LWUA taps lending firms to infuse funds needed to bankroll water projects
(Quezon City, Philippines) — The Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is now making negotiations with financial lending institutions in order to fund water development and expansion projects in the countryside.
“The goal is to get funding other than what the national government can provide, which is not enough to decongest the huge backlog of water projects in the provinces,” LWUA Administrator Guilling “Gene” A. Mamondiong stated recently.
He said the agency has been soliciting funds from both private and public organizations — local and foreign. “We are appealing to other like-minded groups and individuals to join us in assisting water-deprived areas across the country,” Mamondiong said. “We are open for more needed funds from other sources who are willing to lend a hand in nation building.”
Records show that to date, only 532 water districts are operational nationwide in a country with 81 provinces, 129 provincial cities, 1,487 municipalities — excluding the 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila.
Aside from water expansion projects, Mamondiong said LWUA has also been looking for new funding to finance sanitation development to go hand in hand with water development.
“Water may be crucial to life, but so is sanitation which is vital to good health,” LEUA chief explained, citing water-borne diseases like diarrhea and typhoid fever which pose a threat especially to children.
He also stated that, as mandated by the Supreme Court’s 2008 mandamus, water districts surrounding Manila Bay will ramp up cleanup efforts with the assistance of local government units.
Mamondiong said the funding infusion would be used for all water district in need, with LWUA providing the technical and managerial assistance to oversee their successful operation.
Our goal is to double or even triple the number of water districts and beneficiaries in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s marching orders to provide clean and safe water to every Filipino,” Mamondiong said. Joanne Rosario, OJT
