SOME 100,000 residents in one city and two municipalities of Ilocos Sur will now benefit from safe and potable water as the Candon City Water District is slated to operate its P193 million water supply system project funded jointly by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), LWUA Administrator and Acting Board Chairman Lorenzo H. Jamora yesterday announced.

Jamora said that the system of Candon City Water District is already 95% completed and will be operational soon to service residents of Candon City and the municipalities of Salcedo and Galimuyod.

The LWUA chief added that the Candon City Water District Project was prioritized by LWUA upon the request and initiative of House Deputy Speaker Eric Singson (Ilocos Sur 3rd District Rep.), who incidentally happens to be the principal sponsor of House Bill No. 4950 which seeks 11-point amendment to the joint charter of LWUA and the water districts.

Engr. Edgardo de Mayo, LWUA Water District Development Department Manager for Luzon said that the new Candon City Water District Project includes 37.6 kilometers of pipelines with sizes 50 millimeters to 250 millimeters diameter including valves and assembles; 100 cubic meter reservoir at Bgy. Amguid; 100 cubic meter reservoir at San Gaspar in Salcedo, one booster pumping station with chlorination house at San Gaspar, Salcedo; one booster pumping station and control house at Bgy. Atabay, also in Salcedo, and infiltration gallery river source at Bgy. Atabay.

Atty. David Gacusana, General Manager of the Candon City Water District disclosed that of the P193 million total project cost, P129.72 million and P63.32 million came from JBIC and LBP, respectively while an equity of P17 million came from the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Candon City through Mayor Allen Singson.

"We now have almost 300 service applicants and it will be doubled once the system becomes full operational before the year ends. The people of Candon City and nearby towns have long waited for this water system and we have promised them that we will do our best to deliver to their household safe and potable water 24 hours a day," GM Gacusana said.

The LWUA Public Affairs Department advises the public in Candon and nearby towns to immediately apply for service connections at the Candon City Water District office located at No. 33 KEA Mall, San Nicolas, Candon City, Ilocos Sur with telephone number (077) 742-4201.
c October 06 , 2006