Water problem in a town of Misamis Oriental will soon be over.
This as the local government unit (LGU) of Sugbongcogon town and the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) put up P7.46 million to rehabilitate the poor condition of its community potable water system (PWS).
At present, the residents have to endure the daily rationing of water supply for three to two hours and on that period people have to wait in long queue losing valuable time for more economic and productive activities.
The repair of the water system which includes installing of 75 communal faucets is eyed to serve five barangays of Manga, Alcomohan, Sta. Cruz, Kiraging and Silad with a population of over 3000.
Of the 967 households of the town, 645 have worst case of insufficient water supply which risks the community’s health and sanitation.
Upon completion of the project, the LGU is expecting that residents will have more productive time spent in farming their best known commodities of coconuts, vegetables, banana and raising livestock and reduced number of water-related diseases.
MRDP program director Lealyn A. Ramos said putting in place accessible potable water not only eliminates risk of water-borne and water-related diseases but helps in improving economic activity in the area.
“Since water is a basic necessity, families have to spend a lot of time just to fetch water while economic activities are put aside,” Ramos said.
“The problem in potable water is widespread in Mindanao, and to create a dent in combating this problem, we will continue to partner with LGUs in putting up the needed infrastructures not only water system but including farm-to-market roads, bridges and postharvest facilities as well as livelihoods to stir more economic development,” Ramos added.
Jointly funded by the World Bank, the national government and the 225 local governments of Mindanao, MRDP aims to reduce poverty, improve incomes, and better local governance.
“Although infrastructure is a costly investment, the program (MRDP) has frontload of infrastructure projects since this is the foundation for agriculture to grow. And as we know agriculture is the backbone of the country’s economy,” Ramos said.
MRDP has earmarked over P2 billion for rural infrastructure for 2010 including provisions for PWS.
