Finally, the water and sanitation project component of the Zamboanga City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) that will benefit over 6,000 families displaced by the 2013 siege, will be implemented.

This, as Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) chief Jeci Lapus together with Mayor Beng Climaco, Atty. Manuelito Luna of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Congresspersons Celso Lobregat and Mannix Dalipe, Zamboanga City Water District management and board and barangay officials spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the P291.032M water and sewer system with pipe support and the P189.991M sewerage treatment plant in sitio Asinan, barangay Kasanyangan Friday morning.

Mayor Beng Climaco thanked the LWUA and ZCWD for pursuing the implementation of the projects despite the numerous challenges encountered along the way. She asked all stakeholders to support and cooperate to ensure the full realization of the water and sanitation components of the Z3R.

The water and sewer system project is awarded to Verzontal Builders, Inc. and involves water supply and sewer pipe laying, construction of booster station and installation of service connections. It will cover the barangays of Mariki, Rio Hondo and Kasanyangan. The project is expected to complete in April 2020.

The sewerage treatment plant project on the other hand is awarded to Mactan Rock Industries Company and involves the procurement for the design, build and testing of 1,500 and 2,000 cubic meter per day sewage treatment plants. Construction is expected to complete in May 2020.

The project fund in the amount of P527 million was downloaded from the national government to LWUA in 2015 but implementation of the project was delayed due to several failed biddings. 

Once completed, the projects will serve some 6,436 households located in the barangays affected by the 2013 siege.

Lapus in his message said the project was pursued by President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure that the families displaced by the 2013 siege are given the assistance and support that they deserve. The LWUA administrator likewise called on the barangay officials and residents in the conflict-affected areas to lend their full support to the implementing agencies so that the project will be fully realized the soonest possible time.  (Sheila Covarrubias)