Ata Manobo families avail Level III water system

DAVAO DEL NORTE, November 5 (PIA) - - More than 1,000 Ata Manobo families in Talaingod will benefit the Potable Water System Level III from the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig (SALINTUBIG) sa lahat program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG XI Regional Director Whilhelm Suyko, Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario and Mayor Basilio Libayao inaugurated earlier today the P7-million potable water system in Brgy. Sto. Nino, Talaingod.

According to the Talaingod Planning and Development Coordinator Melvin Laroa, the potable water system included a chlorinator, and transmission and distribution facilities stretching to around 11.8 kilometers.

Leonardo Nabre (71), purok leader of sitio Bao-on, expressed his gratitude to the implementing agencies for making the dream of their sitio a reality.

“Since 1972, when we were just seven families here in the sitio, which was back then part of Kapalong, we longed for a water system. And I am happy that now, that the water system is finally here even if it took that long. I am happy that I can still avail of it,” Nabre said.

Laroa added that the water system with source from Sitio Old Tibi-tibi, which is 2.5 kilometers from the main reservoir, will serve the families in sitios Bao-on, Tugas, Side II in Brgy. Sto. Nino and Purok II of Sitio Tulayan in Brgy. Palma Gil.

He disclosed that the water system will be operated by the local government unit though its operation and management manual including the payment scheme will still be developed from November 6 to 7 by the technical working group.

Laroa disclosed that the project has a saving of P2.034-million, which was proposed for the household distribution lines.

He said that the savings came from the liquidated damages from the contractor since they finished the project later than the target date of completion, variance against the approved budget for contract and over estimates by the contractor according to the assessment of the DILG consultant.

Gov. Del Rosario praised the LGU of Talaingod for efficiently utilizing the resources of the project having been collected saving from it.

Dir. Suyko encouraged the municipal government to maintain the water system and their standard of governance, since those will be significant in getting more future projects from the national government.

Del Rosario revealed that he had instructions to study the possibility of putting up in the municipality an annex of the Kapalong Provincial Hospital. (PIA 11, Michael Uy)