WATER PROJECT. Mayor Richard Gomez said Ormoc City has improved its water supply in the past six years, jumpstarting the long-term rehabilitation of the water system. Locally initiated improvement activities are on top of the Ormoc City Water Supply System Project, which will be pursued through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). (Photo courtesy of Ormoc city government)
TACLOBAN CITY – The city government of Ormoc has improved its water supply in the past six years, jumpstarting the long-term rehabilitation of the water system, Mayor Richard Gomez said on Tuesday.
The actor-turned mayor said the more stable water supply in some villages without access to clean water in the past, could be credited to the improvement activities.
The mayor said that even if the long-term project has yet to start, there are already local initiatives to boost the water supply between 2016 and 2021.
Among these are clarifying water plants, post-earthquake repairs, expansion of service areas, development of spring sources, and replacement of old pipelines and water meters.
The local government has no available figures on the cost of this project when sought by the Philippine News Agency.
Huge investments prompted the Ormoc Waterworks and Sewerage Administration (ORWASA) to adjust the rate from PHP35 to PHP100 per 10,000 liters in February 2021. The last time ORWASA had a water rate adjustment was in 1999, which was 22 years ago.
“The cost of water in Ormoc is one of the lowest in the country at only PHP100 per 10,000 liters. I wish our critics will notice this low rate,” Gomez, who is eyeing a congressional seat, said in a statement.
Locally initiated improvement activities are on top of the Ormoc City Water Supply System Project, which will be pursued through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
City Councilor Lalaine Marcos said in a text message the feasibility study on the project was completed last year with various funding schemes recommended. No specific timetable has been released at the start of the project.
The feasibility study was deemed acceptable by both PPP Center and the Ormoc technical working group study teams, according to Marcos.
The water system project aims to provide an uninterrupted supply facility with a source, a reservoir, a piped distribution network with an adequate treatment facility, and household taps.
A reservoir will be set up and a new pipeline from bulk water will also be built to augment the interconnection of existing pipelines.
The project will also establish a clarifier and filtration gallery to improve the quality of the water. It is seen to upgrade the water supply in 28 service areas.
At present, the city's water supply comes from various sources including underground water and rivers.
Currently, there are 25,044 connections in the city wherein 1,015 are commercial consumers; 24,029 residential consumers, while 82 villages are enjoying Level 3 and 28 villages enjoying Level 2.
Level 3 is a water supply facility with a source, a reservoir, a piped distribution network with an adequate treatment facility, and household taps.
Level 2, on the other hand, is a water supply facility composed of a source, a reservoir, a piped distribution network with an adequate treatment facility, and communal faucets.
Ormoc is a first-class independent component city with a population of 230,998 in 110 villages, making it the second-most-populous city in Leyte province.
The city is the economic, cultural, commercial, and transportation hub of western Leyte. (PNA)
