Celso, ZCWD break ground for P21.26M water project in east coast
Three water system projects intended to help ensure potable and affordable water to residents in 5 far flung barangays in the east coast broke ground yesterday with Mayor Celso Lobregat and Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) officials leading in the ceremony.
Costing a total of P21.260 million city funds, the water projects cover the barangays of Tolosa-Lansones and Guisao (P17.96 million); Tolosa-Guisao-Cabaluay (P2.424 million) and Tolosa-Imelda, Pangulayan-Cacao (P874,843).
“This is the realization of our long time dream of having our own water system,” Cesar Samson, barangay chairman of Lansones said in his message during the ground breaking rite held in Tolosa yesterday morning. “We thank Mayor Lobregat for initiating this water project and the many other projects that implemented in our barangay.”
The same view was shared by Tolosa chairwoman Caridad Salazar, Guisao chairwoman Aurita Solis, Cabaluay chairman Romeo Enriquez and Cacao chairman Rito de la Cruz. They all expressed gratitude to Mayor Lobregat and the city government for not isolating their barangays in terms of project implementation enhancing the delivery of basic services to their constituents.
Mayor Lobregat said the water project is a pro-poor program of the city government as it is meant to ensure potable, sufficient and affordable water supply to the barangays.
He stressed that the city government will continue to pursue similar projects so that the ZCWD can expand its coverage to the outskirts of the city.
Last Sunday (February 21), Mayor Lobregat also led barangay and Water District officials in the groundbreaking ceremony of the water system project worth more than P12-million in Barangay Salaan.
The water system project will provide potable and safe water to almost 5,000 highland residents from Zone 2, Boalan to the entrance of Pasobolong up to Salaan. It is a joint project of the city government and the ZCWD, with the former providing P6,281,250 funds while the latter’s allocation was P5,832,094 for a total of P12,113,344.
Councilor Cesar Iturralde, Lobregat’s vice mayoralty aspirant said the project is part of the city’s initiative to support and assist the Water District expand its services to the far flung barangays.
Instead of giving loans to the water firm, the city government deems it fit and right to dole out the funds for the implementation of the water system project with the ZCWD as project implementer, according to Iturralde.
Gregorio Molina, ZCWD board vice chair and Engr. Efren Aranez, board member, called on the constituents to help maintain the water project so that it can be sustained for life.
Also present during the ground breaking rites were Councilors Lilia Nuno, Nonong Guingona, Eddie Saavedra and Rey Candido and council aspirants Ller Natividad, Percival Ramos, VP Elago and Mike Alavar; ZCWD Assistant general managers Engr. Alejo Roxas and Ronnie Pantaleon and other water district personnel, constituents from the 5 beneficiary barangays and many others. (Sheila Covarrubias)