LWUA programs PhP7.3B priority water projects nationwide
The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has programmed for implementation until 2010 six priority water infrastructure projects worth PhP7.3 billion in different water districts (WDs) nationwide.
These projects are the Small WDs Improvement Project (PhP103.84 million), Provincial Towns Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Program III (PhP845 million), Less Credit-worthy WD Water Supply Improvement and Sanitation Project (PhP2.75 billion), several locally funded projects (PhP2 billion), Water Supply Development for Non-operational WDs (PhP800 million) and water supply projects for the waterless within WDs (PhP800 million).
LWUA is optimistic the projects will help bolster service and competitiveness of WDs which are local corporate entities it is helping finance to operate water supply systems in respective areas.
The agency prioritized such projects as it reported earlier less than half of population in almost all cities and municipalities WDs covered before were able to access potable water.
To help fund the projects, LWUA is eyeing different sources like official development aid; funds of government-owned and controlled corporations as well as national and local governments; WD equity, legislators' Priority Development Assistance Fund and the private sector.
"Such work aims to further expand and improve our water service in the countryside so more people can access potable water," acting LWUA media production division manager Von Alerta said.
He noted this goal is among targets in President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 2004-2010 10-point agenda for the nation.
LWUA is also optimistic such programmed work will help the Philippines meet the United Nations' Millenium Development Goal of halving by 2015 proportion of people unable to either access or afford safe drinking water.
For the 2005-2015 period, the government projected some 14.31 million people will benefit from its countryside water program's Level III projects which cover water supply systems with individual household connections.
This will increase the program's number of beneficiaries to some 28.3 million as authorities reported about 14 million people are already benefiting from public water projects in urban and rural areas outside the National Capital Region.
LWUA is awaiting Congress' and President Arroyo's approval of the proposed hike in its authorized capitalization from PhP2.5 billion to PhP50 billion.
The agency expects approval of such proposal (Senate Bill 2595) to help fasttrack establishing and modernizing WDs nationwide.
Since its establishment in 1973 through Presidential Decree 198, LWUA helped form a total of 612 WDs in the country.
(PNA)