WATER PROJECT MAY START 2ND HALF OF YEAR

Project proponent warns of possible traffic issues with the pipe-laying with the starting of the project construction this year.

We’re expecting issues on the pipe-laying due to traffic it will cover. We’ll just get the right timing, but we’ll try to mitigate everything ONES ALMARIO AAII general manager

The construction of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) is expected to start within the year.

Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (AAII) general manager Ones Almario said the construction will start either third or last quarter of the year, which will include pipe-laying that might affect main roads.

“We're expecting issues on the pipe-laying due to traffic it will cover. We'll just get the right timing, but we'll try to mitigate everything,” he said yesterday, June 11, after the regular session at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Although he did not mention the areas that will be covered by the pipe-laying, he said DCWD and AAII are in close coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 11 and the City Engineer's Office.

Meanwhile, he said the project is still on track.

Almario said the detailed design of the site is almost complete and contractors are all set to start of with the construction phase.

“So far wala pa kaming problems na na-encounter, kasi wala pa kami sa peak construction activity since we're still starting (So far we haven't encountered any problems because we are not yet in the peak construction activity, since we're still starting). That is why we are not seeing any problems just yet,” he said

DCBWSP, a joint partnership of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and the Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (AAII), will provide 300 million liters of water consumption once it will fully operate by the first half of 2021.

The three-year construction project, costing P12.6-billion, is a strategic infrastructure initative that will shift the dependence of Davao City's main water supply from groundwater wells to the more sustainably-sourced surface water of Tamugan River.