, ay asahan po ninyo and malaking pagbabago sa suplay ng tubig sa Sorsogon City,” concluded City Mayor Hamor.