The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo gave its go signal for the implementation of the proposed rainwater harvesting projects in eight towns in the province during its regular session on Tuesday.
“That is part of the water system (project) of Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. Most of them are schools with water system because basically they will just be provided with ferrocement tanks to collect water,” said Board Member Rolando B. Distura, chair of the Committee on Infrastructure that studied the proposal together with the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, in a follow-up interview on Wednesday.
Ferrocement consists of a thin sheet of cement mortar which is reinforced with a cage made of wire mesh and steel bars, according to the rainwater harvesting.org website.
The projects are contained in the 2022 Supplemental Annual Investment Program of the provincial government dubbed the Environmental Engineering Program (Rainwater Harvesting Project) but the budget was taken from the Internal Revenue Allotment fund of the province in 2020.
The cost totaled PHP912,000 with each project amounting to PHP114,000.
They will be implemented in Barangay Patong-Patong and Monte-Magapa Elementary School in Barangay Monte-Magapa, both in Janiuay town; Bitaoyan Elementary School and Calansanan Elementary School in Barangays Bitaoyan and Calasanan, respectively in the municipality of Badiangan; Yugot Elementary School in Barangay Yugot, Mina; Barangay Malitbog Centro in Calinog; Dueñas General Comprehensive High School in Dueñas; and Alimono Elementary School in Barangay Alimono in Passi City.
“Probably one of their challenges is the water source that is why this rain water harvesting project was considered,” he added.
He added that water gathered from rain can be used for their daily activities like cleanup, washing, and watering of plants.
They should, however, be religious in cleaning the facility and a screen should be installed in the water inlet to prevent mosquitoes and other insects from making them as breeding sites. (PNA)
