MCWD may bid out P6.5-billion Mananga Dam after May 13 polls

THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) will bid out the P6.5-billion dam at the Mananga River immediately after the election as a long-term solution to Cebu’s water shortage problem.

MCWD Director Joel Mari Yu said the feasibility study to build the 80-meter high dam in Barangay Camp 4 in Talisay City was conducted in 2017 and was completed this year.

Based on the feasibility study results, it will take six years to construct the dam.

Yu said the project will be bid out as a Public-Private Partnership. The winning bidder will shoulder the cost of the project and the relocation of illegal settlers, including the acquisition of relocation sites.

After the election, Yu said MCWD will coordinate with the newly elected governor and the chief executives of Cebu City and Talisay City for the relocation of all informal settlers who are illegally residing within the Mananga River.

Aside from occupying a no-build zone, the informal settlers were also blamed for pollution in the area.

“I am sure these informal settlers will seek assistance from politicians to prevent their transfer. I am calling all politicians to have pity on the public that cannot be served by MCWD if our sources will run out of water,” Yu said.

He added that all informal settlers at the Mananga River must be relocated before the any work on the dam that will impound rainwater is started.

Yu said the proposal to build the Mananga Dam was first raised 30 years ago when water supply from the deep wells was still abundant.

Unfortunately, he said, the proposal was not pursued.

Earlier, Korean businessman Charlie Cho said a big Korean firm is interested to build dams and supply potable water in Cebu.

Cho said the Korean firm has partnered with San Miguel Corp. to build a water dam in Luzon that will supply potable water to Metro Manila residents. (EOB)

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