Jica donates Php 30M worth of equipment to Cebu water firm

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=846745
• Thursday, January 14, 2016

(PNA), RMA/EB/EDS

CEBU CITY, Jan. 14 (PNA) -- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has donated more than Php 30 million worth of equipment to the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD).

MCWD Chairman Rene Mercado said these pieces of equipment will further improve the quality of water for Metro Cebu consumers.

Jica officials, led by senior representative Takahiro Morita, formally turned over two mobile siphon filtration tanks (MSTs) and one sand washer to MCWD officials, led by Mercado in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City Wednesday.

The truck-mounted MST, which is worth Php 15 million, can produce up to seven cubic meters (cbm) of potable water per hour.

The second MST, which is stationary, is worth Php 7.5 million and can produce up to 20 cbm of potable water per hour.

The special equipment was invented and produced by Nihon Genryo Co. Ltd., which has been involved in developing waterworks in Japan.

The special equipment was given to Jica for free through MCWD’s twinning program with Yokohama Waterworks Bureau.

Engr. Noel Dalena, MCWD acting general manager, said the MSTs will also allow them to respond to water-related disasters such as drought and El Niño.

The MST, both truck-mounted and stationary, are capable of producing potable water from murky water in rivers.

The MST has been used by Jica to provide potable water to victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Daanbantayan town in 2013.

On the other hand, the sand washer is used to clean the sand used by MCWD’s filter plant based in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.