THE Zamboanga City Water District (ZCWD) and the Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC) have forged an agreement to ensure steady potable water supply for the coming years in the city.
The agreement was signed Monday at the eve of the 40th anniversary celebration of ZCWD that is anchored on the theme: "40 Years in Service and Onwards".
ZCWD Assistant General Manager for Operations Engineer Alejo Rojas Jr. said Tuesday that the agreement stipulates that the PWIC will put up the P645-million water treatment plant and the ZCWD will purchase the water for distribution to its thousands of concessionaires.
Rojas said the water treatment plant will be constructed inside the Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport (Zamboecozone) at Sitio San Ramon in the village of Talisayan, west of the city.
Rojas said the PWIC treatment plant will have a capacity of 50,000 cubic meters (cu.m.) per day.
As stipulated in the agreement, Rojas said the ZCWD will purchase 30,000 cu. m. per day for the first two years and 50,000 cu. m. the succeeding year.
ZCWD Board Chairperson Nelida Atilano said they have decided to come up with the joint project to cope with the increasing population of this city.
“We might not be able to supply water with just two water treatment plants. We are thinking of the future,” Atilano said.
The construction of the treatment plant by the PWIC will increase the number of water treatment plants of this city to three since the ZCWD has two such kind of facility.
Meanwhile, part activities of the 40th anniversary celebration Tuesday include blood donation wherein 40 ZCWD personnel have donated blood.
ZCWD General Manager Rey Leonardo Vasquez and other officials led by opening of the gallery showcasing the old model of water meters and office equipment.
Also on display at the gallery are photographs of ZCWD’s former and present personnel as well as the former and present uniforms of the personnel. (Bong Garcia)