Guv inaugurates Level 2 water system in Buen'vista

By JUNE S. BLANCO

MOST able-bodied people from this far-flung barangay leave as soon as they can to study, to work, or otherwise gainfully pass their time. But not for long. Returning to Barangay Cantomogcad in Buenavista town may not be nirvana, heaven or Cloud 9 to most, but things are definitely better now with the recent inauguration by Gov. Erico Aumentado of a Level 2 waterworks system worth P1.51 million of which P1.38 million was a grant from the Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan: Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-Kapangyarihan and Kaunlaran sa Barangay (Kalahi: Cidss-KKB) project of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Residents used to trek at least 300 meters to the nearest water source. Children who could have studied or do their homework on arriving from school had to put them off until later – after they have fetched water to drink and cook dinner with. Not anymore.

The inauguration and turnover program was held at the barangay stage and basketball court. A concrete faucet stand with wash trough stood less than 30 meters away. For the blessing, the governor turned on the tap. “ Kusog (Strong)!” he said of the water flow now servicing 145 households.

The waterworks system, he said, forms part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's flagship project of poverty reduction. “Where she cannot be physically present, she sends representatives like Kalahi Regional Project Director Evelyn Macapobre and Area Coordinator Stella Abaa, and local officials like Mayor Elsa Tirol and her municipal council on top of Barangay Captain Saturnino Petalcorin and his council to see to the needs of the people,” the governor said.

DSWD Region 7 Dir. Teodulo Romo failed to attend because of a previous commitment; the Cantomogcad program was moved a day earlier. Aumentado asked the residents to take care of the concrete reservoir, the metered faucet stands and water troughs spread throughout the barangay, the transmission and distribution piping system, pipe drains and air vents, pumphouse, submersible pump. The project also includes water source development and energization.

In true convergence fashion, the locals counterparted P132,336 of which P30,000 was in cash and P102,336 in kind. Of the P132,336, P28,250 came from the municipal government, P36,926 from the barangay government and P67,160 from the community. Macapobre said for Kalahi projects, the barangay folk deliberate which project to develop, and produce counterpart that may be in the form of labor, existing building or cash. In the case of Cantomogcad, the barangay folk including those of adjacent Barangay Lapacan Norte organized themselves into an association headed by Anacleta Añosa. The association manages the waterworks, collects payments and maintains the system.

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