Photos courtesy of Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc.’s Community Relations Officer Jade Hazel D. Gamas
Editor’s note: This is in reference to the story on the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project posted July 5, 2018. This is the version of Apo Agua. Links to the story have been disabled. Our apologies.
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project of Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (AAII) is awaiting for the government approval to convert 68,000 square meters of land into a water treatment facility in Barangay Gumalang, Baguio District.
The P10-billion project, a joint venture between the Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and JV Angeles Construction Corp., has already secured permits from the local government and the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agrarian Reform Conversion Order is the last of the land conversion permits needed before physical construction of the water treatment plant could commence.
AAII’s board director, Manuel Orig, said that if further prolonged, the delay could cause adverse effects in the project’s proposed timeline estimated to be completed on July 2021.
Submitted last April, the AAII’s application for the permit has already been endorsed by the DAR Legal Affairs Office and is already awaiting the approval of DAR Secretary Atty. John R. Castriciones.
Orig said that since last year, they have acquired rights of way, made detailed design of the facility, and conducted topographic surveys and raw water quality analyses.
They were told the DAR approval could be secured by November 30.
During Tuesday’s session, the Sangguniang Panlungsod agreed that November would be too long and the council must do what they can to speed up the process.
READ: Council approves P10-B Tamugan water project
With Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s endorsement and the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s intent to pass a resolution to expedite the approval of the DAR Conversion Order, it is hoped that the approval by DAR would be obtained in July.
“Even if we do not obtain approval of DAR by July 2018, construction of structures outside of the areas that require DAR approval will proceed as planned,” Orig said.
The Apo Agua bulk water project aims to supply 300 million liters of safe water with the use of its renewable energy-powered water treatment plant, with Tamugan river as its water source. (Trisha Mae B. Lopina/davaotoday.com)
