By Digna Banzon – PNA News
DAVAO CITY – The Aboitiz group is optimistic that the PHP12-billion Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) will not only address the current water supply needs but also the future requirements for the growing population of this city.
“We have witnessed Davao City’s transformation and we know how important water is to sustain the progress that makes the city a major community and business hub,” Aboitiz InfraCapital chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz told reporters Monday.
Aboitiz said Davao is seen as one of the main drivers of Mindanao’s local economy but mix societies with equally bright future cannot stop growing, and without enough safe drinking water, the city cannot thrive and realize its whole potential.
He said the city has been relying on extracting underground water, which depletes water source supply from the aquifer, and if not allowed to replenish overtime brings salt water intrusion and ground subsistence.
Aboitiz said the DCWBSP is the answer to this issue, acknowledging efforts of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) for spearheading the project and their initiative to improve water quality and pressure to the communities it is serving.
“Through initiatives such as the DCBWSP, we are able to realize the Aboitiz Group’s purpose of driving change for a better world by advancing business and communities. In particular, we aim to fulfil this promise by providing innovative infrastructure solutions that enable Davao City to carry out its mission to provide clean water to its residents,” he said.
The construction of the project has kicked off with the ceremonial laying of the capsule and the signing of the blueprint by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.
The site of the water treatment plant is a 6.8-hectare area in Barangay Gumalang with a total project cost of PHP12 billion consisting of two parts: Part 1 by Apo Agua at PHP10 billion and Part 2 by the DCWD at PHP2 billion.
Aboitiz said Apo Agua will help the project succeed by providing over 300 million liters per day of clean water source from the Tamugan River to more than a million residents of the city. The project will help limit the impact from groundwater water reservoirs and help replenish the aquifer, as well as ensure that the water cycle remains uninterrupted.
“Giving people access to water, energy is required and Apo Agua’s innovative approach in tackling the relationship between water and energy led them to a decision to build a treatment and conveyance system that is fully powered by renewable energy,” he said.
Upon the project’s completion in 2021, it will supply water to five DCWD water systems in Calinan, Cabantian, Dumoy, Panacan and Tugbok – in addition to those in Indangan, Mandug and Talandang water systems in order to meet the city’s growing demand of water in those areas.
The project is a joint undertaking by the Aboitiz group and the JV Angeles Construction Corporation.
