The municipalities of Cataingan, Cawayan, Mandaon, Milagros, Placer and Uson of the province of Masbate were among the 115 local government units nationwide identified by the National Anti-poverty Commission (NAPC) based on the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction to receive a P10M-worth each of water system project. The project is the flagship program of the Aquino administration and is anchored on Millennium Development Goal No. 7 to half the population without access to safe and potable water and is included in the Philippine Water Sector Roadmap. Specifically, the LGU beneficiaries were identified and ranked based on thematic concerns such as that of being the poorest LGU, high incidence of waterless and poverty incidence.

The project has two components: Water Supply Projects and Capacity Development to include monitoring, coaching of WATSAN teams in planning and implementation of water programs.

As an initial activity for the implementation of the project, the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC), Municipal Engineer, In-Charge of Water Supply System/Sanitary Inspector and the respective MLGOO of the six municipalities attended the orientation and training on the preparation of simplified feasibility study for water supply systems held at the Puerto Vista Resort, Sto. Domingo, Albay from June 15-17, 2011 conducted by the NAPC, DOH, and DILG.  Mayor Christine Hao of Mandaon, Mayor Wilton Kho of Cataingan and Mayor Felipe Sanchez of Uson were present in the opening ceremony.

During the opening ceremony, DILG Masbate Provincial Director Renato Alaurin stressed that the challenge to national and local leaders is for the Masbateño to be provided with good water system in order to minimize water-borne diseases and address the other MDGs. He encouraged the LGUs to comply with the Full Disclosure Policy vis a vis the grant of the Sagana and Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat Project.

On the other hand, Engr. Wally Sabater of the Department of Health said that the training is timely because the instruction of DOH Sec. Enrique T. Ona  that by September this year the implementation of the project must be started. He said that the main requirement to avail of the grant is the preparation of the Feasibility Study which must be submitted, evaluated/reviewed and approved by the DOH V, followed by the MOA signing before the release of project funds.  Engr. Sabater said that funds are now with the DOH V although it is a continuing appropriation that can be used up to 2012. He said that the six LGUs of Masbate are lucky having been identified by the NAPC as priority beneficiaries being waterless LGUs. Masbate is considered as one of the top 10 poorest provinces in the country and if waterlessness is not addressed, development will not happen. He encouraged the LGUs to grab the opportunity and make the most out of the project in order to enhance the development of the LGUs.  Engr. Sabater said that only those LGUs who have complied with the mandatory requirements of the project namely Feasibility Study, Approved MOA Resolution Authorizing the LCE to enter into a MOA with DOH V and compliance to the Full Disclosure Policy of the DILG can avail of the grant.

During the activity, the participants were guided on how to prepare a simplified feasibility study for the project using the FS template and in the preparation of the Feasibility Study, Engr. Sabater advised the participants that they can incorporate other activities such as sanitation program implementation to make the project  sustainable; information-education-communication (IEC) to include barangay orientation on sanitation and hygiene; establishment of monitoring system for the sustainable management and operation of water system and establishment of reporting and monitoring system.

Engr. Ramon de la Torre, one of the resource persons facilitated the hands- on training of the participants on the use of EPANET 2.0 software that can help LGUs in running hydraulics and simulation of water distribution system. Other subject matters discussed during the training which are necessary in the implementation of the project include seal of good housekeeping, components of water supply system, securing water permit, water reservoirs, transmission and distribution and water analysis.

After the training, the participants submitted their accomplished Feasibility Study template, printout of EPANET exercises and time action plan for the duration of project implementation. The Feasibility Study submitted by the LGUs will still be subjected for refinement and finalization.

Meanwhile, the four LGU-beneficiaries of the MDGF 1919 project namely Garchitorena and Siruma in Camarines Sur and Basud and Capalonga in Camarines Norte attended the same training held in Manila in May this year. The localized training on FS preparation and Water Supply Projects for the six LGUs of Masbate was facilitated by the DILG V-PDMU headed by Engr. Renato C. Bolon and staff with assistance from the DILG WUSSU-OPDS.

The Sagana and Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat Program is a flagship program of the Office of the President and a multi-agency program  implemented by the DILG, DOH and NAPC. – (AO IV Ma. Grace Joy Tango)