Mindanaotoday.com | CWC bares dev’t plans to improve water system in Camiguin
By: Recthie Paculba
CAMIGUIN – Carrying out its target to provide efficient, safe, and equitable distribution of potable water supply in the province, the Camiguin Water Company (CWC) shared its development plans, September 25, at Sagay Gymnasium, here.
In partnership with the Camiguin Integrated Water Service Cooperative (CIWASCO) and Barangay Waterworks, CWC targets to increase water service connections from 8,266 to 21,916 by 2051 as well as to improve water supply services, and establish reliability of facilities and service continuity.
“Of the P651 million projected investment over 30 years, P277 million will be used up in the first 10 years,” CWC General Manager Danvir Mark Farnazo said.
For his part, Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo extended his gratitude to CWC for its commitment and effort to pursue better water system service to the people of Camiguin despite the existence of obstacles.
He further urged the officials to do their tasks and prioritize the improvement of the water system saying such will be beneficial to the future generation.
“Whatever development that we are currently enjoying, our future generation should also be able to enjoy and experience even more,” Romualdo said.
Water supply issues in Camiguin
Citing issues on water supply, Farnazo said only four barangays in Mambajao have abundant water supply while Barangay Benhaan and some parts of Barangay Magting are following a schedule.
In Catarman, four barangays namely, Bonbon, Catibac, Bura and Lower Mainit have unreliable water supply.
Barangays with their own sources of water have uninterrupted water supply in Mahinog and 11 out of 13 barangays in the said town are under water supply strain.
Meanwhile, in Sagay, Farnazo said many households in the Poblacion area maintain two water meters to ensure access to water.
In Guinsiliban, water supply to Maac, Cantaan and Cabuan are constrained.
“Unequal distribution of water supply to Caminguingnons are due to disjointed and fragmented services offered by different water service providers,” Farnazo said, citing that what the province needs is a long term and sustainable approach based on a comprehensive masterplan.
They have also noticed unauthorized and unmetered connections, and rampant existence of ‘no faucet taps’ that further worsen unequal access to water among the residents of the island.
Moving towards sustainable water supply
From the said P651 million investment of CWC, Farnazo said they are targeting to have 6,800 additional households with water supply through installation of a new distribution piping system.
They will also work on the replacement, repair, and maintenance of facilities for a sustainable supply.
CWC will also construct new water facilities for an additional 4.7 million liters per day of supply water, and recover 3 million liters per day of water losses.
On expansion of service coverage area, CWC aims to increase access to potable water at an average of 400 households or 1,800 residents per year.
They will also work on improving water availability and pressure in Barangays Bonbon, Catibac, Bura and Mainot, Catarman, and Barangays Cantaan, Cabuan and Maac in Guinsiliban by 2024.
In terms of community development projects, Farnazo said the company initially committed to install fire hydrants in each town, where additional four fire hydrants for each town will be installed by the first quarter of 2023.
Sharing these development plans, Farnazo said, “We in the Camiguin Water Company aims to improve the water supply service in the entire island of Camiguin. Our motto is Cleanliness of our Water System, Development for All).” (RTP | PIA-10 | Camiguin)