Mercedes waterworks

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THE MERCEDES BARANGAY

Water Project Rural Waterworks Association, Inc.

Merced wprwa1.jpg

The Mercedes Barangay Water Project Rural Waterworks Association Inc. (MBWP-RWAI) is one of the projects of the City Government established in 1986 under the Administration of then Mayor Manuel A. Dalipe, funded by the United States Administration for International Development (USAID). The original project cost in putting up the overhead tank, one 10 horse power pump station and several kilometers of piping network amounts to Php 5,621,378.87 of which Php 3,858,729.87 was financed by the USAID and Php 1,762,649.00 was provided by the City Government of Zambaonga as its counter part.

Its main purpose is to provide the entire barangay with clean potable water utilizing a modern way of extracting underground water through the use of electric submersible pump and motor. A piping system ferries water from its pumping station to the different communal faucets installed on strategic locations were the residents fetch for their daily needs.

Upon completion of the project, the entire water system management was turned over to the Mercedes Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Association (MRWSA). The MRWSA was organized by the member consumers and run by seven (7) duly elected Board Members.

On its early days the water supply was more than enough to serve the Mercedeños. However, the communal faucet system wherein at least ten (10) families are subscribed to it had proven an in-effective way for the collection of the monthly water subscription fees from each family. Poor collection, mishandling of the meager funds for operation and the mismanagement of the water system had further discouraged its member consumers in good standing to provide for its maintenance cost which left its officers in quandary.

Despite the predicament, the Mercedeños were still very lucky to have Rev. Fr. Crisanto dela Cruz as the Parish Priest during that period. The Priest who learned to love his parishioners, the place itself and knows that the development of the barangay will log behind without the water facilities, as the saying goes “Agua Es Vida”. Rev. Fr. Crisanto dela Cruz came in and bailed out the MRWSA, made available his personal finances just to set the system on its right path. A new set of board members were duly formed which elected Engr. Eliodoro Z. Torres, Jr. as the President to whom Rev. Father dela Cruz turned over the management of MRWSA.

Under the management of Engr. Torres the supply dwindled due the growing needs for potable water by the Mercedes residents which prompted the Management to divide the area into two, the upper Mercedes and lower Mercedes for purposes of water scheduling. The one day ON and one day OFF water ration schedule ran for a couple of years.

It was between the years 1994 to 2002 where the operation of the MRWSA had started to show some indications of survival when the appointed Treasurer initiated stern policies and introduced changes in the management of the system. Abolition and disconnection of all communal faucets and the installation of water meter by household, conversion of five abandoned barangay artisian wells (on strategic locations) to two horse power pump station and close coordination with the barangay officials headed by then Chairman Ernesto R. Perez for donations and grants to the improve the system were among the strategies initiated.

The hard work, diligence and sheer dedication of both the officers of MRWSA and the Barangay Council aimed at improving the Water System has pave the way for following grants and donations:

1. Year 1998 - Donation of the entire water facilities of the El Niño Kapayapan Urban Poor Association consisting of a pump station with three horsepower pump and motor installed, an overhead tank and the entire piping network within the Rainbow Sub-division with a carrying cost of Php 350,0000.00

2. Year 1999 - Ten Horse Power Pump and Motor worth Php 100,000.00 donated by the Curuan Waterworks and Sanitation Association (CURUWASA)

3. Year 1999 - Construction of 10 Horse Power Pump Station at the cost of Php 865,813.07 under the Grants Assistance for Grass Roots Project (GAGRP) of the Japanese Government

4. Year 2002 - Construction of 1.6 Kilometers of 4 inches pipeline in the amount of Php 1,200,000.00 donated by Cong. Celso L. Lobregat (Php700,000.00) and Mayor Maria Clara L. Lobregat (Php 500,000.00)

These grants and donations has pivoted the operation of MRWSA which greatly improved the water services in the locality. Residents started enjoying an average of sixteen hours availability of water supply daily.

In the year 2005, the Board discovered that MRWSA Association was never registered at the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) thereby, existing for several years without legal personality. It was only then, when the Association had applied for registration with the SEC. Unfortunately, the original name MRWSA can no longer be assigned to this Association instead, the SEC assigned and approved its application under a new name Mercedes Barangay Water Project Rural Waterworks Association, Inc. or MBWP-RWAI.

To-date the MBWP-RWAI had emerged as the most successful barangay water project in the City of Zamboanga for being self sustaining and well managed Association. The Association had become the model barangay water facility for the water projects in Basilan Province. Two batches of Basilan Barangay Officials together with some USAID representatives had conducted a field trip during the year 2008.