ILOILO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) gave its go signal for the implementation of the proposed rainwater harvesting projects in eight towns during its regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
“That is part of the water system (project) of Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. Most of them are schools with water systems. Basically they will just be provided with ferrocement tanks to collect water,” said 4th District Provincial Board member Rolando B. Distura, chair of the SP committee on infrastructure that studied the proposal together with the committee on environment and natural resources.
A ferrocement tank consists of a thin sheet of cement mortar reinforced with a cage made of wire mesh and steel bars, according to the rainwater harvesting.org website.
The projects are contained in the 2022 Supplemental Annual Investment Program of the provincial government dubbed “Environmental Engineering Program” (Rainwater Harvesting Project) but the budget was taken from the Internal Revenue Allotment fund of the province in 2020.
The cost totaled P912,000 with each project amounting to P114,000.
They will be implemented in Barangay Patong-Patong and Monte-Magapa Elementary School in Barangay Monte-Magapa, both in Janiuay town; Bitaoyan Elementary School and Calansanan Elementary School in barangays Bitaoyan and Calasanan, respectively, in Badiangan; Yugot Elementary School in Barangay Yugot, Mina; Barangay Malitbog Centro in Calinog; Dueñas General Comprehensive High School in Dueñas; and Alimono Elementary School in Barangay Alimono, Passi City.
“Probably one of their challenges is the water source that is why this rainwater harvesting project was considered,” Distura said.
He added that water gathered from rain can be used for their daily activities like cleanup, washing and watering of plants.
They should, however, be religious in cleaning the facility and a screen should be installed in the water inlet to prevent mosquitoes and other insects from making them as breeding sites. (PNA)/PN
