Water districts in Western Visayas will work with the National Housing Authority (NHA) in acquiring access to potable water supply in identified Typhoon Yolanda resettlement sites. This is after the Regional Project Monitoring Committee convened some 30 water districts from provinces of Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Guimaras for a problem-solving session with representatives from the Local Water Utilities Administration and the concerned water districts in December 1, 2015 at the Jalaur Conference Room, NEDA VI Building, Iloilo City.

RPMC Chairperson and NEDA-VI Regional Director Ro-Ann Bacal stressed the importance of providing these typhoon-affected communities with access to potable water to fully guarantee a healthy environment to the beneficiaries, as well as, to prepare them as the El Nino phenomenon sets in.

In resettlement sites like Angel Ville Subdivision in Roxas City for instance, water equipment is deficient in serving the 100 families currently living in the completed housing units “There is only one jetmatic pump for us to use,” said Roderick dela Cruz, a resident of Angel Ville who has been living there since March 2015. He added that everyone in the site has to line up to get water for laundry purposes and were even advised by site engineers that the water is unsafe for drinking.

With demands for potable water in these sites, LWUA has started coordinating with the to determine the water projects that need to be put in place to service the resettlement sites , according to Mr. Byron Carbon who heads LWUA’s Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division-Area 5. Mr. Carbon added that LWUA has inspected some of these sites and is now finalizing the program of works that will support the implementation of water projects specific to the needs of each resettlement site.

The water districts, meanwhile, were furnished with the master list of resettlement sites by the NHA for effective coordination and planning. As of January 2016, the NHA has 36 resettlement projects wherein land development and housing construction are ongoing. (RCArguelles/Yolanda PMO)