by Jan Albert K. Araña
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Cagayan de Oro City 1st District Engineer Office (CDO 1st DEO) takes the lead in the construction of four solar water system projects to answer the need for rising sustainable potable water sources.
“Naa tay bago nga project karon, ang solar water system. Upat ka barangay ang amoang gigahinan ana [nga proyekto], isa sa Barangay San Simon, duha sa Dansolihon, ug isa sa Tagpangi,” DPWH CDO 1st DEO District Engineer Ana Lee Manzano said.
(We have a new project, the solar water system. We have identified four areas for that project: one in Barangay San Simon, two in Dansolihon, and one in Tagpangi).
Manzano disclosed that the identified areas only rely on spring water as a source of their potable water. To address the issue, their office allocated a total of P36 million in project costs, or P9 million per solar water system, to improve their water source.
The CDO 1st DEO will construct a control house, intake box, and overhead tank or reservoir to collect the water from the source, which will be distributed in the areas via tap stands. Instead of using an electric-powered water pump, they have installed a solar-powered pump to reduce expenses for the beneficiaries.
A memorandum of agreement was signed with the barangay beneficiaries to ensure that future repair and maintenance costs of the system will be their responsibility.
Currently, the solar water system project in Barangay Tagpangi is in its ongoing phase of construction, while the other areas are currently under negotiation with the indigenous people groups located in the area. (JAKA/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)
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