The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) has coordinated with the Dumaguete City Water District to help address the power issue in Siquijor province to help augment the province’s water relief operations.
LWUA Administrator Jose Moises Salonga told Manila reporters that he has asked the DCWD to deploy a generator set to Siquijor.
“A lot of people don’t know that most of the time, ‘yung (the) water situation is dependent on the power situation. Water pumps are run by electricity,” he said.
“So, once nawawalan ng kuryente (there is no power supply), there maybe a lack of capacity to pump water in that distribution network. That’s why one of our solutions is to ask for a genset to be provided there dedicated to water operations,” Salonga added.
The announcement was made after President Marcos Jr. visited Siquijor last Wednesday to look into the problems of power and water shortage that has hindered the progress in the island-province.
“Actually, lahat po (all of them) – 532 water districts – pinadalhan namin ng (were sent) memorandum circular with an attached form to report all issues regarding water supply sa kanilang (in their) water districts. This covers both private and public schools. We are now processing all of those reports,”
Salonga said the evaluation of the LWDs’ reports will be completed either by June 16 or 17.
Siquijor Provincial Administrator Tudtud, who is concurrently the provincial tourism officer, said the lengthy power outages in Siquijor have severely impacted the local economy, disrupted government services, and particularly affected the tourism industry, a primary source of livelihood for many.
Power outages, whether scheduled or unannounced, sometimes last for more than 10 hours.
Tudtud said the Province of Siquijor Electric Cooperative Inc. (Prosielco) is unable to meet the demands of its constituents, distributing only about eight megawatts maximum power.
An estimated 12 MW is now needed on the island. The Siquijor Island Province Corp., which has signed an agreement with Prosielco, needs to generate more than two MW to supply the latter’s requirements. (PNA)
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Photo Caption: President Marcos Jr. visits the power plant operated by the Siquijor Island Power Corp. on Wednesday. The island-province is under a state of calamity due to a power crisis. (Photo by Renan Ansing)
