Apo agua fadt tracks Davao city Bulk Water Supply project, delivery to DCWD targeted Q1 of 2023

With Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. (Apo Agua) taking over and ramping up works for the construction of the P12-billion Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), Davao residents are expected to benefit from a new and sustainable water source by the first quarter of 2023.

The DCBWSP of Davao City Water District (DCWD) is the first of its kind in the country. It is designed to follow the water-energy nexus concept, where renewable energy will be generated through an integrated hydroelectric power plant. With this state-of-the-art landmark project, Davao City will now have access to both surface water from the Tamugan river, and its current ground well sources.

The DCBWSP encountered setbacks during the pandemic, compounded by other internal contributing factors. However, Apo Agua’s timely intervention by taking control over the construction activities was necessary to mitigate the effects of these.

“Despite on-going difficulties in the transition, the project has resumed construction across civil, mechanical, and electrical works in all areas, including road restoration along the Treated Water Pipeline. We have spent the last month completing the takeover of the works from our previous contractor, gaining possession of critical materials and equipment, and mobilizing key construction contractors on site,” said Apo Agua President Anna Lu.

Apo Agua has mobilized multiple seasoned contractors and works are expected to be at full capacity by October 2022. “The project is being fast-tracked by hiring a team of experienced construction management professionals. In addition to this, various contractors with credible track records in bulk water facilities and large-scale complex projects have been engaged in order to implement as many parallel activities as possible,” Lu said.

Testing and commissioning to ensure water quality will be conducted simultaneously with the construction works to further expedite the project’s completion. A thorough test of every piece of equipment is required to ensure their durability and longevity in the provision of safe drinking water throughout its expected operation of about 30 years.

Supply in District II will be significantly augmented by the DCBWSP which will deliver over two-thirds of its production to DCWD reservoirs in the area. Delivery of water to DCWD is expected to start in the first quarter of 2023 at Tugbok, subject to their acceptance, and will progressively ramp up to Cabantian, Mandug, Calinan, Talandang, Indangan, Panacan, and Dumoy, by the second quarter of 2023. ###

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Pulong wants MRP done the right way

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte is not opposing the continuance of the Mindanao Railway Project which was crafted by the past administration of his father, Rodrigo Duterte, and will allegedly be continued by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The young congressman however said that the national government must look into several complaints and acccusation of anomalies by some residents affected by the planned project.

For this, Rep. Duterte along with Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Yap filed House Resolution (HR) No.286, which calls for a congressional investigation on the proposed MRP, specifically on the way the Department of Transportation (DOTr) carried out its right-of-way acquisitions and expropriation of private properties to be affected by the rail line.

Rep. Duterte said that he received numerous complaints from Davao City residents whose residences would be directly affected by the proposed railway line.

He said the proposed MRP rail line would pass through densely populated areas in Davao City, “without the appropriate geological surveys or proper public consultations with the affected communities”.

Duterte and Yap however acknowledged in their resolution that the MRP “will not only make travel faster, but also safer, more convenient and comfortable for passengers in the said corridor”.

Rep. Duterte however added that the complaints must also be given weight especially on the report that “there are variations in the offers for acquisition of right-of-way or expropriation of the private properties by the DOTr and/or its contractors, sub-contractors, or other service providers.”

“These variations in offers have substantial discrepancies from the actual Zonal Value or Fair Market Value of the properties affected,” the two congressmen said.

Though not naming names, Rep. Duterte said there were also reports that some politicians bought vast parcel of lands where the rail line will be constructed at a cheap price and are now selling it to the government ten times or more than the original price.

It was learned that the Barangay Catalunan Grande in Davao City has already passed a resolution opposing the MRP as it would affect several residences in their barangay and would “result to undue safety and health hazard, as well as noise pollution, to name a few.”

“There is a need to properly determine the correct and appropriate manner of identifying the areas where the MRP will traverse in order to ensure public safety and welfare while still being able to pursue the MRP for sustained growth and development in the region,” Reps. Duterte and Yap said in filing HR No.286.

Rep. Duterte and Yap said the probe will “ensure transparency and accountability on the use of public funds while always keeping in mind the safety and welfare of the general populace in the delivery of public services”.

Back in the 18th Congress, the two congressmen also filed a similar call for a probe.

The three-phase MRP covers 1,530 kilometers of circumferential and spur rail lines that will connect several areas in Mindanao like the Davao provinces, Iligan City, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City, and Zamboanga.

Phase 1 of the MRP (Tagum-Davao-Digos segment) is a 105-km line that is expected to reduce travel time from Davao del Norte to Davao del Sur from 3.5 hours to just 1.3 hours. It will have eight stations: Tagum, Carmen, Panabo, Mudiang, Davao Terminal, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos. A 10-hectare depot will be built in Tagum City. (PR)

Apo Agua donates water pipelines to Barangay Tawantawan

Further strengthening its long-term commitment to its host communities, Apo Agua Infrastuctura, Inc. (Apo Agua) recently turned over 2,220 meters of water pipelines to Barangay Tawantawan in Baguio District. The barangay will use the donated pipelines to expand its existing water system, which will help augment its water supply distribution.

These additional pipelines will complete Tawantawan’s second water pipeline system, which will tap their current water source to the barangay’s newly constructed water reservoir. In turn, this will help increase the barangay’s water supply, addressing the urgent need for ample water supply and improving the lives of over 600 households.

“This donation is such a big help to our community as this is one of our main problems in the barangay. We are already using the pipes, and it has served more water to 600 households. I hope to have more projects with Apo Agua that can help benefit the constituents of Barangay Tawantawan,” said Barangay Captain Ricardo Gierran.

“Dako among pasalamat sa Apo Agua sa ilong kasing-kasing na paghatag ug pipes apan nadungagan og patubig ang among barangay. Pito ka purok ang nakabenepisyo sa proyekto. Nagtipon pud mi alang sa nakatabang na Water System Management nga seminar ni Apo Agua para sa paglambo sa among pagmentinar ug padagan sa among patubig sa barangay (We thank Apo Agua for providing us with additional pipes that increased our water distribution. Seven puroks from our barangay have benefited from this project. We also thank them for conducting an informative Water System Management that will help improve our water system maintenance and operations),” said Elma Casinillo, member of Tawantawan’s Barangay Waterworks and Sanitation Association (BWASA).

“As we work towards completing the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBSWP) and delivering water across Davao City, we also continue to look at opportunities to further contribute to our host communities. While Tawantawan is one of the host communities that will not directly benefit from the DCBWSP, we hope that introducing smaller but sustainable water solutions in their area will help address their basic water needs,” said Anna Lu, President of Apo Agua.

Apo Agua also extended its support to Davao City Water District by helping ramp up its water truck initiative to District II, while the DCBWSP is at its final stretch of completing its project construction. In addition, Apo Agua is currently conducting road restorations from its pipelaying activities at multiple sites across fourteen (14) barangays in the Second and Third Districts of Davao City.

Apo Agua recently announced that it is taking the lead role in the construction of Davao City Water District’s Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project to fast-track its completion that will provide 300 million liters of safe water daily to over one million Davaoeños.

With Apo Agua in the lead, it would aggressively pursue as many construction work streams as possible, in parallel with each other, as the main catch-up strategy. Despite a very tight timetable, Apo Agua targets start of operations by the end of 2022, considering a swift and seamless transition.

P1.1 -B submarine cable project sa Samal operational na sa tuig 2023.

Gibutyag ni Elvera Alngog, ang officer-in-charge sa Northern Davao Electric Cooperative Inc. (NORDECO) nga mukabat sa kapin kun kulang P1.1 bilyon ang kantidad sa proyektong submarine cable sa Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) sa Davao del Norte.

Gibuhian sa opisyal ang maong pamahayag atol sa gipahitabong press conference Dominggo, (Hulyo 31) sa ilang buhatan sa Montevista, Davao de Oro.

Dugang sa opisyal nga ang maong proyekto ang tubag sa problema sa kuryente sa isla nga mahimong magamit na sunod tuig.

Sumala ni Alngog, anaa na sa 75 porsyentong nga makumpleto na ang maong proyekto, samtang ang nahibiling 25 porsyento mao na lamang ang pag-installar sa cable nga laumang mahuman usa matapos ang tuig.

“Ang cable fabricated siya from Italy, itransport siya dinhi padulong sa Pilipinas sunod bulan. Hopefully, this end of the year mataud na ang atong submarine cable sa Samal Island diin by next year matagamtaman na nato ang fully-implementation niini,” sulti ni Alngog.

Positibo si Alngog nga ang maong proyekto ang tubag sa problema sa isla ilabi na sa panginahanglanon sa kuryente.

“It is more than enough. It will suffice the power requirement in the island,” sulti ni Alngog.

Samtang, dako ang pasalamat sa mga naglangkob sa NORDECO human nga gi-veto ni Presidente Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., ang House Bill 10554 nga mupalapad sa franchise area sa Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC). Mipasalig sab sila sa ilang member-consumer-owners (MCOs) sa pagpalambo pa sa ilang serbisyo hangtud mahuman ang ilang prangkisa ngadto sa tuig 2028 ug ngadto na sa 2033.

Apo Agua to fast-track Davao bulk water project

Apo Agua Infrastructura, Inc. is taking the lead role in the construction of Davao City Water District’s Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project to fast-track its completion that will provide 300 million liters of safe water daily to over one million Davaoeños.

Apo Agua made the decision following setbacks in the timetable for the construction of the project due to complications brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and other contributing internal factors. Prior to this development, the project’s Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contractor, J.V. Angeles Construction Corporation had full responsibility for the construction works.

With Apo Agua in the lead, it would aggressively pursue as many construction work streams as possible, in parallel with each other, as the main catch-up strategy. Despite a very tight timetable, Apo Agua targets project completion by the end of 2022, considering a swift and seamless transition.