• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri led the groundbreaking ceremony for the P100 million Kabankalan City Water District (KCWD) rehabilitation and waterline improvement project July 1, in a bid to provide Kabankalanons with potable and cost-efficient water.
This is phase 2 of what Zubiri said will be his legacy project for Kabankalan – a tribute to his father Jose Maria Zubiri Jr., who is from Barangay Talubangi in the city – and will involve pipelaying and the expansion of the water system.
In April last year, Zubiri also allocated P50 million to jumpstart the waterline rehabilitation and improvement, after then KCWD chairman Paul Azcona sought his assistance.
He said there is need to upgrade the old pipes that have been used since the 1940s, which led to leakage and the exorbitant cost of water. Zubiri said he had invested on an industrial ice plant in the city, but had to close it down due to the excessive water bill that is even more expensive than electricity.
He said that instead of the KCWD taking out a loan from the bank that would eventually be shouldered by consumers, he agreed to help in the allocation of funds.
“We’re gonna pursue this. This will be my legacy project for Kabankalan so residents will have clean, safe, reliable, and cost-efficient water,” Zubiri said, adding that another P100 to P150 million will be needed to complete the project by next year.
He said there is already a bulk water supplier, but without the necessary distribution system for a stronger and more efficient piping, the same problem on high cost of water and spillage will continue.
Azcona, now the administrator of the Sugar Regulatory Administration, joined Zubiri, city officials, and guests at the groundbreaking and ceremonial capsule-laying.
After the Kabankalan event, Zubiri and his party also inspected the amphitheater-museum being constructed in Bacolod City, with Mayor Greg Gasataya and other city officials.
The senator said he already allocated about P400 million for this infra project. | CGC
