By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
ILOILO City — The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is stepping in to help solve the water problem in this city, according to President Benigno Aquino III.
It will extend financial assistance to Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), Aquino yesterday said before a crowd at the Iloilo Esplanade in Mandurriao district.
Aquino said LWUA will provide MIWD either grants or loans to initiate projects that will address the water problem here.
According to the President, the amount LWUA may make available is some P211 million.
The grant or loan, however, will have to be approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), said Aquino.
LWUA has “endorsed a (loan/grant) request presently being studied by DPWH,” he said.
Meantime, the supply contract between Metro Iloilo Water District and its bulk water supplier “has been forwarded for study to the Office of the Government Corporate Council (OGCC),” Aquino said.
The President said the OGCC is tasked to interpret the contractual obligations between the water district and Flo Water Resources Iloilo, Inc.
Aquino was in this city yesterday to inaugurate two major infrastructure projects and inspect the P700-million Iloilo Convention Center.
He believes the city will soon get to the solution to its water problem “step by step.”
“Long-term interventions” are currently being studied so the government can “come up with a design plan to fully address the issue,” he said.
“Ito munang (Let’s take first the) review of contractual obligations between the two entities,” said Aquino. “Second (is) the determination of request of P211 million, which is appropriate and which can be done as soon as possible.”/PN
