Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Emmanuel Piñol. (PNA File photo)
DAVAO CITY -- Various government agencies led by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) will launch on Friday (December 6) the Mindanao Water Supply Program here.
MinDa Secretary Emmanuel Piñol will lead the launching of the Mindanao Development Authority Water Program along with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President Emmanuel Barbosa, and Mindanao governors and mayors, MinDA said in a statement on Thursday.
Conceptualized by Piñol, the MinDA Water Supply Program was a product of a series of consultations between DILG, DBP and MinDA to address the problem of rural people's lack of access to safe drinking water, which can also be used for agricultural purposes.
Piñol said the MinDA Water Supply Program aims to provide local government units (LGUs) access to solar-powered water systems to provide drinking and irrigation water to communities in Mindanao and Palawan.
“The program aims to provide drinking water to all communities in Mindanao and Palawan and irrigation water to an estimated 500,000 hectares of agricultural areas," said Piñol.
Under the program, LGUs can access loan funds from DBP at a very low interest rates to establish Solar-Powered Water Systems and even Desalination Facilities in island-communities.
He added that with the help of consultants from Israel, China and Germany, the LGUs could engage local engineering groups to undertake the establishment of the Solar-Powered Water Systems.
“The Department of Interior and Local Government will offer incentives and financial support to outstanding LGUs in support of the program,” Secretary Año said.
During the launching, the said government agencies are expected to sign the tripartite memorandum of understanding for the water supply program.
MinDA will also sign a memorandum of agreement with the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley and the Metro Kidapawan Water District for the grant of a PHP500,000 each as a support fund for their respective water programs.
Another MOA will also be signed between Coca-Cola's SETA Machine Potable Water Treatment Plant with the LGU of Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, Tagum City Council Women Foundation, and the St. Mary's College of Bansalan-Filipino Chinese Catholic Organization.
Piñol added that Coca-Cola will be providing a potable water treatment facility for each of the recipients.
MinDA will also turn-over the Metro Davao Urban Master Plan to the LGUs of Digos City, Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, Davao City, Panabo City, Carmen, Tagum City, Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte and Maco, Compostela Valley Province. (PNA)
