PALAYAN CITY – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved a S60-million loan deal between the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to bankroll the expansion of various water districts in the country, a ranking official said here Wednesday.
Andres Ibarra, LWUA administrator, said a huge portion of the fund will go to the water districts in Koronadal in South Cotabato, Metro San Fernando in La Union and 15 others in Bulacan.
Bulacan water districts, Ibarra explained, are connected in the water projects of Metro Manila Water and Sewerage System (MWSS). The balance, he added, will be distributed for the expansion programs of 42 to 45 local water districts nationwide.
“So magagamit nila ‘yun sa mga barangay na hindi pa nila nasasakop,” Ibarra said. Ibarra, along with Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas, led the ground-breaking ceremonies and inauguration of two separate pumping stations of the Palayan City Water District (PCWD) in Barangay Singalat here.
PCWD currently serves 13 out of 19 villages here. “So itong bagong pump stations will again increase their coverage,” he added, saying such coverage must increase to at least 16 villages “in the next couple of years.”
Besides the ADB loan, Ibarra said, the national government has yet to release more funds for the water districts expansion after the P300-million fund from the Disbursement Acceleration Program intended for distribution to calamity stricken places was held back by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) after the Supreme Court has recently declared portions of the DAP unconstitutional.
Cuevas said the expansion of water district services forms part of her development agenda, particularly in the fight against water-borne diseases. She said the city government, via its annual investment plan, will provide at least 50 indigent households in each village in the city subsidized installation fee.
“Meron tayong ibibigay na programa na sa barangay, 50 indigents who cannot afford installation fees, ibibigay po ‘yan ng LGU, malinyahan sila, bibigyan ng malinis na tubig sa bahay ang commitment yung monthly bills nila ay mababayaran nila,” Cuevas said
