Friday, March 19, 2021

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

DCWD hopes bulk water supply project to start ops before 2021 ends

Posted: 19 Mar 2021 05:20 AM PDT

PROJECT implementers of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) are targeting to start supplying water to its consumers before the end of 2021.

DCBWSP is a joint water project of Davao City Water District (DCWD) and Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. that is expected to provide around 300 million liters of water to the consumers.

The project was supposed to be fully operated in the first quarter of 2021. But DCWD spokesperson Jovana Cresta Duhaylungsod admitted the imposed enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the city from April to May 15, 2020 derailed the construction of the bulk water project.

But when constructions were permitted during the easing of quarantine status, she said Apo Agua immediately resumed operations and implemented "catch-up" plans to meet its timeline.

"Ang ilahang timeline (Based on their timeline), they would be able to complete ang part nila sa proyekto (their part of the project) by end of December 2021, granting that all mitigating measures and catch-up plans are in place," the official said.

She added that Apo Agua is already planning to increase its manpower to expedite the bulk water project and start serving its consumers.

"They are targeting to hire around 4,500 personnel para lang mapaspasan ang pagpatrabaho (just to fast track the construction)," Duhaylungsod said.

The project, worth P12.6 billion, is a strategic infrastructure initiative that will shift the dependence of the city's main water supply from groundwater wells to the more sustainably-sourced surface water from Tamugan River.

Once operational, the DCBWSP will provide over 300 million liters of safe water per day to more than one million Dabawenyos.

Duhaylungsod said they are targeting to fast-track the project in order to start supplying areas with low or no running water supply and that have deteriorating water quality.

She added that the imposed quarantine restriction had caused a high water consumption resulting in some areas experiencing low water supply.

If ever the project will not meet its targeted operation, she said DCWD has reserved production wells as a mitigating measure that could cover the increase of water demand by 2022.

In general, however, the city has still enough water supply to meet the demand.

"While waiting, naa gyud ta (we have) immediate improvement plans na pwede nato magamit (that we can use) just in case wala pa ang bulk water (the construction of the bulk water is not yet done)," Duhaylungsod said.

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Sara Duterte: 1Sambayan sounds authoritarian

Posted: 19 Mar 2021 05:18 AM PDT

PRESIDENTIAL daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio described the 1Sambayan coalition formed by retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio as "authoritarian."

"They claim to be a coalition of democratic forces but they reject so many who do not agree with them. They sound authoritarian to me," the mayor said in a statement issued to the media on Thursday, March 18.

Duterte-Carpio's statement comes the same day 1Sambayan officially launched its coalition to the public.

During the launching, "1Sambayan" said they aim to come up with a single slate of national candidates — president, vice president, 12 senators — who will run against President Rodrigo Duterte's preferred successor and his other bets.

The coalition include Carpio, former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, former Education secretary Armin Luistro, former Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza, National Union of Peoples' Lawyers chairman Neri Colmenares, and the Magdalo party-list, among others.

The coalition said they vowed to field a unified opposition ticket in the May 2022 national elections.

In his video message, the retired Chief Justice who also hails from Davao City, said the group "represents the democratic forces in the entire country," including some marginalized and religious groups.

"We have decided to come together to choose the best candidates for president, vice-president, senators. Political parties and groups in the opposition have pledged their support to 1Sambayan and have agreed to abide by its selection of candidates," Carpio said.

He also said, "Unless we are united, we cannot win in 2022."

Duterte-Carpio, however, said the country needs unity as of the moment.

"Kung gusto nila maging successful dapat ang panawagan nila ay magkaisa (If they want to be successful, they should be calling for unity). What this country needs is unity, not messages with the word reject. Othering is the word that comes to mind when they speak," she said.

Carpio, during the launching, called the Duterte government "incompetent" as he criticized the administration's "mishandling" of the Covid-19 pandemic, South China Sea policy, moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, and alleged threats against businesses, media entities and critics.

"They've been tested and everybody's saying kulelat sila (they performed badly). So, we have to offer a better alternative to our people because we don't want the same thing to happen again [and] to continue in the next six years," he said.

1Sambayan's launching comes weeks after several pro-administration groups and supporters had been urging Duterte-Carpio to run or presidency. The mayor already rejected the call despite topping several presidential surveys.

Former longtime aide of President Duterte now Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, whom the president endorsed in public events, also said he is not eyeing for the presidency. But he said he may consider running for president if Duterte will agree to be his running mate.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Davao City brings back negative RT-PCR test results requirement

Posted: 19 Mar 2021 05:16 AM PDT

STARTING March 23, 2021, the Davao City Government will require individuals entering the city through Francisco Bangoy International Airport, also known as Davao International Airport (DIA), a negative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result.

Airport Monitoring Team head Generose Tecson told SunStar Davao in a phone interview that RT-PCR tests shall be done by passengers not more than 72 hours before the flight.

Tecson also said that saliva-based RT-PCR tests, still taken not more than 72 hours before the flight, will be accepted if done by the Philippine Red Cross.

For children below 12 years old, tests will not be required unless parents or chaperones tested positive for Covid-19.

She also said that air passengers going to the city must secure their Safe Davao QR Code (DQR).

"So kung (if you have) no negative result and Safe Davao QR, no check-in for Davao," Tecson said.

Tecson said the reimposition of the test is in accordance with City Ordinance 0477-21, Series of 2021, or an ordinance providing for mandatory testing prior to entry into the city via DIA.

The ordinance was signed by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on March 2, 2021.

She added that the "test-before-travel" requirement to all passengers is not in contradiction to the issued Resolution 101 of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID).

"Nakalagay doon na option ng LGU (local government unit) na mag-require ng (It was indicated there that LGUs are given the option to require) testing prior to entry," she said.

According to the IATF, an LGU that will still require a Covid-19 test will be limited to RT-PCR.

Tecson said the city had been pushing the mandatory RT-PCR test to all travelers to the city, even before the reported surge of Covid-19 in some key cities in the country, particularly in Metro Manila and Cebu City, reportedly due to the detected Covid-19 variants.

She said the city is also planning to impose the mandatory RT-PCR for land travelers coming from Luzon and Visayas.

Meanwhile, she said the city, in accordance with the IATF order, will no longer require travel authority from the Joint Task Force Covid Shield and health certificates.

Authorized persons outside residence (Apor) from National Government agencies and their attached agencies need only present their identification card, travel order and travel itinerary.

Earlier, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Infectious Diseases specialist Dr. Marie Yvette Barez urged for the continued implementation of strict travel protocols, including the RT-PCR test, within city borders after noticing a slight increase of admitted Covid-19 patients.

"Inopen na kasi ng IATF diba everything, inistop na ang lahat ng mga RT-PCR (Since the IATF relaxed its policy, they did not made the RT-PCR mandatory). But yesterday [March 16], nag-increase uli yung admission. Although hindi pa man ganun ka-alarming (there is an increase of admission. Although it is still not alarming), but the fact na nag-increase na ulit ang (that there is again an increase of) admission, it could be an effect of those relaxed... everybody became relaxed again," she said.

Barez also said the transmission of the new variant causing case surge might be possible if the city will not be strict in its borders, particularly those in the airport.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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