Capitol has eyed to develop Loctob spring in Loboc for surface water bulk supply to Tagbilaran City and six towns in pursuit of the province’s policy of sustainable resources.
Groundwater sourcing is discouraged to avoid saltwater intrusion and surface water will be tapped because it is abundant, reliable, and economically viable for investors.
Surface water sources include spring, rivers and falls.
Acting Gov. Rene Relampagos said a Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) team is now tasked to collect pre-feasibility study data for Loctob development.
The surface water from the spring will supply in bulk the city and the towns of Loboc, Loay, Alburquerque, Baclayon, Dauis and Panglao.
Bulk water supply has been adopted since it reduces investment cost for development facilities and lessens water cost for consumers.
It takes account two studies already conducted, one of which is the feasibility study on bulk water supply under the Bohol Water and Sanitation Project of the COMPETE Project of the United States Assistance for International Development.
The other involves the Bohol Integrated Water Supply System Master Plan under the Local Governance Development Program of the Australian Assistance for International Development.
As acting governor and through the mayors of the seven local government units (LGUs) covered by the Loctob project, Relampagos asked the municipal planning officer and engineers to assist the PPDO team.
The initial activities of the team consist of ocular inspection of the Loctob spring and data gathering from the involved LGUs.
Data include each LGU’s actual historical data for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional water consumption from 2015 to 2019 and population growth in the same period.
In the advance stages of the feasibility study, the team will gather data on each LGU’s existing waterworks system profile, including coverage areas, number of connections and pumping stations.
The team will also collect data on the income and expenditure statements of the LGUs.
The team is composed of Engr. Emigdio Acierto, provincial government consultant and chair of the Bohol Energy Development Advisory Group technical working group; Engr. Angelus Sales, Official Development Assistance – International Relations Unit head; Engr. Bernardino Galanida, Infrastructure Development Sector / ODA-IR staff; and Judith Sumatra, Project Development and Monitoring head.
The Loctob project pursues the goal of the administration of Gov. Arthur Yap expediting the bulk water supply program, which was initiated during the Chatto leadership. (Ven rebo Arigo)