Panglao water woes: “Gone in 180 days?”

ONE hundred and eighty days is all it would take to wash Panglao's worrisome water woes.

This as Panglao municipal council adopts a resolution July 19, 2006 finally authorizing Mayor Doloriech Dumaluan to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with a city-based water utilities provider, the Bohol Water Utilities Incorporated (BWUI). The resolution marks the first step in the finalization of a deal with BWUI to Panglao to purchase bulk water from the BWUI pumping units in Tagbilaran and nearby sources.

The six months target which the BWUI posts to allow potable water flowing to residences and resorts in this prime tourist island is stipulated in a communiqué signed by Mayor Dumaluan, Vice Mayor Pedro Fuertes, Municipal Councilors Vincenzo Arcamo, Cerino Hormachuelos, Ranulfo Millalos, Nila Montero and Annalyn Alcala for Panglao and Engr. Romeo Robles for BWUI July 13. Witnessing the signing of the crucial communiqué were Representative Edgar M. Chatto, Governor Erico Aumentado, Board Members Corazon Galbreath, Concepcion Lim and Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Joseph Norris Oculam.

The development forms the local initiatives in realizing a national plan to build local economies. This equips Panglao with the necessary infrastructure as the tourism showcase for super region in Central Visayas . The concept allows government to directly deliver socio-economic goods right at their people's doorstep. With the move, it finally breaks the tension on extreme politicking that has indubitably put services in the backburners. For so long a time, water flowing through Panglao municipal waterworks pipelines is not fit for drinking. High salinity content in its water is easily noticeable, a fact that Provincial Health officer Reymoses Cabagnot said, has caused a high renal disease occurrence in Dauis-Panglao area.

In its July 11 report, Dr Cabagnot pointed out a rise in renal cases of 28 and 34 in 2005 and 2006 respectively in Panglao. BWUI, who has planned its expansion in Panglao stalled its plan due to a technical problem with Panglao officials. BWUI pipelines have gone as far as Mariveles, Dauis, about a barangay away from Panglao boundary. Some Panglao resorts use the same salty waters, while others are forced to buy water services from city-based tankers.

The MOA currently prepared by both parties for Panglao specifies the location of future reservoirs and major pipelines to be installed by BWUI. It also delineates and classifies service areas according to bulk usage. The communiqué however did not just come through as fast. It went through heated deliberations with Panglao wanting a bit of action on the deal. Panglao municipal officials want BWUI to supply them water via a cooperative, which resells the water to residents.

This way, officials said the local consumers can be protected as to pricing control is concerned. Earlier, Mayor Dumaluan reportedly presented to resort owners a water desalination plant plan, which was costly. Striking a balance, Representative Edgar Chatto and Gov. Aumentado crafted a compromise agreement, which finally ends the town's water woes. The subject MOA will officially signal BWUI activities in Panglao, and is set to attain its effect when signed this July 22, in time with the Investment Forum at the MetroCenter Hotel.

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