Danao to start bulk water deal
City to spend P5M in consultancy services for Danao City Bulk Water project implementation
THE Danao City Council has passed Resolution 176 authorizing Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III to enter into a contract with a consultancy firm for the Danao City Bulk Water Project.
The firm, MGR Consultancy and Allied Services Inc., will prepare the detailed engineering design (consultancy services for pipeline study) for the project.
The Danao City Government has appropriated P4,997,760 for the consultancy services.
In July 2015, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) entered into a 20-year agreement with Danao City for a bulk water supply project of which the City Government will supply additional 10,000 cubic meters of water a day for the first two years starting Jan. 1, 2018.
On the third year up to the 20th year of the contract, Danao City is obliged to increase the volume to 20,000 cubic meters a day.
For the whole duration of the contract, water rate is fixed at P19.38 per cubic meter, said MCWD Pub- lic Affairs Manager Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara.
The bulk water supply contract was signed by Durano in behalf of the Danao City Government, and then MCWD OIC-general manager Ernie Delco in behalf of the water utility firm.
Witnessed
The signing was witnessed by then Danao City councilor John George Cane and City Administrator Boying Rodriguez.
The contract provides that Danao City will be the one to secure all the permits for the project, put up the facility and develop the source, the Tangon River in Barangay Sta. Rosa, as well as lay pipes to bring the water to the injection point in Barangay Jubay in Liloan town.
The bulk water from Danao City will help MCWD expand water distribution within its service area.
According to MCWD officials, they need an additional 250,000 cubic meters of water a day on top of its president 210,000 cubic meters in order to serve the total demand of its service area and Danao City is just one of the sources.
Danao City’s bulk water supply is only 10th percent of the total needs.
Bulk water
During an evaluation, it was found that Danao City has the capacity and capability to be a bulk water supplier through a sufficient and sustainable surface water source.
This is ideal for MCWD, which has measures to protect the environment and Metro Cebu’s water supply by shifting from groundwater to surface water sources.
The water to be sup- plied to MCWD must pass the standard set by the Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.
On the other hand, Durano told Sun.Star Cebu that the bulk water supply project is the key to maintaining the water rate in Danao City at only P5 per cubic meter.
The rate was fixed by the late Mayor Ramon “Mano Amon” Durano Sr., father of Nito, who died in office on Oct. 24, 1988. The elder Durano wanted the rate to be forever in order to help the people of Danao City.