DILG conducts spot checks on Leyte, Biliran water projects

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
June 8, 2013

TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Interior and Local Government recently inspected four (4) water projects in the provinces of Leyte and Biliran, pursuant to the directive of Secretary Mar Roxas.

DILG Region 8 Director Pedro A. Noval Jr. said that the team, composed of personnel from the DILG Office of Project Development Service (OPDS) and DILG-8 Regional Office, visited the towns of Alang-alang, Calubian and Tolosa in the province of Leyte and the municipality of Culaba in Biliran in the later part of the month of May.

The group looked into the financial and physical status of projects being implemented by beneficiary towns under the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat or SALINTUBIG program to ensure that government money is spent for its intended purpose, Dir. Noval said.

He added that inspections would be done in all other DILG projects to promote transparency and accountability.

The water system for the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Culaba, Biliran is now fully completed, a media statement written by Mr. Myles Colasito, DILG8 Information Officer, stated.

Aside from serving the RHU, the water supply system was expanded to 30 households covering three barangays.

Meanwhile, the Level 3 water project in Calubian is about 45% completed and on time for completion by July. About five barangays in Calubian which are presently using Level 1 (communal well) water system will be able to avail of potable water inside their own homes once the project is finished.

On the other hand, the project in Alang-alang, Leyte is at the detailed engineering design stage. Slated to start in August, it is expected to end by December of this year.

Furthermore, the municipality of Tolosa, Leyte has already bought a 1.8 cubic meter water tank for its RHU, and is arranging for its eventual connection to the water district. Once completed, the project will also serve the needs of the newly built municipal executive building.

Director Noval intimated that the office shall be hiring additional engineers on a contractual basis to assist in the monitoring of its projects. He likewise encouraged the citizens to take an active part in the project by monitoring the projects.

DILG-8 is currently assisting 25 LGUs which benefited from the regular SALINTUBIG program for 2012, and 33 LGUs which availed of SALINTUBIG projects under the 2013 Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) system.