With the approval of the bulk water project by the City Council on Tuesday, the the Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. is now moving double time to comply with additional requirements.
“We are now in the process of acquiring permits from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform,” explained Engr. Cirilo Almario, general manager of Apo Agua.
The Apo Aqua official told the AFP-PNP Southern Mindanao press conference on Wednesday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel that the DA must issue a certificate of eligibility while the DAR will have to certify the conversion of the bulk water plant’s site from agricultural to industrial use.
“Apo Agua is hoping that all remaining permits will be acquired on the first quarter of next year so that we could start the construction right away,” said Almario.
He said based on their experience, it will take up to January of next year before the DA and DAR certifications will be issued.
He said the last hurdle is a requirement mandated by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board. “ We will be the official documents from the City Council to the HLURB for it to give its approval of the land’s use for industrial purposes,” he said.
The first part of the P10 billion project will start in Tamugan where a diversion weir and transition lines will be put up.
DCWD’s role in the project is the implementation of the part B which is to provide reservoir located in identified areas including the improvement of the distribution lines amounting to P2 billion.
“We need to finish these first before we can receive the water since existing pipelines are old that needed to be replaced,” said Atty. Bernard Delima Jr. DCWD spokesperson.
Delima said there is 60 percent completion of the part B and the DCWD’s timeline is to be able to finish it all before the end of 2018.
AAII’s partnership with Davao City Water District and JV Angeles construction Incorporation ensured that they will be able to supply water to those who needed it the most.
