A total of 213 households with a population of 854 from Danao-Danao Island at Barangay Polopiña in the municipality of Concepcion will soon enjoy a safe, cheap and adequate potable water supply.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the groundbreaking ceremony of the P12.845 million Solar-Powered Potable Water System at Badiango Island Resort, Sitio Danao-Danao on July 6, 2023. The water system is implemented under the Philippine Rural Development Project
Also present at the ceremony are Provincial Administrator and former Concepcion mayor Raul Banias; Vice Mayor Jovelyn Estrada; Barangay Captain Henry Francisco; Provincial Engineer’s Office Chief Engr. Romeo Andig; representatives from the Department of Agriculture VI – Philippine Rural Development Project; Atty. Nizel Sabrido who represented 5th district Rep. Raul Tupas; Michael Caparas of NXTLVL Water Technology, Inc.; and the municipal and barangay officials.
The project is funded through a P10.276 million loan from the World Bank which comprises 80 percent of the total amount. The Department of Agriculture and the provincial government each have a 10 per cent counterpart worth P1.284 million.
The water system is expected to be completed by December 11, 2023. It involves the construction of a water treatment building with a water tank and potable water refilling.
Once completed, it will benefit the residents of Sitio Danao-Danao as well as its puroks namely Himulat, Danao, Pasil and Punta Imo – of which 138 are fishing households and 5 are farming households.
Engr. Andig said the water system has a capacity of 11,000 liters daily which is enough to cater to the needs of all the residents in the service area. The beneficiaries will also be able to save 50 per cent of their expenses on water.
Presently, the residents source their water for drinking from Sitio Daga-an which costs them P70 per day. They also buy purified water on the mainland which is more expensive.
“Safe and readily available water is important for public health whether for drinking domestic purposes or food preparation,” Andig said.
The water system project was conceptualized during the administration of former mayor Banias. Banias stressed that the provincial government under the leadership of Governor Defensor has been supportive of the projects in Concepcion.
He also stressed that the water system project aligns with the development agenda of the Defensor administration dubbed MoRProGRes Iloilo which stands for a “Movement for a Robust, Progressive and Globally competitive and Resilient Province of Iloilo.”
Governor Defensor said the solar-powered water system is anchored towards the direction of the province to shift to renewable energy.
Last year, the provincial government launched the Iloilo Province Goes Renewable Energy (Iloilo Pro-GReEn) Program which promotes the development and utilization of renewable energy as well as implements an energy efficiency and conservation program.
The province of Iloilo has received commendation from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for implementing renewable energy projects in its district hospitals.
The provincial government has started implementing the Development of Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (DREAMS) in partnership with the Department of Energy. It installed a 75 KW rooftop solar photovoltaic project at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan.
Moreover, Barangay Captain Francisco thanked Governor Defensor for the water system project which addressed the problem of a scarce supply of potable water on the island.
A Community Monitoring Team will be created to ensure the sustainability of the water system.
(Capitol news)