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Cover
Table of Contents
Dinalupihan WD:
MAKING THE
MOST OF
OPPORTUNITIES
3
Sasmuan Water District:
REACHING OUT TO THE
ISLAND BARANGAYS
12
In Banaue, Water System
Seen Solution To Feud
8
Prepairing Your Finances
For Retirement
14
SJDMWD Holds
Water Quality
Workshop, Ups
Supply Quality
18
21
News
The
is a quarterly
publication of the Local Water
Utilities Administration, produced
by the Public Affairs Department
with editorial office located at the
3/F LWUA Bldg. Katipunan Road,
Balara, Q.C. Tel. Nos.: 9294526;
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and 355
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rustees
Rene Villa
Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe
Engr. Eduardo Santos
Carlos Primo David
Management
Salvador C. Ner
Acting Administrator
Emmanuel B. Malicdem
Sr. Deputy Administrator
Manolo A. Kagahastian
Acting Deputy Administrator,
Investment & Financial Services
Edwin T. Ruiz
Area Operations Services
Rebecca C. Barbo
Administrative Services
2 The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012
Editorial Staff
Antonio B. Magtibay
Editorial Adviser
Teodoro M. Reynoso
Editor
Victor D. Alerta
Associate Editor
Jun P. Icban III
Art, Design & Lay-out
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Editorial Assistant
Rey M. Vida
Edgar L. Aniceto
Photography
Josie L. Oberio
Gerry Peru
Circulation
Visit us at:
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The New WaterPoint 1st Issue 2012 3
Sasmuan Water District:
Reaching Out To The Island
Barangays
by Teodoro M. Reynoso
Photos by Reynaldo M. Vida
After an hour of boat ride that took us
sustained by the river’s still clean but brackish
few of his staff to visit two “island barangays” in
into almost entire length and breadth of the
waters and its delta bounded on both sides by
the vicinity where the water districts has already
Pampanga River from a small dock near the
kilometers of fish ponds broken by cogonal sand
expanded its potable water supply service.
Sasmuan town proper to its estuaries almost
bars and some isolated stretches of mangroove
bordering the Manila Bay, one cannot be but
forests.
It may be a wonder to casual visitors
like us how human settlements have not only
amazed that just less than a hundred kilometers
It was indeed a sight to behold,
sprouted and survived but flourished in such
inland and about half that distance from Manila
particularly for an accidental tourists like me and
seeming wilderness isolation.But GM Beda
across the bay there lie something like it: A virtual
my photographer, Rey Vida, who took a ride in
offered two explanations: The area used to be
ecosystem teeming with fish and other marine
the motorized fiberglass banca owned by the
the trading route in the early times even pre-
creatures and at that particularly early part of the
Sasmuan Water District (SWD) in the company
dating the Spanish era where goods from other
year, varieties of migratory birds that are being
of SWD General Manager Beda Carlos and a
parts of Pampanga were ferried by boats to
Manila and vice versa by way of the Pampanga River. Despite the decline
only for the inhabitants but also for transients who have come to the area for
of the river transport system with the development of the various road
livelihood and business.
networks in the province, the Pampanga River and its delta remained a
GM Beda said the SWD primarily decided to expand to the far-
rich source of fish and other marine products particularly in areas not yet
off island barangays because it has already saturated its service area in
converted into fish ponds where the industrious, the enterprising and the
the town proper and the nearby barangays across both sides of the
adventurous types could earn not just decent living but also get rich and
Sasmuan River. But the motivation is more altruistic than economic since
prosperous.
the water district is barely breaking even with and at times even subsidizing
These are incidentally the reasons local authorities are very
potable water supply operations in the area.
careful and deliberate in opening up the area for domestic as well as
The water system in the bigger island barangay of Malusac was
foreign eco-tourism. They would want to preserve the historical value of
funded by a loan from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in
the place as well as its importance as a source of sustainable business
2007 and is serving about 70 household connections while that in Sebitanan
and livelihood especially for the fisherfolks and locals engaged in various
was supported by a grant also from LWUA in 2009 and is supplying water
marine and aquatic resources development endeavors.
to some 50 families, mostly fisherfolks.
During our visit to the area, we were shown a lush mangroove
But GM Beda sees the potentials of the island barangays and
forest island near the mouth of Manila Bay which the local tourism office is
sitios in the Pampanga River delta of becoming more than mere human
reportedly eyeing as an attraction and destination for local and foreign
settlements and hosts for the various fishponds and other marine and
tourists complete with a boat dock and a resting pavillion. Though tourism
aquatic activities. He’s envisioning a time when some of these could also
could sometimes be intrusive and exploitative, GM Beda sees this
become fishing ports and manufacturing sites side by side with being a
happening as an opportunity to open up and bring the isolated island
promising eco-tourism site.
barangays nearer to the mainstream of the town’s development.
He rued that Sasmuan was rarely brought to better light especially
GM Beda was very proud of what the Sasmuan Water District
in the mass media, particularly in so-called times of natural calamities
has done in the recent years to bring potable water supply and services to
where the town is often portrayed as wallowing in misery and need on
two of the area’s larger and more populous island barangays. He said that
account of ante deluvial floodings.” We are used to floodings and it is just
it seems to presage the coming of more socio- economic opportunities not
that some officials tend to exaggerate things around here especially during
typhoons so that calamity funds could be released and so-called disaster
But the Mt. Pinatubo crises put the development of the water
relief would pour in”, GM Beda said. Perhaps you could just imagine how
system in Sasmuan in the back seat as the authorities in the town as well
bad or worst we were, especially the people in the island barangays had
as other affected towns and cities of Pampanga became busy with the
been when the news about the catastrophic floodings in Hagonoy, Calumpit
priority socio-economic rehabilitation. In the case of Sasmuan, the priority
( in Bulacan ), Masantol and Macabebe were dominating the airwaves”
was placed on rehabilitating the local fishing and aquaculture industries that
“But nothing of that sort happened here. We are used to the
were affected by the lahar siltation. This continued well into 1992 and parts
floodings well aware and accepting the fact that our town is part of the catch
basin here in Central Luzon”, GM Beda said.
of 1993.
Sometime middle of 1993, a team from the German KfW agency,
Of course, we believed him readily after seeing how things are
one of the international aid institutions helping in the rehabilitation of the
in the island barangays we visited. Not a trace of damage, physical or
areas devastated by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption visited Sasmuan offering
psycholoigical have we encountered interacting with some locals there.
fund assistance for potable water supply development. The condition
GM Beda compared the pioneering thrusts made by SWD in
attached to the offer was that for the local government to provide a site for
what are essentially “missionary routes” island barangays in the delta
the project that would include the development of a well source, construction
area with the development of the water district from its humble, inauspicious
of a pump station and installation of one kilometer pipeline.
beginnings in the late 80s, early 90s which he observed followed a common
thread.
It so happened that the project site was near the home of GM
Beda, who at that time had already finished a degree in architecture at the
SWD-HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
University of Sto. Tomas and had returned to Sasmuan to help with the
The Sasmuan Water District (SWD) traced its roots in the
family fishpond business. Since he could speak fluent English, GM Beda
immediate aftermath of a cataclysmic event that affected and changed the
later acted as interpreter for the German engineers in communicating with
landscape of much of Pampanga—the Mt. Punatubo eruption in 1991 and
the locals in the project area.
lahar denudations the ensuing few years. However, officially, the SWD
The KfW project was completed the following year, 1994 but
was created by virtue of a sanguguniang Bayan Board Resolution No.
there was no institutional development follow-up to operationalize the system.
0484 the year before in 1990 under the incumbency of then Mayor Alejandro
Until in 1995, then sitting Mayor Fernando Baltazar moved to activate the
Panlaqui.
SWD by re-organizing its Board of Directors. GM Beda was offered a
Board seat and became its first Chairman,
GM Beda underwent training in basic policy making with LWUA
availing of the agency’s training assistance grant in 1996 where he began
establishing contacts in the agency’s management. Through his efforts,
the SWD was able to avail of a P2.5 million loan from LWUA which it used
in operationalizing the water district and the system, installing individual
household connections as well as additional five kilometers of pipelines.
OFFICIAL START OF OPERATIONS; GROWING PAINS
June 10, 1997 marked the official start of the SWD operations
with Beda Carlos assuming as its first general manager and Jose Arce (
now deceased ) as his replacement as Board Chair.
GM Beda’s first priority upon assuming the management helm
of the SWD was the electrification of the existing pumping station then being
run by diesel which was not only costly but causing inconvenience for the
emryonic SWD staff then holding office at the said pump station. “ We
cannot hold office inside the pump station because of the heat and noise
emanating from the running diesel engine”, GM Beda reminisced.
He had to shuttle to and from Sasmuan and Makati where KfW
was holding office, utilizing his own car and own money in the process
without getting or receiving anything from the SWD during those times he
was trying to get additional funding for the electrification of the pumping
station. His efforts paid dividends when KfW granted additional funds that
made that possible shortly thereafter.
But the real work had just started and GM Beda found himself
going to other established water districts in Pampanga and Tarlac to borrow
water supply materials for SWD which he replaced with the SWD allocations
from LWUA. “ At that time, we really have to beg and borrow, short of
stealing, GM Beda jestingly enthused. The SWD especially GM Beda
also took advantage of opportunities to train and mearn more about running
the water system, availing of training grants from LWUA and the JICA.
With the Sasmuan water district fully set up organizationally and
running relatively trouble-free, GM Beda in 1998 decided to pursue and
complete a master’s degree in business administration at the Guagua
National Colleges in the nearby Guagua town.
EXPANSION OF THE SWD SYSTEM
With the growth of service connections and increase in water
revenues at the start of the new decade ( 2000s), SWD was able to
implement further improvements and expansion on the system.
In 2005, utilizing its own funds and with material assistance from
then Rep. Zenaida Ducut, SWD was able to construction its pumping
station no.2 in Bgy. Sta. Lucia. Later that same year, with some fund
assistance from the Presidential Support Fund, the water district was able
to connect Bgy. San Pedro and two sitios ( San Francisco Cutud and
Remedios ) across the river to the system.
In 2007, the SWD applied for and was able to secure a LWUA
loan which was used in the development of the water system in the island
barangay of Malusac.
In 2009, SWD became a recipient of a grant from LWUA which
it used in developing another independent water system for the island
barangay of Sebitanan and the construction of another pumping station (
P.S. # 5) in Bgy. Sto. Tomas near the border with Guagua.
SWD’s facilities now include five pumping stations capable of
generating a total of 54 liters of water per second which is more than
enough to sustain Sasmuan’s water needs for generations to come, and
a network of pipelines more than ten kilometers in length which is sufficient
for its generally compact service area covering nine of Sasmuan’s total
twelve barangays, namely: Sta Lucia, Sta. Monica, San Antonio, San
Nicolas I, San Nicolas II, Sto. Tomas, San Pedro and the island barangays
of Malusac and Sebitanan. GM Beda said the SWD is exploring the
possibility of developing water systems in the three remaining island
barangays of Batang I, Batang II and Mabuwanbuwan which incidentally
are located far off in the fringes of Manila Bay.
SWD now has more than 2,400 service connections accounting
for about 16,000 residents enjoying safe potable water 24/7 while paying
one of the lowest minimum water rates for small category water districts in
Pampanga and even the entire Central Luzon at P170.00. GM Beda said
the water district will maintain its present water rates for as long as they can
sustain the operations and the planned expansion to the missionary routes—
the three remaining populated island barangays in the town’s watery
periphery at the end of the Pampanga river.
Dinalupihan Water District:
MAKING THE M
by Teodoro M. Reynoso
Dinalupihan, the first town of and gateway to Bataan coming from
Pampanga and from Olongapo City with its vast Subic Bay complex in the
province of Zambales, never really enjoyed its current strategic location
and importance until after the massive reconstruction, rehabilitation and
development efforts that followed the Mt. Pinatubo eruption/devastation and
the withdrawal of the American naval and air force bases at Subic and its
conversion to a free port at the start of the 1990s.
It’s quite ironic that despite being astride amidst a veritable growth
triangle, it was only in the recent decades that Dinalupihan really come
along well in infrastructure development and in establishing itself as an
important trading commercial and business center. And the town and its
people have had to take full advantage of opportunities presented them
especially at the height of tha massive rehabilitation and development efforts
undertaken by the national government in coordination with local authorities
and the assistance of foreign aid and financing agencies in the 90s.
MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES
The development of modern potable water supply system in
Dinalupihan followed almost the same path and pattern.
For years and decades, the local residents used to fetch/draw
water from available free-flowing and privately-owned deep wells.
That changed starting with the establishment of the Dinalupihan
Water District on June 20, 1989 by virtue of Local Sangguniang Bayan
Resolution No. 39-89 consistent with the provisions of the Provincial
Water Utilities Act of 1973, also known as Presidentail Decree No. 198, as
amended, and the issuance by the Local Water Utilities Administration
(LWUA) of its Conditional Certificate of Conformance No. 409 in July of the
same year.
By 1990, the DWD under its first general manager Carlos
Magkalas became a recipient of a P10.36 million loan from LWUA which
was used in the construction of the first-ever water supply system for the
town of Dinalupihan.
GM Manalili
The further development of the DWD system was affected by the
Mt. Pinatubo eruption and the ensuing humanitarian crisis which the national
government, including the LWUA had to first attend to.
But with the intercession of then Congressman Felicisimo Tong
Payumo, some amounts from the rehab assistance funds found their way
to helping the DWD fund futher improvement and some expansion projects
during the period.
With service connections steadily increasing resulting to improving
financial position for the water district in the remainder of the 1990s, the
DWD was able to not only to sustain its operations but also to undertake
some system improvement and expansion.
The next big break came in 2004 with LWUA providing an
additional P28 million loan to DWD for the comprehensive improvement
and expansion of its water supply system. By this time, GM Magkalas
had reached the mandatory retirement age leaving one of his division
managers, Engineer Ber Manalili to handle the helm of the water district
and steer it through the then ongoing expansion project.
GM Manalili did not disappoint and under his stewardship, the
project was completed and the system was expanded to the barangays of
Sta. Isabel,, Daang Bago,, Aparing, Pinulot and part of Bancal. With the
savings from the project, DWD also was able to extend the system to the
barangay of Tucop.
Another break came in 2009 with the inclusion of DWD for mixed
grant-loan assistance under LWUA’s NLIF program where the water district
was also able to expand to the barangays of Layac, Roosevelt, Happy
Valley, San Pablo and Pitadalaw.
With the sudden stoppage of fund release for the NLIF projects,
the DWD decided to use its own funds in completing the rehabilitation of
existing ground reservoir at Roosevelt and improvements in two pumping
stations which are being fitted with sumps to store water and boost supply
and pressure during peak demand periods.
GM Manalili said DWD system now covers 43 of the town’s 46
barangays and could reach 90 percent coverage once the water system
of Bgy. Maligaya and Lincoln Park are turned over to the water district
soon.
The DWD presently serves some 10.590 concessionaires with
production coming from one old spring source and eight deep wells driven
by as many pumping stations.
DWD’s latest accomplishment is the expansion and
modernization of its original office building that includes an enclosed, airconditioned customer reception area fitted with cable TV. The office is also
fitted with a number of closed circuit TV (CCTV) for monitoring and security
purposes. Also recently completed was the water district’s centralized
warehouse and motorpool.
.GM Manalili said the DWD is aspiring to be upgraded from its
current “C” category.
In Banaue, Water Syste
The tourist town of Banaue in Ifugao is developing a water distribution system amid complaints that the
water supply of a village there is being controlled by a government-run hotel.
Banaue Mayor Jerry Dalipog said potable spring in Ifugao is being shared and rationed among
villages because water pressure falls during the dry season.
“In Banaue, the discharge rate has dropped from 30 to 40 percent. This was not the case before, but
we have determined that this is due to our dwindling forests,” Dalipog told INQUIRER on Thursday.
Banaue is home to the Batad Rice Terraces, the most photographed and visited destination of five
Ifugao terrace clusters classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations as a
World Heritage Site.
Dalipog said the local government spent up to P40 million to install a main piping system for Banaue
in 20 years.
He said the Banaue Water District would operate this year. He said thedistrict’s application for a
franchise at the Local Water Utilities Administration is pending and the next step would be to finance the system
that would connect the district’s main pipeline to 21,448 end users.
em Seen Solution To Feud
He said the start of the water district’s operations could resolve
“We are tired of being in the mercy of your management and
complaints aired against the government-run Banaue Hotel, which is
suffering the inconvenience of not having regular water supply which (is
overseen b y the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority
free and given by nature),” the complaint said.
(Tieza), because it alone has water distribution facilities in the area.
Banaue Hotel draws water from a reservoir from natural spring,
called Sumigar, 18 kilometers away. Dalipog said the Banaue water utility
intends to tap water from the same source.
Dalipog said some households around the hotel compound have
tapped illegally into the water system and hotel management tolerates
them except during the dry season when tourists arrivals pick up.
“The hotel needs to serve its clients so they manually pull out the
But a complaint sent by e-mail to Tieza and various newspapers
illegal connections from the water line. The households have understood
on Monday said Banaue Hotel controls the water supply of Sitio Iloque and
this cycle because they later restore their connections from the water line.
Barangay Tam-an.
The households have understood this cycle because they later restore
The complaint, which was signed by an unidentified Banaue
their connections at the end of the tourist season,” he said.
resident, said the Banaue Hotel gave “strict orders or instruction to turn (off)
In a statement sent by e-mail, the Banaue Hotel said its Sumigar
the water supply valves (of the hotel, that distributes water) to all (houses in)
reservoir “was (built) to supply a 20-room hotel with a restaurant (but) as
Tam-an and Iloque.”
years went by, the hotel has been expanding with additional rooms
This order, the complaint said, was issued on Sept. 26, 2011.
necessitating the construction of additional water tanks.”
(Reprinted from Philippine Daily Inquirer)
Preparing
Your Finances
For Retirement
I recently received an email from
Nino, a follower of this column. He wanted to
grow old with financial stability and to exonerate
his children from the burden of having him as
their income dependent.
Today, raising a child is like life
insurance. Raise them well, send them to good
schools to have a good career and eventually,
when the time comes, take care of their parents’
retirement. Then when children have their own
family, they’ll do the same and be in that chain
of compromise in their entire life. Nothing is
wrong with this arrangement. It’s just that there
are improved ways to secure a family’s future.
Most Filipino families are in spoken
agreement that children are 100 percent
responsible for their parent’s retirement.
Financial support is a passé way of measuring
children’s respect and love for parents. Given
a chance, isn’t it empowering, liberating and
fulfilling to manage your own life? A child with
the right set of values from parents will definitely
perform his duties beyond financial support.
There’s a need to break the vicious
cycle. I’ve had conversations with people in
this situation, and while they are happy to serve
their family, they also know there’s an ideal
way of supporting the family.
I am lucky that my family did not
require me to support them financially. I have
ways of showing them my love and gratitude.
With this, I am free to explore life and do things
that will improve my future. Writing for this column is an aftermath of
Our way of managing the family is unique in other races. We
personal fulfillment – my confidence in sharing my experiences is a product
have close family ties and we support each other by all means. It’s high
of the independence they have given me.
time that we recognize that this approach hinders every Filipino family to
Below are some of the tips to ensure that parents and children
its full potential. You will achieve your ideal life only if you do your part.
have a secured future without too many compromises from both parties.
Sometimes you have to do the unconventional to gain more in life.
Parents should have separate savings. Expecting children to
Regardless of status in life, most people would want to have full control and
manage retirement is a selfish act. Parents would want their children to
still manage to contribute to the people around them. I encourage everyone
enjoy life without set restrictions. Remember the golden rule: Treat others
to plant the seeds of a better life and harvest the sweetest fruits in the near
the way you would want to be treated. If parents allowed their children to
future with you families.
focus on their personal growth, a probability of a successful and wealthy
future is expected.
10 WAYS TO MAKE HEALTHY HABITS STICK
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Ideally, soon-to-be parents
Whether you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight or
should have enough savings before raising a family. For those who
you’re trying (again) to quit smoking, changing any lifestyle behavior is
started a family early and are unable to save, find a way to have savings.
notoriously difficult. Some people feel unsure of how to go about it. Others
Always keep something for yourself. Have the desire to have personal
start off strong, only to revert to old ways within a matter of time.
savings and secure your future. Remember that you can’t give what you
Most people who smoke, eat too much sweets and snacks, or
don’t have. During turbulence in a flight, you have to wear your oxygen
avoid exercise, realize that these behaviors can lead to health problems.
mask before attending to your child. It’s the same concept in raising a
family. Have generous savings before preaching to your children about
saving.
No one has full control of their children’s future. Parents should
acknowledge the fact that they can only influence their children and not
control their life. This means that no one else is responsible for your future
except yourself. Some parents demand support from their children, and
this is okay, but they just have to be prepared to fail and be content with what
they could get. Parents sometimes lose credibility and control over their
family because they submit to their child, who happens to be the breadwinner:
I’m sure a parent would still want control and have the last say in the
family’s decision making. This can be done if you still manage your life
during retirement.
Responsibility concept. If your hands are tied because your
parents and siblings depend on you, please tell them the concept of individual
responsibilities. You can’t be 100 percent there for them at all times. You
also have to manage yourself and your own family. This step is liberal and
it’s expected that people around you will go against this unpopular state.
Reality hurts and we have to start now if we want a better future. If you want
progress in life and break the cycle, you have to take the initial step.
But knowledge doesn’t automatically or easily translate to action.
Acknowledging this gap, health professionals have spent years studying
what actually works in helping people make long-lasting behavior changes.
Here are 10 effective strategies.
ASSESS YOUR READINESS
Changing behaviors that you may have developed over the
years – often without conscious thought—takes commitment and mental
and physical effort. Timing is key to success. Starting when you’re
distracted by other major events in your life, such as marital or financial
problems, can set you up for failure.
Another important aspect of readiness is your motivation to
change. You must first perceive a need to change—from within. No one
sugary dessert twice a week. After you achieve that, you might set a new
goal of eating fruit for dessert five days a week.
else can make you change. If your doctor recommends that you cut
BELIEVE YOU CAN DO IT
saturated fats from your diet to help control your cholesterol levels, how
This may sound obvious, but to successfully change, you need
does that relate to your own values, beliefs and goals? Your motivation
to feel confident that you can do it. If you see your health or behavior or
might be to avoid taking medications or to stay healthy so that you can
something beyond your control (“There’s nothing I can do about it.” Or I’m
enjoy your grandchildren.
just made this way genetically”) you might not see how you could possibly
change it or believe that the change will truly benefit your health.
START WITH SMALL STEPS
You may need to gather information about the change you’re
If you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes or high
making. For example, you might want to talk with a friend who’s already
blood pressure, your treatment plan might include a host of major lifestyle
got a walking program in place about how to get started and stay motivated.
changes- -such as dietary changes or exercise. Instead, start with a
As you successfully take small steps toward your new behavior, you’ll feel
small step. If you haven’t been physically active, walk around the block
more confident.
after dinner. If you’re trying to eat more fruits and vegetables, add more
carrots or spinach to your pasta sauce.
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR BEHAVIOR
Observing and recording your behavior can help promote
SET REALISTIC GOALS
change. This “self-monitoring” includes things like weighing yourself,
Setting goals improves the odds of achieving a desired change.
keeping a food or exercise diary, or charting your blood pressure.
The most useful goals are SMART—specific, measurable, attainable,
People who self-monitor their food intake have been found to lose twice as
relevant and time-limited. A goal to “experience more” sounds good, but
much weight as do those who don’t keep track of what they eat. In addition,
isn’t specific or measurable. “Walk 60 minutes everyday” is specific but it
people who weigh themselves regularly (though not necessarily daily) are
may not be attainable or relevant to your ability. A SMART goal might to
more successful at losing weight and keeping it off.
walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week—or, if you’re just starting out, to
take that walk around the block after dinner several nights a week.
SOLVE PROBLEMS
A series of short-term or “time-limited” or goals can move you
To change for the long term, you’ll need strategies in place for
toward a long-term goal. At first, your goal might be to substitute fruit for a
solving problems as they arise—because they inevitably will. Problem
solving involves several steps: identifying and defining the problem,
find ways to change or avoid them. If you go for coffee or dessert every
brainstorming solutions, evaluating the pros and cons of solutions, putting
time you see a particular friend, suggest that you go for a walk instead.
them into action, and then evaluating how well they worked. This process
Your network of friends, family and other close contacts can
will help you overcome potential roadblocks, such as the cost of a health
provide encouragement, emotional support, and reinforcement for your
club membership or exercise equipment.
efforts. Tell your family and friends that you’d appreciate their help, and
offer specific suggestions on what they can do.
GET A GOOD NIGHT’s SLEEP
Many people benefit from organized support, whether from a
Are you getting enough sleep? You might not realize how
dietician, doctor, counselor, personal trainer, support group or commercial
important sleep is as a foundation for behavioral change. Lack of sleep
program. You can gain insights from others experiencing similar
can interfere with our ability to focus, learn, and remember. When you’re
challenges, track the changes you’re achieving or work together to build
not sleeping well, you may be more likely to make poor decisions and feel
skills.
irritable, which can sabotage your efforts to change. Aim for about eight
hours of sleep a night, and stick to a sleep schedule.
BOUNCE BACK FROM LAPSES
MANAGE STRESS
Old habits die hard. An occasional lapse is normal. When it
Everything seems to be going smoothly with your new program
happens, avoid falling into all-or-nothing thinking. One setback doesn’t
–until the week your car breaks your down, you’ve filled up your calendar,
mean you’re a failure. Keep in mind the 90-10 rule — it’s what you do 90
and your best friend is diagnosed with a serious disease. When stressful
percent of the time that matters, not 10 percent of the time. To get back on
situations occur, your natural response may be to abandon your plan.
track, take another small step. Remember that changing your life doesn’t
Stress, both short-term and chronic, can undermine your efforts to get
happen all at once.
healthier. Find healthy ways to cope, such as prioritizing your activities,
setting aside time to relax, and delegating or letting go of some responsibilities
THE TOP 3 BEHAVIORS TO CHANGE
A hundred years ago, behavior choices had little to do with health.
CREATE A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
The leading causes of death were infectious diseases, such as influenza
If you can understand the environmental or social cues or
and tuberculosis. But today’s top killers – heart diseases, cancer and
triggers that go along with the behavior you’re trying to change, you can
stroke—can all be prevented to some extent. It’s estimated that as many
as half of all deaths each year stem from unhealthy behaviors.
. Stop using tobacco. Smoking remains one of the
leading causes of preventable or premature deaths.
. Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and
dried beans and peas (legumes) and low in fat. This promotes a healthy
weight and helps reduce the risk of various diseases, including heart
disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
. Stay physically active. Physical activity reduces the
risk of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer, and also prevents
obesity.
(Reprinted from Philippine Star)
SJDMWD
Holds Water
Quality
Workshop,
Ups
Supply
Quality
San Jose Del Monte City Water District (San Jose Water) in
Bulacanrecently shared the results of its twinning partnership with Korean
Water Resources Corporation (K-Water) to address San Jose Water’s
existing water quality issues, foremost of which is the high manganese
content of its raw water during El Niño conditions.
The workshop, organized by San Jose Water in coordination
with K-Water and Water Links-USAID, was held last November 24, 2011
at Pacific Waves Resort, City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Officials of
San Jose Water led by GM Lory Limcolioc and Board Chairman Felipe
M. Policarpio, Jr. were in full attendance. Officials from K-Water led by its
Director General, Mr.Kyungil Lee, also flew in from South Korea to share
learning and insights from the twinning partnership. The workshop
participants came from the water districts of Puerto Princesa, Metro
by Atty. Lea Pacia Javier
San Jose Water officials led by GM LoryLimcolioc (7th from left)
and Board Chairman Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr. (4th from left) pose
with K-Water officials and City Mayor Reynaldo S. San Pedro
(center) during the Workshop on Water Quality Management
Improvements where the result ofthe Twinning Partnership
between San Jose Water and K-Water was presented to other
water districts.
Carigara, Metro Iloilo, Metro Cebu, CamarinesNorte, Metro Tuguegarao,
Davao City, Tandag, Malaybalay, Butuan City and Isabela City. Mayor
Reynaldo S. San Pedro of the City of San Jose Del Monte graced the
opening ceremonies.
In his presentation of the results of the partnership, GM Lory
Limcolioc of San Jose Water emphasized the more efficientcoagulation in
San Jose Water’s treatment plant as the technical team from both San
Jose Water and K-Water revised the coagulant dosing line at the raw
water intake facility to uniformly distribute coagulant across the channel in
arrival basin. The team also modified and upgraded the sludge lagoon
which serves San Jose Water’s two treatment plants to improve sludge
treatment. A middle chlorination on top of pre and post-chlorination was
Representatives from K-Water ECO-ASIA and San Jose Water pose
also added to improve disinfection and help algae control.
after signing the Memorandum of Agreement for the Twinning
GM Limcolioc also noted the upgrade in San Jose Water’s
Partnership at K-Water’s head office in Daejeon, South Korea last
laboratory where additional parameters for water quality monitoring such
year, April 8, 2011. Seated from L to R: San Jose Water Board Chairman
as manganese, alkalinity, color, iron and trihalomethaneswere added. San
Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr., GM Loreto G. Limcolioc, Mark Nichol from
ECO-Asia, and Mr. Kyungil Lee, Director General of K-Water
Academy. Standing, from L to R: K-Water officials Daekchun Han,
Seungyeol Suh, Kwansoo Seok, Engr. Exrquiel Agapito of San Jose
Water, Kihang Koo, Hyunsik Hwang, Eungbyong Kim, Heejung
Son, and Yongkwan Moon.
Professor Kwan SooSeok of K-Water Acadmy (right), Engr. Florencio
Prof Kwansoo Seok (extreme left) asks Engr. Florence Lorenzo Of
Lorenzo (left) WTP Division Manager of San Jose Water, and Mr.
San Jose Water about the treatment process as Mr. Mark Nichol Of
Mark Nichol of ECO-ASIA test the chlorine and turbidity of sample
USAID and Engr. Exequiel Agapito, SJW’s Production Department
water taken from San Jose Water’s WTP Filtration Chamber.
Manager look on.
Jose Water’s sampling point facilities were likewise standardized resulting
to optimal residual chlorine at the distribution system.
The partnership between San Jose Water and K-Water
commenced on April 8, 2011 when the two water utilities signed the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at K-Water’s principal office in
Daejeon, Republic of Korea. The MOU was signed by GM Loreto Limcolioc
and Board Chairman Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr. for San Jose Water,
Mr.Kyungil Lee, Director General of K-Water Academy and
andMr.ArieIstandar, ECO-Asia’s Water and Sanitation Team Leader.
The MOU includes four visits by K-Water to the Philippines and two visits
by San Jose Water to South Korea. K-Water’s last visit is expected to
take place in the first quarter of 2012 but the system improvements for
Bgy. Muzon Chairman and former councilor Nolly Concepcion speaks
water quality upgrading at San Jose Water will be an ongoing program.
to express his support to the proposed septage management program
“We have committed to allocate a budget to implement the
for the City of San Jose Del Monte during the public consultation.
system improvements under the twinning partnership,” said Board
Chairman Policarpio.
San Jose Water is the one of the largest water service provider
technical cooperation and knowledge exchange with counterpart operators
abroad.
in the Philippines, with over 74,000 service connections. Meanwhile, K-
The partnership of the two water agencies was facilitated by
Water is a recognized water knowledge hub and operator that manages
ECO-ASIA through WaterLinks, a regional network that promotes water
water resources and water supply production/distribution for local
operator partnerships to support the transfer of good practices, expertise
governments throughout South Korea. Its robust water quality management
and technology through peer-to-peer exchangeswhere a utility (recipient
programs have led to assurance of safe water provision, meeting stringent
twin) that seeks to improve its performance and service delivery pairs with
national and international standards, and operates an internationally
a stronger utility (mentor twin) to learn from.
accredited water quality analysis institution that promotes international
San Jose Water is looking at the possibility of replicating the
partnership with other water districts in the country, this time with San Jose
Water as the mentor utility.
GM LoryLimcolioc and Board Chairman Felipe M. Policarpio, Jr. discuss
water quality issues with officials of K-Water Academy at the latter’s
Participants from various water districts in the country actively join
head office in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
the discussion in the Seminar Workshop Quality Improvements held
at Pacific Waves Resort, CSJDM, Bulacan.
GLOBAL ACCESS TO SAFE
DRINKING WATER IMPROVES,
SAYS REPORT
The goal of reducing by half the number of people without access to safe drinking water has been achieved ahead of the 2015
deadline for reaching the globally agreed development targets aimed at ridding the world of extreme poverty, hunger and preventable
diseases. But efforts to improve sanitation still fall behind.
According to a recent joint report of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO),
over two billion people gained access to improved drinking water sources such as piped supply and protected wells between 1990 and
2010.
Having the number of people without access to clean drinking water is one of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), which include ending extreme poverty, reducing child and maternal mortality rates, fighting diseases, an establishing a global
partnership for development.
Access to clean drinking water is one of the first MDG targets to be met. At the end of 2010, an estimated 89 percent of the world’s
population, or 6.1 billion people, used improved drinking water sources, according to the report. The figure is one percent more than the 88
percent stated in the MDG targets.
The report estimates that by 2015, some 92 percent of the global population will have access to improved drinking water.
But UNICEF cautioned that success cannot yet be declared because at least 11 percent of the world’s population or 783 million
people still have no access to safe drinking water, and billions live without sanitation facilities.
The world, according to the report, is still far from meeting the MDG target for sanitation, and is unlikely to do so by 2015. Only 63
percent of the world population has access to improved sanitation, a figure projected to increase to only 67 percent by 2015, well below the
75 percent MDG target. Currently 2.5 billion people still lack improved sanitation.
UNICEF and WHO underscored that significant work must still be done to ensure that sources of water are improved and remain
safe.
The United Nations General assembly has recognized access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities as human rights.
Source: Science & Technology Section, The Philippine Star, 04/17/2012)
WATER SECTOR OFFERS
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Millennium Goal of providing safe water to all Filipinos by 2015 remains daunting and will cost billions of dollars. But this will open
big opportunities for private investments.
This summed up the presentation of Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Santos and Metropolitan
Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Chairman Ramon Alikpala before members of the water committee of the Philippine Chambers
of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) recently.
Between the two lead water agencies on top of developing potable water systems in the country, they reported providing potable
water to 17.5 million people in the provinces under LWUA covering 981 cities and towns and 13.75 million people in mega Manila under the
MWSS.
The MWSS estimated that the mega city which includes several towns outside of metro Manila has a population of 15 million while
the latest official population of the Philippines was pegged at 94 million.
Alikpala further reported that no less than 455 towns remain waterless or do not have waterworks systems that work.
Both government officials admitted that the government alone could not single handedly shoulder the burden of extending water
systems to all households, commercial establishments and industrial plants. There is an urgent need to harness private sector support to help
meet the challenge.
Alikpala said that the opportunities for private investments lie in water and waste water or sewerage system development and
management including the putting up of treatment plants and watershed protection and management.
Citing as example of private sector involvement, he revealed that the single biggest supplier of bulk water in the country is the
company of Senator Manny Villar. Villar, he said supplies potable water to most occupants of the subdivisions he had built.
There are institutionaland legal obstacles though that need to be hurdled if more private investment is to be piped into potable water
systems and waste water management facilities.
Santos and Alikpala admitted that no single agency in government regulates the use of water. In providing safe water to towns and
cities, local government units are known to either partner with LWUA in organizing water districts which are government owned corporations,
or they partner with the departments of local government (DILG), public works (DPWH) health (DOH) or on their own provide safe water to
their constituents.
The situation needs to be addressed if the government wants to speed up meeting its commitments to the United Nations which is
to provide safe and sustainable water to all Filipinos by 2015.
There are now proposed measures pending passage by both houses of Congress to correct the situation.
In the meantime, there is still enough water supply for Metro Manila as confirmed by the Manila Water Company.
But there is a need to look for alternative sources to the Angat Dam in Bulacan which is the lone water supply source of metro Manila
aside from the irrigation requirements of provinces around it, Alikpala said. He likewise noted that the dam lies near an earthquake fault.
(Source: Philippine News and Features, 04-16-2012)
LWUA COMES TO AID OF AYUNGON,
NEGROS ORIENTAL, OTHER TREMOR-HIT
WATER DISTRICTS IN THE VISAYAS
The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has mobilized
its resources to help repair the water system of Ayungon Water District
and restore potable water supply operations there the soonest possible
time even as the agency continues to assess and come up with appropriate
measures to address the damages wrought to other water districts by the
strong February 6, 2012 earthquake measuring 6.9 in the Richter’s scale
that hit many parts of the Visayas .
LWUA Board Chairman Rene C. Villa and acting Administrator
Eduardo Santos flew to Dumaguete City Monday, February 13, 2012) to
personally assure water district officials of LWUA’s readiness to help
Ayungon and other water districts in the area adversely afftected by the
latest and biggest natural calamity to hit the country since the calamitous
Typhoon Sendong.
The Ayungon Water District suffered major damages in its
Chairman Villa inspecting mobile water treatment plant deployed in Ayungon.
pipeline network that has forced the stoppage of the delivery of water to its
Visayas suffered damages or adverse effects ranging from water turbidity
numerous concessionaires since the earthquake. The water district is
at sources, increased sand pumping, cracks in facilities as reservoirs
currently undertaking emergency repairs of the pipeline at the cost of P1.5
and pumping stations and office buildings. These include the water districts
million.
of New Lucena and Zarraga in Iloilo, La Carlota City and Pulupandan In
LWUA area manager for the Visayas , Engr. Enrique Gita said
Negros Occidental, Buenavista and Jordan in Guimaras, Metro Cebu,
a request for P5 million funding assistance for Ayungon has already been
Pinamungajan, and Dalaguete in Cebu; and Bais City in Negros Oriental.
submitted to the LWUA Board for its consideration.To help address the
According to Engr. Gita, actual costs of damage are being
current shortage in drinking water, Gita said that LWUA has dispatched its
estimated and shall be finalized after the completion of actual ground
mobile water treatment plant previously assigned in the Typhoon Sendong-
assessments .
hit Iligan City to Ayungon along with a volunteer team from the agency’s
Significantly, no damage however were reported from the water
armed forces-affliated 5 Water Battalion headed by Dr. Edison Cuenca to
districts of Alimodian, Banate, Calinog, Concepcion, Dingle-Pototan,
operate it and help in water distribution or rationing to the residents. It was
Duenas, Dumangas-Barotac-Nuevo, Estancia, Igbaras, Janiuay,
reported that the LWUA team fortunately escaped landslides during their
Lambunao, Lemery and Miag-ao in Iloilo; Bacolod City, Himamaylan, La
deployment to the disaster area.
Castellana, Murcia and Sipalay in Negros Occidental; Cuartero, Dao,
th
LWUA officials also went to La Libertad and Guilhulngan City to
Dumalag, Dumarao, Libacao, Mambusao, Pilar, President Roxas in Capiz,
see how the agency could help as far as providing potable water supply is
all water districts in Aklan and Antique; Talibon and Clarin in Bohol, Tanjay,
concerned especially to the victims and evacuees. They also held talks
Sibulan, Byawan and Metro Siquijor in Negros Oriental; Carcar, Moalboal,
with officials of water districts of Sibulan, Tanjay and Dumaguete on their
Bogo in Cebu; Leyte Metro, Abuyog, Metro Carigara, Jaro, Baybay, Metro
individual concerns and needs brought about by the earthquake and the
Hilongos and Naval in Leyte; Sogod and Maasin in Sothern Leyte; Guiuan,
previous destructive Typhoon Sendong.
Borongan, Taft, General McArthur and Llorente in Eastern Samar; Basey,
Initial reports that reached the LWUA headquarters in Quezon
City have identified at least ten more water districts in Western and Central
Catbalogan, Calbiga and Calbayog City in Western Samar; and Catarman
and San Isidro in Northern Samar.
PUERTO PRINCESA HOSTS
PHILWATER 2012
INTERNATIONAL
Puerto Princesa City with its world-famous eco-tourism sites,
product presentors and exhibitors for the co-featured PhilWater 2012
including the recently declared new wonder of nature underground river,
Exhibition. PWWA has been annually organizing and hosting this
will be the venue of the 20 staging of the International Conference and
international water resource management conference and exhibition since
Exhibition on Water Resource Management otherwise known as PhilWater
1992 as its commitment and contribution to promoting the sustainable
2012 carrying the theme, “ Opportunities To Keep Water and
development of the world’s water supply and resources.
th
Environment Healthy”. This was announced recently by the host and
Interested parties are requested to contact Ms. Neneth B. Javier
organizing Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA) through its newly-
at the PWWA Secretariat thru tel. nos. 9207145, 9408862, fax 9278781
elected president, Edgar C. Lopez, chairman of the board of directors of
and email address pwwamail@gmail.com or visit their website at
the Angeles City Water District (ACWD) who said that PhilWater 2012 will
www.pwwa.waterphl.ph.
be held at the Hotel Centro this October 17-19, 2012 with the Puerto Princesa
City Water District as co-host.
Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. recently presided
over the induction of the new PWWA officers led by Lopez , who is also
president of the Water Environment Association of the Philippines (WEAP,
Engr. Roger F. Borja, general manager of the San Pablo City Water
District, vice president for national affairs; former Local Water Utilities
Administration (LWUA) Administrator Daniel Landingin, vice president for
international affairs; Engr. Antonio Magtibay also of LWUA, secretary; Engr.
Norman Tatco of Festo Inc., treasurer; Ninia P. Lumauan, general manager
of the Metro Tuguegarao Water District, auditor; Eng. Eulogio F. Agatep of
Agafer Construction, PRO.
The other PWWA officers included incumbent LWUA OIC
BONGBONG INDUCTS PWWA OFFICERS. Senator
Administrator Engr. Eduardo C. Santos .Metropolitan Waterworks and
Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (center) recently inducted the new
Sewerage System (MWSS) Board Chairman Ramon B. Alikpala, Teresa
officers of the Philippine Water Works Association (PWWA) led by its
Araneta of Pipe Systems, Engr. John M. Castaneda of the Department of
president, Edgar C.Lopez of the Angeles City Water District ( 4th from
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Engr. Ernesto S. Gregorio, Jr.,
left). PWWA will host the 20th International Conference and Exhibition
OIC-Director of the Rural Water Supply –CARP Project management
on Water Resource Management, also known as PhilWater 2012 this
Office of the Department of Public Works (DPWH), Engr. Rolando Grospe,
October in Puerto Princesa City. Marcos also extol the success of the
president of the Well Drillers Association of the Philippines (WELDAPHIL)
country’s water districts whose institutionalization was made possible
and PWWA immediate past president Atty. Daniel Fandino of the Calamba
by Presidential Decree No. 198, as amended issued by his father, the late
City Water District, as directors.
President Ferdinand Marcos in 1973. Others in photo are (from left to
Lopez said the PWWA is now calling on both local as well as
right) Atty. Daniel Fandino, Engr. Antonio Magtibay, Norman Tatco,
foreign water supply and sanitation and environmental experts for papers
Engr,Eulogio Agatep, Ninia Lumauan, Engr. Rolando Grospe, Daniel
to be presented during the technical session. He said the association has
Landingin and Engr. Roger Borja. Also in photo is PWWA Office
issued invitations to participants for the technical session as well as technical
Manager Neneth Javier.
LWUA RECEIVES P619.573 M GRANT FROM DOH
The Local Water Utilities Administration recently received from the Department of Health (DOH) through the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) a grant of P619.573 Million grant for the joint implementation of Potable Water Supply Program of the government pursuant
to the MOA entered into by the aforementioned government agencies in March 2010.
The P619.573 Million is part of the P1.5 Billion grant to LWUA to be released by the DOH through the DBM representing the second and
final release of fund for the same purpose. The first tranche of P741.827 M was released last June 2011 which had been used for LWUA’s NonLWUA Initiative Fund or NLIF projects.
Among the conditions stipulated in the release of the grant, LWUA is required to submit to the DOH a regular quarterly report on the status
of project implementation and accomplishment and secure a final liquidation report and credit notice from the Regional Office of COA covering the total
disbursements for the project.
Some 72 water districts (WDs) will benefit from the P619.573 grant which will again be released through the NLIF program.
The balance of P138.60 M from the P 1.5 B shall be utilized by the DOH for its “DOH Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program” as
stipulated in the same MOA.
WATER BOARD DIRECTOR OPPOSES ANGARA BILL
Lucena City — a member of the board of directors of a government-owned and controlled water agency here expressed firm opposition
to a Senate bill which allegedly proposes to privatize the operation of water districts in the country.
Billy Andal, director of Quezon Metropolitan Water District (QMWD) servicing Pagbilao and the cities of Tayabas and Lucena, said
Senate Bill 2997, authored by Sen. Edgardo Angara, would phase out water districts and lead to commercial operation of the water sector in the
country.
“Sa planong pribatisasyon, malaking pakinabang iyon para sa mga higanteng kompanya ng tubig tulad ng Maynilad at Manila Water
sapagkat mabubuksan and pagkakataon para mamonopolisa ang negosyo sa tubig at kikita sila ng malaki,” said Andal, also a former Quezon
provincial board member.
The Angara bill would hike water rates for consumers from P12 to P30 per cubic meter once the water districts are run by Maynilad or
Manila Water, according to Andal, who figured in an internal controversial issue among his fellow board of directors in the QMWD.
“Walang magagawa at kawawa ang mga kunsomidores kahit magtaas man ng singil sa tubig buwan-buwan ang mga kompanya ni
Ayala, Pangilinan, Tan at Consunji at gayan ang nararanasan ng mga Manilenyo ngayon,” said Andal, adding the big private companies have only
profit as their motive in their move to penetrate the water sector unlike government-controlled water districts which aim for public service in the areas
they operate.
Andal called on the administration of President Benigno Aquino III to consider the plight of the ordinary citizens by extending financial
assistance to water districts so as to improve the delivery of water services to water consumers.
Andal lamented the fact that since the issuance by then President Ferdinand Marcos of his Presidential Decree 198 in 1973 which created
the water districts in the country, the government has not provided a ‘single centavo’ to these water agencies.
“Lumago ang water districts mula’t sapul sa sariling sikap, pawis, kasipagan at sakrispisyo ng mga kawani at namamahala dito. Tila mga
anak ang water district na makaraang iluwal sa sanlibutan ay iniwan ng magulang na mabuhay at makatayo sa sarili,” Andal, who also owns
several weekly community papers in Calabarzon region, said.
During the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, an alleged move for the privatization of water service delivery in areas
outside Metro Manila was contained in her Exec. Order 279 she issued on Feb. 2, 2004 which aimed to institute reforms for local water utilities by
rationalizing the operations of the Local Water Utilities Administration which provides development assistance to water districts.
LWUA-JICA SMALL WATER
DISTRICTS IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT. The Local Water
Utilities Administration (LWUA)
and the Japanese International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) have
recently completed a seven-year
technical cooperation partnership for
the physical improvement of twenty
small water districts and the training
and provision of office equipment for
thirty-four others for a total of 54
beneficiary water districts nationwide
under the so-called Small Water
Districts Improvement Project that
was started way back in 2005. The
Project has been funded by grant
from the Japanese government with
LWUA tasked with selecting the beneficiary water districts and providing counterpart experts and assistance in the institutional development
of the water districts involved. Photo shows LWUA acting Administrator Eduardo Santos and JICA Senior Representative Sachiko Takeda
shaking hands after signing the final joint committee report on the project at the LWUA office in Balara, Quezon City. The final report will be
submitted to the JICA head office in Japan for final evaluation.
POTABLE WATER FOR SASMUAN’S ISLAND BGYS. Potable water is now flowing from household taps of residents in the island
barangays of Sebitanan and Malusac in the town of Sasmuan, Pampanga near the mouth of the Manila Bay through the efforts of the
Sasmuan Water District with the financial and technical assistance from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA). Photo shows
Sasmuan Water District (SWD) General Manager Beda Carlos explaining to visiting staff from the LWUA Public Affairs Department led by
division chief Teodoro Reynoso the operation of the pumping station and independent water system at Sebitanan. SWD plans to develop
independent water systems in the three remaining Sasmuan island barangays of Batang l, Batang ll and Mabuwanbuwan which are also
being eyed by the local authorities as fishing and aquaculture production centers and eco-torism site for annual bird-watching.
LWUA COMES TO AID OF NEGROS EARTHQUAKE-HIT WATER DISTRICTS. The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)
immediately came to the assistance of water districts in the Negros provinces badly affected by the recent strong intensity 6.6 earthquake
especially in the town of Ayungon which water pipeline network was cut by dispatching its mobile water treatment plant with a volunteer team
from the agency’s armed forces-affiliated water batallion to operate the same and assist in water rationing. Photo shows LWUA Board
Chairman Rene Villa and Administrator Eduardo Santos ( 3rd and 4th from right ) posing with members of the LWUA volunteer team led by Dr.
Edison Cuenca (5th from left ) and some local government and water district officials
NEW GUAGUA WATER DISTRICT OFFICE. Guagua , Pampanga Mayor Ricardo S. Rivera ( left ) and Local Water Utilities Administration
(LWUA) acting Deputy Administrator for Area Operation, Engr. Edwin T. Ruiz (center) share the honor of leading the inauguration recently
of the newly-completed office building of the Guagua Water District (GWD) which offers greater accessibility and convenience for its water
concessionaires in payment of water bills and availing of the GWD services. The edifice is part of GWD’s continuing program to further improve
and expand its service and operations in the delivery of potable water supply to the people of Guagua, Pampanga. Also in photo are GWD Board
Chairman Mario Francisco Lapid and GWD General Manager Edgardo P. Rodriguez.

News News News News News News News News News

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