Leyte, Biliran water projects undergo DILG spot checks

By MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO
May 30, 2013

TACLOBAN CITY – Four water projects in Leyte and Biliran under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) were recently inspected by the DILG Central Office.

This was revealed by Regional Dir. Pedro A. Noval Jr. who added 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 Leyte and the municipality of Culaba in Biliran last May 22-24.

Dir. Noval said 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 (SALINTUBIG) program to ensure that government money is spent for its intended purpose. He added that inspections would be done in all other DILG projects to promote accountability.

The water system for the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Culaba, Biliran is now fully completed. Aside from serving the RHU, the water supply system was expanded to 30 households covering three barangays. The Level 3 water project in Calubian is about 45% done 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 by August, it is expected to end by December of this year. 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.

The office shall be hiring additional engineers on a contractual basis to assist in the monitoring of its projects. RD Noval likewise encouraged citizens to take an active part in the project through their cooperation and monitoring.

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.