P2 billion needed for review of Iloilo water pipes

THE Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) needs some P2 billion for the total overhaul of water distribution pipes in its entire franchise area composed of Iloilo City, Pavia, Sta Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, and Oton.

Water concessionaires, especially in Iloilo City, are complaining against MIWD for the water shortage currently bugging areas supposed to have 31,000 water service connections: however, Mike Cuaderes, operations chief of the Local Waterworks Utilities Administration (LWUA) based in Metro Manila, said the current water shortage experienced in Iloilo areas is mainly due to the busted water pipes which MIWD is working on to repair the lines.

MIWD has commissioned a private contractor to produce 25,000 cubic meters per day of bulk water supply to its franchise area with Iloilo City as the biggest consumer and the rest of Metro Iloilo municipalities in the province of Iloilo.

The more than P1-billion joint venture investments of Prime Water Ventures, Solerex Technologies Inc., and Marro Holdings Corp. offer to deliver 25,000 cubic meters but can only deliver 10,000 cubic meters per day as it shut up the 15,000 cubic meters due to defective water pipes.

Cuaderes said the P2-billion worth rehabilitation project is solely for water distribution on top of the P1-billion bulk water production by private investors.

Water is a highly politicized premium commodity and people must practice proper water conservation, he said.