ILOILO CITY: The island sitio of Danao-danao in Barangay Polopiña in the municipality of Concepcion was a recipient of a solar-powered potable water system through a grant from the World Bank under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
The PHP12.84 million project, with a 10 percent share from the Philippine government and 10 percent equity from the local government unit, was formally turned over to the residents in a ceremony on Friday.
Barangay Polopiña Punong Barangay Henry Francisco said the project will have a huge impact on their village.
Before the construction of the project, residents had to source water from their neighboring island and at the mainland Concepcion.
‘Sitio Danao-danao is the biggest sitio of Barangay Polopiña. Around 230 households can benefit from this project,’ he said in an interview with the media.
The project could also serve residents from other sitios.
The project will be managed by the Danao-Danao Power Potable Water Association, charging PHP5 per gallon. The
proceeds would be utilized to maintain the facility.
Provincial engineer Romeo Andig said the project is the first water desalination system in the province, where water from the sea is processed to become potable using reverse osmosis technology.
‘It has a full capacity of 11,000 liters per day, more than enough to cater to the needs of 253 households in this barangay,’ he said in his project brief.
It has 36 units of solar panels that could generate 17.6 kilowatts of electricity and a backup generator.
Source: Philippines News agency