To enable the target LGUs prepare their proposed water supply projects in accordance with the policies, guidelines and standards set forth for the program, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) region IX in coordination with OPDS-DILG conducted Program Orientation and Workshop on Feasibility Study Preparation for the 2014 SALINTUBIG waterless municipalities on May 7-9 at Top Plaza Hotel, Dipolog City.
Invited participants are the Municipal Mayors, Provincial/ Municipal Planning and Development Coordinators (P/MPDCs), Provincial/ Municipal Engineers, Municipal Local Government Operations Officers (MLGOOs) from the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) recipient LGUs.
Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil in his opening remarks recognized the importance of the Local Chief Executives’ (LCE) presence to the event. He said that the presence of the municipal mayors is an assurance to the Department that the given projects implemented within their areas would yield positive result and commitment from them.
” Do not be surprise when the Local Government Operation Officer assigned in your municipality or from the management would monitor from time to time the status of the project implementation for this is also an instruction from the Secretary of the Department to assure that the project has really benefited the community,” added RD Abutazil addressing the municipal mayors.
RD Abutazil said that the LCEs have greater responsibility with regards to the status of the project implementation. He assured that as soon as the LGUs have complied the necessary requirement, the fund will be immediately released by the management.
Meanwhile, Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) Chief Mohammad Ali Hasan informed the participants that such activity would address the need of the LGU in the preparation of their project proposals.
PDMU Chief Hasan said that activity aimed at increasing the knowledge and skills of the LGUs in preparing project proposals as well as serve as venue for orienting the participants regarding the salient features of the program and assessing the current capacity needs of the LGUs and their existing local water supply and sanitation situation.
“It is highly important for the recipient LGU to prepare workable plans for the completion of the project proposal including design and other related documents,” he added.
Three representatives from DILG Central Office namely: Project Evaluation Officer Josephine G. Ramos, Community Development Officer Ms. Charito R. Araza and Engr. Richard Cruz served as resource persons and facilitators of the three- day event. Also, Engr. Tomas Carumba, General Manager of Wao Water District, hired private resource person gave discussion on specific topics on Preparation of Feasibility Study including the application of EPANET.
It is notable that for CY 2014, the program has identified 14 waterless municipalities for capital investments for Region IX namely: Tukuran, Sominot and Margosatubig of Zamboanga del Sur; RT Lim, Mabuhay, Kabasalan, Imelda and Naga of Zamboanga Sibugay ; and La Libertad, Godod, Leon Postigo, Manukan, Tampilisan and Sergio Osmeña of Zamboanga del Norte.