Gov. Arthur Yap respects any local government unit’s (LGUs) to decide to decline the opportunity to avail itself of the bank credit facility of the provincial government to be used in essential water supply development projects.
The LGUs will not be forced to take out funds from the credit facility, as some of them may already have sufficient funds for water system improvement or already possess stable and safe water supply.
The current administration is always willing to assist the LGUs in tapping the low-interest financing offered by the banks to the province.
The province’s water program intends to improve the existing water supply capacity while addressing sanitation in the localities amid the pandemic, which is feared to stay in years.
Data from the Capitol shows over half of Bohol’s barangays are still considered without safe water supply, including areas just have relied on unsafe water sources.
It has been reported that six towns in the province are looking to avail of the financing from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
The six towns which have expressed interest are Duero, Mabini, Valencia, Pilar, Talibon and San Miguel, according to Jovencia Ganub, the head of the Bohol Environmental Management Office (BEMO).
Capitol’s water program is also aggressive in tapping and developing new sources for both sustainable human and economic uses considering the impact of climate change.
The towns of Mabini and Pilar are availing of the help of the province to their respective spring development projects.
Moreover, Duero and Valencia are looking to improve their water provision capacities with the Capitol’s help, Ganub added.
Ganub bared that the LGUs of Duero, Valencia, San Miguel and Pilar already expressed their intent to tap the credit facilities with the backing of their respective Sangguniang Bayan (SB) resolutions.
Talibon is also eyeing to solve its water woes through bulk water supply.
Danao was the most recent LGU that expressed intent to partner with the province in ending its water supply problem. (with reports from Ven rebo Arigo)