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Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Candaba swamp 'answer' to impending water crisis: mayor
By Raymond C. Garcia
CANDABA -- In response to the scarcity of potable water in Central Luzon and Northern Manila, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been forged for the development of the Candaba swamp as a source of potable water and water irrigation.
Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo had entered into an MOA with Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, China Agricultural Machinery Corporation (CAMC) head Madame Luo Yan, and Manila Waterworks and Sewerage (MWSS) administrator Lorenzo Jamora for this purpose.
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Pelayo said aside from the supply of potable water, the project is also meant to irrigate thousands of hectares of farmlands in the region.
"Its 1000-hectare reservoir would serve as a year-round fishing ground for the fishermen of Candaba," said Pelayo.
The project site lies within Candaba, which serves as a natural basin of rainwater from Nueva Ecija and Bulacan.
"It taps the floodwater that annually passes through the Candaba swamp and drains into the Pampanga River," Pelayo said.
Jamora said they would conduct a project study to determine the viability and potentials of the project. He is optimistic that the project development would be finished before the end of the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He also said the project is a 600-million liter per day (MLD) bulk water supply component for domestic use with the proposed source from the Pampanga River and excess floodwater from the Candaba swamp.
Pelayo hoped that within three years, the project would be functional and able to give services to the people.
The Chinese representatives said they agreed to develop the swamp due to their trust and confidence in the Candaba Municipal Government as effective partners in promoting countryside economic development.
The mayor said the project would be implemented through a build-operate-transfer scheme and is expected to benefit thousands of people in Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
The project would be complemented with the eco-tourism development in Candaba and the whole province of Pampanga by providing an affective system of managing water for the conservation of the Candaba swamp and its wildlife. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cebu. (April 3, 2007 issue)
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