By GINA DIZON

SAGADA, Mountain Province — Following clarifications on alleged inconsistencies in the project, Improvement of Buasao Irrigation System and Construction of Tanulong Tribe Irrigators Association Water Services, officials here arrived at a unanimous go signal on the implementation of the P36 million water project.

This, following the withdrawal of signatures of Sangguniang Bayan in their regular meeting three weeks ago reiterating their position authorizing Mayor Eduardo Latawan to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource and Management Project (CHARMP) and the Local Government Unit and release of CHARMP counterpart funds and requested funding agencies to review and investigate the project. Said project was awarded to FFJJ Construction December last year.

The question revolved on why intended 15 barangays shall not all benefit from the water project as it only reaches implementation at Kapinitan sitio, a few kilometers from Poblacion. The Project only reaches three barangays-irrigation for Tanulong and domestic waters for Madongo and Bangaan.

Mayor Eduardo Latawan said the original plan was to construct two-inch diameter pipes from the Buasao source to the farthest intended barangay beneficiaries using the earlier P18 million priority development assistance funds from Senator Teofisto Guingona III. The opposition, however, of Tanulong folks led to the changing of two to six-inch diameters pipes with the accommodation of an irrigation system for Tanulong and the additional P18 million fund support from CHARMP.

Vice Mayor Engr Richard Yodong noted some technical discrepancies in the specification of the construction of water tanks. Yodong also noted that water tanks supposed to be built in sitios Bitin and Lallal-ay, and Kiltepan as written in the bid documents are not manifested in the implementation of the project. An existing tank in Kapinitan shall be rehabilitated.

Following the error admitted by municipal Engr Siano Baldo, Mayor Engr Eduardo Latawan said the noted discrepancy shall answer for the construction of intended tanks in other areas and whatever excess to be used for pipes to reach intended beneficiary-barangays. Latawan noted funding for other materials shall be requested from other sources to let water reach intended barangays.

Engr Sonny Salvacion from CHARMP advised whatever extra work shall be requested in a change order.

In the same meeting, Councilor Venancio Baybay noted the need for assurance of water supply during the dry season from February to May as water dips down during this season. The mayor said further talks shall be conducted with the Tanulong tribes.

The Tanulong tribe including officials and elders from sister barangay Madongo allowed a one hour flow scheduled every other day for the Project’s domestic waters “in times that water level is too low for an overflow”.

Councilor Francis Kilongan also asked assurance on the continuity of said water project considering water rights awarded to the Tanulong tribes in the name of Bacdayan et al. Latawan said a memorandum of understanding had been agreed upon among the Tanulong tribes giving in the waters for the domestic water project.

Earlier, some barangay officials and residents of Poblacion Sagada forwarded their initiatives to do the P36 million Buasaw water project instead. They called for the redesign and re-estimation of the project plan in order that waters reach their respective barangays. # nordis.net