This article is to share information that might help all concerned citizens/sectors/organizations find solutions or solve the pain points (related to the water crisis) of the current and future communities in the municipality.
The Problem (Rationale)
The Updated CDP (2017-2022) stated the challenges that caused the municipality's economic bust like the following:
- access to irrigation and market is limited;
- tourism sites are underdeveloped;
- 76.8% of households do not have access to potable water;
- 35.10% of households have no electric power supply; and
- 100% of informal settlers without access to resettlement housing.
The majority of the population relies on groundwater (and spring water) to provide for their daily water needs.
Some of the leading causes of death in the municipality are severe dehydration (in children), pneumonia (both in children and adults), hypertension, and respiratory disease.
For morbidity, influenza-like illnesses, tuberculosis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma, diarrhea, and schistosomiasis.
Harmful Groundwater
In 2003, DPWH restricted the digging up of groundwater in the middle and lower parts of the river system of Loreto because of the (reportedly) occurrence of natural gas. Groundwater in the area has high iron content and fecal pollution (was reported) near the large settlement making the water hazardous to the residents and crops. Source: Loreto, ADS CBMS 2018 (Draft)
Potable Water
Seven water refilling stations provide potable water found in four barangays of Loreto: Poblacion, Sto. Nino, Sto. Tomas and Kauswagan. The 2018 population of each barangays is 6,232, 1,295, 2,903, and 1,718, accordingly. Source: Loreto, ADS CBMS 2018 (Draft)
Current Situation
New water tanks are built to provide clean water to the households in barangay Poblacion. The water source is from the ground. The groundwater level drastically went down according to the residents with water pumps and wells. The (once) abundant water is now diminishing. We need to find sustainable water sources and water supply systems that can cater to the need of the communities in the municipality.
Loreto (Probable) Water Sources
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| WaFalls, Waloe, Agusan del Sur Source: Facebook user |
Loreto has two (major) rivers called Umayam with an area of 431.83 hectares and Ihawan with 162.87 hectares, and both are tributaries of the Agusan River. Smaller rivers traverse the municipality (aside from the two major rivers) like Anahawan, Tigbawan, Sabud, and Danuman.
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| Sitio Umayam, Kasapa 1, Loreto, Agusan del Sur |
Hectares (13,078) of land are classified as protected forests by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The area constitutes above 50% slope, undeclared watersheds, and naturally grown forests. DENR DAO 1999-13 declared certain portions of the public forestland as the CARAGA Forest Plantation Corridor (CFPC). A gross of 88,980 hectares with parts located in Barangay Kasapa, Sabud, and Ferdinand is part of parcel 1 of the CFPC.
Opinion
Loreto is growing fast. Its communities need a sustainable water supply system that gives them clean water.
Water is vital in the progress of communities. It is one of the determinants of the continuous growth of Loreto.
Suggestion
It is time for the municipality to establish a local water district. The current sources of water need to be enhanced to supply to the majority (or all) of the household population. The business establishments are also mushrooming, thus it is necessary to widen the horizon of the municipal planners and ask for technical support from the experts like the Local Utilities Administration (LWUA).
Crafting laws/policies and strengthening the implementation of the laws/policies relevant to water extraction and distribution is also necessary.
LWUA played a vital role in the success of water districts in the Philippines. The paragraphs below are a brief history of some good-performing local water districts in the country that the Municipal Local Government of Loreto can learn from.
Quoted from Buenavista Water District Facebook page
"Buenavista Water District has three (3) operational pumping stations located at Brgy. Malpoc and Rizal. The rich recharge coming from the Calayagon Watershed and Guihao-an River is believed to be the source of the abundant supply of groundwater. To date, the district has at least 40 percent surplus of the total demand for water and has served at least 22,200 population with 4,660 total connections. BWD now serves 19 barangays or 80 percent of the total 25 barangays of Buenavista..."
Quoted from Casiguran Water District website
"In 1990, a Php 7.862 million level III loan granted by LWUA was used to finance the installation of transmission and distribution pipelines and service connections, and the construction of chlorinating facility, break pressure chambers and source intake box. On July 18, 1992, the newly completed water supply system was inaugurated. It is to serve the whole poblacion, barangays Inalagadian, Escuala, San Juan, Tigbao and San Antonio."
Quoted from Ramos Water District website
"RAMOS WATER DISTRICT (RWD) was created pursuant to PD 198 as amended by PDs 768 and 1479 otherwise known as the Provincial Water Utilities Act of 1973, with the power vested to it by the law to attain its mandate of 100% service coverage, within ten (10) years Program of Work (POW) of RWD submitted to LWUA and is mandated with a mission, vision and goal of providing district residents with a safe, adequate, potable and reliable water service at the lowest reasonable cost and 24 hours operation.
Just after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany thru LWUA has its program for the affected areas to grant Water Facilities which consist of deepwell, pumping station, elevated steel tank, electro mechanical equipment, generator set and pipes."
Legal Basis
Title 1, Section 2 of the Amended Presidential Decree 198, referred to as Local Water District Law states, "The creation, operation, maintenance and expansion of reliable and economically viable and sound water supply and wastewater disposal systems for population centers of the Philippines is hereby declared to be an objective of national policy of high priority."
Chapter 2, Section 5 of the same law states, "Local water districts may be formed pursuant to this Title for the purpose of (a) acquiring, installing, improving, maintaining and operating water supply and distribution systems for domestic, industrial, municipal and agricultural uses for residents and lands within the boundaries of such districts, (b) providing, maintaining and operating wastewater collection, treatment and disposal facilities, and (c) conducting such other functions and operations incidental to water resource development, utilization and disposal within such districts, as are necessary or incidental to said purpose."