Sambuar Spring (ICWS) Dam (Iligan City)

 spring, dam

Location: Abaga area, Barangay Upper Tominobo


THE City Council of Iligan City is hoping for more volume of water supply before the fiesta on September 29.

City councilors during their regular session on Monday called the attention of the Iligan City Waterworks System (ICWS) and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to shed light on the water project.

Councilor Ariel Anghay said Iliganons are already tired of waiting for the water supply to be activated.

“Iligan has the source of water but lacks the pipes,” Anghay said.

The project already started three years ago when the City Government entered a loan agreement with World Bank through Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) under the Support for Strategic Local Development Investment Project (S2LDIP).

Under the loan agreement, the city sub-loaned the amount of P445.5 million for its Iligan City Water Supply Development and Expansion Project.

The city will put up equity of not less than P50 million, including any additional budgetary requirements in excess of the estimated costs.

The loan will then be payable in 15 years from 2008 up to 2022 with a grace period of three years on principal payment.

Anghay said the ICWS and PIU promised to finish the project before the fiesta but the people are now becoming worried since no progress has been heard yet and the fiesta is fast approaching.

Anghay even suggested to his colleagues to reset the city fiesta just to give way to the water project that has been the dream of the Iliganons for the longest time.

Engr. Merlito Catolico, manager of PIU, assured that they will interconnect to the new pipe a part of the old line this week to make up with what was promised.

Catolico is confident that the city will experience an increase in water supply compared to previous times after the interconnection will be completed.

Engr. Christine Milagros Orbe, ICWS manager, however said they could not completely increase water in the whole system to prevent pipes from busting.

The coverage of the project includes residential, institutional, commercial and industrial connections based on the population projections from the National Statistics Office and standard per capita water consumption in the Philippines.

The project component includes the construction of an intake dam similar to the existing intake structure at Ditucalan water source.

The water sources from Spring No. 3 and 4 at Abaga area, Barangay Upper Tominobo will pass through this intake and deliver the water supply via the main transmission 24-inch to 16-inch pipeline along the national highway up to Barangay Dalipuga.