Four contractors have started initial surveys on the planned 27-kilometer long water pipeline of the Malingin Bulk Water Supply Project undertaken by Boholano-owned Richli Corporation scheduled to be completed in September 2018.
The PhP1.5 billion water supply project will source its water from Malingin River located in Purok 2, Barangay Malingin, Cortes, Bohol and will traverse Tagbilaran City and the municipalities of Baclayon, Dauis, and Panglao.
The 32-kilometer water pipe will span the barangays of Patrocinio, Cortes, five barangays in Corella, Barangay San Isidro in Tagbilaran City, Barangay Libertad in Baclayon, five barangays in Dauis and making its way to Panglao via Libaong and Bolod.
Richli commissioned the services of the four contractors to ensure the swift implementation of the underground laying of more than 5000 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes.
A state-of-the-art water treatment facility will be erected on the river source to produce clean drinking water from its conveyance and distribution to conform with the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water quality standards.
Tourism Secretary Wanda T.Teo and Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael L. Dino together with Richli Chairman Richard E. Lim and his eldest son, Richli President Ralph Miguel B. Lim laid the foundation during ground-breaking ceremonies held at Barangay Patrocinio, Cortes on January 22, 2018.
Local Government Officials led by Cortes Mayor Iven Lim and Patrocino Barangay Captain Catalina Chatto were also present during the unveiling of the water supply project that will address the needs of more than 90,000 water-starved residents in Dauis and Panglao.
CLEAN DRINKING WATER
Richli President Lim, in an exclusive interview over DYRD “Inyong Alagad” assured the business community and residents of Panglao Island that “with all the necessary government permits in order and the full cooperation of the LGU’s, the completion schedule will be attained on September 2018.”
Despite the presence of 5 water providers in Panglao, water rates of Richli will remain competitive and will be banking on the sustainability of the first water supply sourced from surface water, according to Lim.
The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) granted water permit no. 024274 on October 26, 2017, to Richard B. Lim, Jr. to use water from Malingin River not exceeding 300.00 liters per second.
Signed by NWRB Executive Director Dr. Sevillo D. David, Jr. on the strength of Board Resolution No. 001-0806, Lim, Jr. was further allowed to divert the water from the river by means of an intake structure with the diversion point located at Patrocinio, Cortes.
The new water permit supersedes water permit no. 08-23-17-002 and was issued for “municipal” purposes which Richli officials explained to the Chronicle to mean that the corporation can distribute water to its customers either by bulk or directly to household consumers.
PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP
On the part of Secretary Tiu, the development of the Malingin River into a potential tourist attraction will augur well for the burgeoning tourist destinations in the province and praised the Lim family for investing in the water business, a very basic need that will boost the tourism infrastructure development in Dauis and Panglao.
Presidential Assistant Dino also commended Richli for embarking on a project that is better carried out by the private sector considering the resources of government and lauded the Provincial Government of Bohol for providing the ideal business environment to lure investments to the province.
Eduardo A. Bangayan, Chairman of the Davao City Water District, one of the top ranking water utilities in the Asia-Pacific region who spoke during the ground-breaking ceremonies hailed the cooperation of the LGU and the private sector for the sharing arrangement of their water resources for the greater need of the public consumers.
24/7 WATER SERVICE
An initial PhP800 million has been set aside for the funding of phase 1 while PhP200 million has been spent for land and right of way acquisition, permits, detailed engineering design, construction of water treatment plant and purchase of pipes, according to Richli officials.
A 200 KVA standby generator will guarantee uninterrupted water supply during power interruptions similar to the recent earthquake that disrupted power supply in Leyte, the province major source of power.
The ambitious water project will greatly reduce the reliance on dwindling groundwater reserves from Corella utilized by Tagbilaran City, Baclayon, Dauis and Panglao and will significantly improve the daily lives of the residents and provide the necessary support to the tourist industry. (Chito M. Visarra)