CdO to benefit from Salintubig program

Thursday 21st of June 2012

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, June 21 -- The city government’s desire to provide safe water services in relocation sites and in poor barangays gets a boost in the Sagana Na Tubig Para sa Lahat (Salintubig) program, this city.

Mayor Vicente Emano signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-10) for the implementation of a P6-million Salintubig program.

The city council, during its regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Caesar Ian Acenas, authorized this, by virtue of Ordinance No. 12347-2012.

City DILG Director Emil T. Rana informed the mayor that the MOA signing will take place today, June 21 during the TAPATAN activity of the DILG, and will be attended by DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

The program is designed to provide grant financing and capacity development programs for the implementation of water supply projects in waterless municipalities, in poorest barangays with high levels of waterborne diseases, in resettlement areas, and in public health centers without access to safe waters.

Pursuant to the MOA, the DILG Central Office shall organize a project-steering committee that shall establish policies and guidelines for the project, provide funding requirements of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and Department of Health corresponding to the agreed responsibilities and tasks under the joint program for monitoring purposes.

The Water Supply and Sanitation Unit of the Office of Project Development Services (WSSU-OPDS) shall administer and manage the implementation of the project and establish a program management team composed of personnel from the WSSU. It shall organize program advocacy at the national and local levels.

The DILG regional office shall create a technical working group, to provide consulting services for detailed engineering design for the city, utilize, and liquidate funds for the operation of the project, among others.

In view of this development, Mayor Emano is expected to create the City Water and Sanitation Council, which will establish the goal, vision, and strategies for the local water and sanitation sector, and for managing the implementation of the program.

It shall also identify communities that have shown interest to the project and that have the capacity to implement this as a partner of the city, with priority given to poor communities without access to safe drinking water and with high incidence of water-borne diseases and poverty incidence, to provide them technical assistance and provide 10 percent counterpart to projects that will form part of the total project cost of the proposed water system.

The city shall also participate in all capacity-building interventions provided by the DILG, DOH, and NAPC, among others. (Lorebeth C. Requiroso/CdeOSP/PIA10)