Water catchments set for five Cebu towns

Water impounding facilities will be built in five Cebu towns by November this year, the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) said.

In yesterday’s Capitol press briefing, Provincial Engr. Hector Jamor said the towns of Argao, Sibonga, Alcoy, Alegria, and Dalaguete will have water impounding facilities to be built near rivers and creeks.

He said these facilities act as dams that can help save water and provide irrigation to farming communities during the dry season.

This is a joint project between the Provincial Agriculture Office, PDRRMO, and the Provincial Engineering Office.

Jamora said the cost of each facility ranges from P150,000, for small-sized dams to nearly P1 million for bigger ones.

Long term solution

“The PDRRMO will identify which design fits for each site,” he said.

Initially, the five towns were chosen because province-owned heavy equipment are already positioned in the areas, making work easier.

The project is seen by the PDRRMO as a long-term solution to the El Niño phenomenon, whose effects will recur in November.

“Programs of Work are already in place. All we need is to finalize the sites,” Jamora said.

Farming communities and locals, who will directly benefit from the project, will go through a cash-for-work program in which they will build their respective water impounding facilities.

Jamora said construction will take about 30 days on average.

He said he is confident that the water impounding facilities will be usable by November.

The provincial government is also taking advantage of the rainy season by installing water catchment facilities in 15 district hospitals in the province.

Jamora said the installation of water catchments in hospitals is now ongoing while five were put up at the Capitol main building, the legislative building, the provincial jail, and Museo Sugbo in Cebu City.