Department of the Interior and Local Government Region IX has released the second tranche of the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Sa Lahat (Salintubig) Fund amounting to Php 3.062.M to the municipality of Sominot, Zamboanga del Sur.

A total amount of Php 6.125M was given in two tranches and the second tranche was received by OIC- Treasurer Roselie A. Guiritan of the said town yesterday.

     Engr. Moh Ali Hasan, Chief of the Project Development and Management Unit of DILG Region IX said that the amount was presently utilized in the construction of level II water system for clustered barangays of Sawa-Lomangoy-Sto. Nino- Libertad ( SALOMSALIB) and also in the construction of water system at Barangay Rizal.

    Municipal Mayor Teodoro H. Acosta noted that the municipality is categorized as a waterless municipality; with half of the population has poor access to potable water. Of the18 barangays, the abovementioned barangays are considered waterless.

 

   He added that the grant given by the Department truly could benefit the residents as it would surely answer the long-time problem on potable water supply and cases of water –borne diseases among these areas.

    Municipal Engr. Alfredo A. Guitarte emphasized that at present, the water sources on these barangays are usually wells and underdeveloped springs usually situated far from their residences.

    Engr. Guitarte added that once the project is completed, it is expected to benefit 439 households. The project was constructed on the hilly terrain of barangay Sawa with 69HH and Lomangoy with 79HH where the water source is situated and transmission lines were installed on the lowland barangays of Sto. Nino with 199 HH and Libertad with 92HH.

    At present, Salintubig Program is implemented to 35 LGUs in Zamboanga Peninsula.

    Consistent with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG 7), SalinTubig Program is designed to provide grant financing and capacity development programs for the implementation of water supply projects in waterless municipalities, in poorest barangays with high level or waterborne diseases aims to reduce by 50% the world’s population without access to safe and potable water.