DAVAO CITY–The Apo Agua Infrastractura Inc. (AAII) has asked the help of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council) for the approval of its land conversion permit to establish a water treatment facility adjacent to the Tamugan River in Barangay Gumalang, Baguio District here.
Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag, in an interview after the City Council’s regular session on Tuesday, said AAII director Manuel Orig briefed the City Council on the permits needed for the establishment of the project on the land, which is agricultural. The application for the permits have been filed at the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
“Beside the river is agricultural land, but if the facility will be established there it will become an industrial area,” Al-ag said.
According to Al-ag, the applications were already approved at the regional level and were endorsed to the national office and that AAII was told that the result will be released in November.
“That is why they were here, to ask the help of the city council through a resolution to urge these offices to expedite the application,” he said. Al-ag said the application should be fast-tracked because the city is already facing lack of drinking water supply, particularly in the second district.
“This entails public interest,” the vice mayor said.
Al-ag said that barring further delays, the water supply firm is expected to start the construction of the project this year.
AAII will undertake most of the PHP12-billion Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project for the Davao City Water District. The project will tap the water resources of Tamugan River.
The works will include the construction of weir and intake structure, raw water transmission lines, water treatment plant, hydroelectric power plant and treated water transmission lines.
Apo Agua is investing PHP10 billion to complete the construction works while DCWD is pouring in some PHP2 billion for the laying of new pipes from its reservoir down to its distribution lines in various areas of the city. (Armando Fenequito Jr/PNA)
