ADB cites LWUA for satisfactory performance

$50-M water projects completed to serve 2-M Filipinos in 103 areas

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has commended the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for the successful completion of the $50 million (roughly P2.6 Billion) water supply modernization and expansion program that now benefits around two million Filipinos in 103 towns and cities in various parts of the country.

This was disclosed yesterday by LWUA Administrator Lorenzo H. Jamora quoting an ADB completion report that also cited the agency for its "satisfactory" performance in the implementation of the program despite difficulties in putting up local counterpart funding.

In a completion report entitled "Philippines Small Towns Water Supply Sector Project", the ADB rated the project successful despite delay in completion because of counterpart funding delays and limited support from the national government.

Jamora said the $50 million ADB-LWUA water program which started with appraisal and loan negotiations in the latter part of the 1990s yet, finally took off under his stewardship when he was named administrator on August 20, 2002 by initially targeting the provision of safe adequate and reliable water supply to selected urban low income areas in 80 small towns.

Per ADB completion report, as of March this year, 90 projects have already been completed with another 13 projects still ongoing construction in as many provincial areas, surpassing the original target, Jamora said. He hastened to add though that as of June this year, LWUA has also completed six more projects leaving just seven projects still under construction as of the same period.

Of the total project cost of $50 million, ADB extended official development assistance (ODA) loan of $24.8 million while LWUA contributed $25.2 million including $7.12 million equity from the beneficiary water districts, the report said.

At appraisal, total project costs were estimated at $83 million equivalent. ADB was to finance $50 million or 60 percent of the project costs and the Philippine government through LWUA were to provide part of the local currency cost equivalent of $33 million for 80 projects that would benefit one million people.

However, financing constraints on the part of the government forced ADB and LWUA to cut back on large projects and construct smaller scale projects which in turn benefited more people in more areas, the ADB report noted.

The Public Affairs Department 3/F, LWUA Bldg., Katipunan Avenue, Balara, Quezon City / E-mail: lwuapad@info.com.ph
Jamora said that LWUA, recognizing the funding constraints of the national government, which at the time was still finding ways to cut its budget deficits, was able to raise the required local counterparts through domestic borrowing chiefly from the Land Bank of the Philippines and through the agency's internal cash generation and equity funds from beneficiary water districts some of whom even provided more than their 10 percent share in the project costs.

The project covered the following towns and cities across the country, namely: Lal-lo, Penablanca and Sta. Ana, all in Cagayan; Metro Bangued, Abra; San Marcos, Isabela; Naguilian, La Union; Sarrat, Ilocos Norte; Asingan, Balungao, Bayambang, Binmaley, Metro Tayug, San Manuel, Sta. Maria, Umingan, Alcala, Manaoag, Pozzorubio, San Carlos and San Quintin, all in Pangasinan; Norzagaray, San Rafael and Sta. Maria, Bulacan; Dinalupihan, Bataan; Porac, Pampanga; Concepcion, Camiling and Moncada, all in Tarlac; Bongabon and Guimba in Nueva Ecija;

Morong, Pililla and Teresa, all in Rizal; San Pedro and Laguna Metro in Laguna; Carmona, General Emilio Aguinaldo and Gen. Mariano Alvarez in Cavite; Atimonan, Tagkawayan and Polillo Island in Quezon; Odiongan, Romblon; San Jose, Mindoro Occidental; Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte; Nabua, Paracale, Pili, Iriga City, Sipocot, Pasacao, Bato, Calabanga and Metro Naga in Camarines Sur; Sorsogon City, Donsol, Bacon and Pilar in Sorsogon; Aroroy, Masbate; Tabaco city and Daraga, Albay;

Dumangas-Barotac Nuevo, Alimodian, Metro Iloilo and San Joaquin, Iloilo; Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Sagay, Silay City, Sipalay, all in Negros Occidental; Sibuklan and Bais City, Negos Oriental; Pontevedra, Capiz; Bago and Carcar in Cebu; Borongan, Gen. McArthur and Guian, Eastern Samar; Carigara, Leyte; Catbalogan and Taft, Samar;

Prosperidad, Nasipit and San Francisco all in Agusan del Sur; Buenavista, Agusan del Norte; Maramag, Bukidnon; Balingasag and Claveria, Misamis Oriental; Bislig, Bayugan and Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Braulio e. Dujali and Samal Garden Island, Davao del Norte; Banga, South Cotabato; Maluso, basilan; Lupon, Davao Oriental; Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte; Sindangan, Zamboanga del Sur; Misamis Occidental and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
c August 25, 2006