The MTWD, together with the DENR-EMB, conducted a public scoping on May 20, 2022 at Barangay Caggay Gymnasium, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan for the proposed construction of a surface water treatment plant in Caggay. The public scoping is a venue for MTWD and DENR-EMB to officially inform the public, especially the residents of Brgy. Caggay, concerned government agencies, business sector and non-government organizations, on the proposal of this infrastructure development.
MTWD General Manager Engr. Miller C. Tanguilan, CESE explained that this public scoping activity is undertaken to present the “objectives in developing surface water source as an additional water supply”. MTWD Technical Department Head Engr. Janice Cardenas then presented the objectives of the project and its role in ensuring sustainable water supply in the city.
She cited that the overall project is designed and is programmed in three (3) phases, intended to gradually provide up to 100 million liters per day which will sustain the fast growing demand for safe and potable water brought about by population growth and in-migration.
An open forum moderated by facilitators from DENR-EMB and MTWD then ensued to inculcate better understanding of the project and to respond to the concerns of the customers-concessionaires. Questions raised during the open forum pertained to project design, environmental effects, social safeguards, water quality and inter-governmental coordination. A resident also asked whether there will be an increase in the water rate affiliated with the development of the surface water treatment plant. GM Tanguilan responded that the schedule of water rate increase had been approved by the Local Water Utilities Administration even before the said project and is to be implemented in the year 2020 up to 2023 as presented during the 2020 Public Hearing.
GM Tanguilan informed the residents that the tariff was increased in 2020, but the scheduled increase for 2021 and 2022 were not implemented in consideration of the pandemic. However, he said that water rate will likely increase as prices of goods being used in the operations of the District such as chlorine, fuel and power cost have also increased. He assured the public that any increase in water rate is reasonable and that the District always consider the capability of the public to pay their water bills. He further emphasized that these water rate adjustments will be implemented as it was incorporated in the financial projection to sustain the operations of the District and continually improve the water quality and the water pressure within its water systems.
The public scoping was attended by 118 participants representing the academe, Barangay officials and residents of Barangay Caggay, Government agencies which include the DOH, DPWH, DOST, DILG, DENR-MGB, NIA, LGU Tuguegarao City and DENR-EMB.