The laying of more than 5,000 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) water pipes started last week that will allow 300.00 liters of water per second to flow into business establishments, tourist resorts and to more than 90,000 water-starved residents of the municipalities of Dauis and Panglao.
Boholano-owned Richli Corporation, the proponent of the PhP1.5 billion water project is now knee-deep in the excavation of 32 kilometers of trenches starting from Purok 2, Barangay Patrocinio, Cortes up to Panglao where the main pipes will be laid down.
Twenty-seven kilometers of distribution lines will service the water needs of Panglao while nine kilometers of pipes will be laid for Barangay Totolan and Songculan in Dauis with a combined population of 11,406.
The 450-millimeter water pipes with a length of six meters will traverse the barangays of Patrocinio, Cortes, passing five barangays in Corella then to Barangay San Isidro in Tagbilaran City weaving its way to Barangay Libertad in Baclayon.
The main water pipes will enter Panglao Island via five barangays in Dauis and winding its way to the municipality of Panglao by way of Barangay Libaong and Bolod.
The services of four contractors were engaged by Richli to facilitate the completion of the massive water project by the end of September 2018 in time with the scheduled start of operation of the New Bohol Panglao Airport.
The first large-scale water project in the province will source its water supply from Malingin River in Patrocinio, Cortes under a National Water Resources Board (NWRB) water permit no. 024274 issued on October 26, 2017.
The NWRB water permit granted to Richard B. Lim, Jr. allows the use of water from Malingin River not exceeding 300.00 liters per second by diverting the water by means of an intake structure with the diversion point located at Patrocinio, Cortes.
The construction of the water intake facilities that will stand on a one-hectare area is now in its clearing operations phase after clearances from government agencies were issued last week.
The arrival of more HDPE pipes is expected next week including construction materials for the state-of-the-art water treatment facility that will ensure clean drinking water compliant with the stringent standards of the World Health Organization (WHO).
An initial PhP800 million has been set aside for the initial funding requirements of phase 1 with PhP200 million allocated for land and right of way acquisitions, permits, detailed engineering design for the water treatment plant.
Barring any force majeure, an abundant water supply in the island of Panglao in September this year will soon be realized. (Chito M. Visarra)