No water supply crisis yet – Water District

• Source:http://palawan-news.com/no-water-supply-crisis-yet-water-district-2/
• Saturday, March 26, 2016

By Catherine Santos

The Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) sees no need to declare a “state of emergency” in terms of water supply in the City of Puerto Princesa as the situation is still “controllable” according to General Manager Antonio Jesus R. Romasanta.

“Tolerable pa. Hindi pa tayo mauuhaw, said Romasanata during the Multi-sectoral Consultative Assembly, Thursday, March 17.

The water district is supposed to implement a 12-12 rationing scheme on Monday, March 21, but since the situation is still controllable despite the 5,000 cubic meters deficit in the water volume every day, the PPCWD management decided to put it on hold. Romasanta however forewarned the water consumers to prepare for the possible water rationing that will take effect any time once the situation worsens.

Based on the data presented by Finance Services Department Manager Walter J. Laurel, the average water demand during rainy season there is a surplus of 9,038 cubic meter per day. But during the dry season, assuming that there is no increase in the demand, the supply deficit is usually 13,869 cubic meter per day. .

This situation could possibly get worse once the water district could not find additional source of water supply. Based on PPCWD’s projection, in 2020 the water supply deficit will go up to 20, 677 cubic meters and 28,719 cubic meters in 2025.

According to Romasanta, the water district is exhausting all efforts to push the Montible River water project also tagged as “Water Supply Improvement Project II” to proactively address the problem.

“Kahit naman kasi anong kompanya ang pumasok, ‘yun pa rin – Montible River ang target nila,” he said.

The PPCWD has been seeking for three years the Department of Justice clearance to utilize the Montible River as additional source of water supply yet their request is not granted. Considering the urgency of the need to have additional water source, the water district is eyeing three options just to be able to address the problem: (1) Enter into a bulk water agreement; (2) enter into a joint-venture agreement; (3) Enter into a concession agreement like in the case of Maynilad and Manila Water in Metro Manila.

Romasanta however, is still hopeful that among the three options, the water district could still get clearance from the DOJ and be able to utilize the Montible River.

“Obvious naman ‘pag may pumasok na private, talagang mas magmamahal ang tubig,” he added.

The bidders for possible partnership with water district are these companies: Rio Verde Consortium, Manila Water Company, Prime Water Corporation, Maynilad Water, PhilHydro Corporation, Solerex Water, and Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

One of the suggestions of the participants of the Consultative Meeting is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis should the water district is left with no option but to engage the services of a private company.