Gov’t to launch drinking, irrigation water program

VARIOUS government agencies will launch on Friday (December 6) the Mindanao Water Supply Program or Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Water at the Acacia Hotel in Lanang

Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Sec. Emmanuel Piñol, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President Emmanuel Barbosa and Mindanao Governors and Mayors are expected to grace the said launching.

The MinDA Water Supply Program, which was conceptualized by Piñol, is a product of a series of consultations between DILG, DBP and MinDA to address the problem of rural people’s lack of access to safe drinking water which will also be utilized for agricultural purposes.

Piñol said the MinDA Water Supply Program aims to provide LGUs access to Solar-Powered Water Systems to provide drinking and irrigation water to communities in Mindanao and Palawan.

“The program aims to provide drinking water to all communities in Mindanao and Palawan and irrigation water to an estimated 500,000 hectares of agricultural areas, said

Piñol.

Under the MinDA Water Program, local government unitd (LGUs) could access loan funds from DBP at a very low interest rates to establish Solar-Powered Water Systems and even Desalination Facilities in island-communities.

With the help of consultants from Israel, China and Germany, the LGUs could engage local engineering groups to undertake the establishment of the Solar-Powered Water Systems. At least two foreign companies, the LR Group of Israel and the Huangzhou Yatai Water Engineering of China have expressed interest in undertaking the projects in partnership with local engineering groups.

“The Department of Interior and Local Government will offer incentives and financial support to outstanding LGUs in support of the program,” Secretary Año said.

The said government agencies are expected to sign the Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding for the Mindanao Water Supply Program during the launching. MinDA will also sign MOAs with the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley and the

Metro Kidapawan Water District for the grant of a P500, 000 each as a support fund for their water programs. Another MOA will also be signed between Coca-Cola’s SETA Machine Potable Water Treatment Plant with the LGU of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, Tagum City Council Women Foundation and the St. Mary’s College of Bansalan-Filipino Chinese Catholic Organization. Coca-Cola is providing a potable water treatment facility for each of the recipients. MinDA will also turn-over the Metro Davao Urban Master Plan to the LGUs of Digos City, Sta. Cruz, Davao City, Panabo City, Carmen, Tagum City, Maco, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur.