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LWUA officials led by (R-L, from table's head) Acting Chairman Rene Villa, Acting Trustee Eduardo Santos and Acting Administrator Salvador Ner discuss with Cagayan de Oro City Water District officials led by Chairman Joel Baldelovar (extreme left) and General Manager Rachel Beja (extreme right, not facing the camera) the extent of damage to the city's water supply infrastructure and plans for its speedy recovery.

Extensive damage brought about by Typhoon Sendong to Cagayan de Oro City's water supply system is expected to be eased with the arrival of portable water treatment equipments sent by the Local Water Utilities Administration to the city's water supply provider, Cagayan de Oro City Water District.

Some 70% of the Cagayan de Oro CityWater District's water supply in its west service area and 46% in the central and east service areas have been affected by the typhoon.

LWUA Acting Chairman Rene Villa and Acting Administrator Salvador Ner were also in the city to personally assess the water supply situation and make on-the-spot decisions to avert the outbreak of water-borne diseases.

Engineer Edwin Ruiz, LWUA Deputy Administrator for Operations, said that the equipments were sent last December 20 through a commercial plane along with a group of LWUA engineers and well drilling operators.

Portable water treatment

In addition, a group of LWUA volunteers belonging to the LWUA 501st Water Batallion is also expected to arrive in the city in 48 hours to beef up LWUA's assistance efforts to the city's flood-stricken population. The group, led by Dr. Edison Cuenca who also heads LWUA's Armed Forces Reserves-affiliated unit, has brought mobile water treatment equipments.

Cagayan de Oro City's main booster pumping station in Macasandig along with 6 of its production wells have been rendered inoperative by heavy floods brought by Typhoon Sendong. Moreover, power supply in the city, which runs the water district's facilities, remains down. The water district currently operates the water production facilities that remain operational, such as those in Bugo and Tablon, through generator sets.

21 December 2011

Immediate response

LWUA engineers assess Typhoon Sendong's damage to Cagayan de Oro City's water supply system

LWUA engineer Roque Elefan assists Cagayan de Oro residents get safe drinking water

Cagayan de Oro residents line up for water rationed by the Cagayan de Oro City WD

Extent of damage to Cagayan de Oro City WD's water supply facilities (above and following photos) are assessed by LWUA engineers Al Basco (above), Ferdie Talaue and Willy Cruz (below)

Photos by Edgar Aniceto, LWUA Public Affairs
21 December 2011