By Zaldy Comanda
BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio Water District (BWD) estimates around P5 million worth of damages to its various facilities after Typhoon Ompong crossed its way through the northern Luzon.
A man struggles his umbrella the strong wind brought by typhoon “Ompong” while walks along the national highway. (Photo by ERWIN BELEO/ MANILA BULLETIN)
BWD public relation officer Mark Victor Pasagoy said that around P4.42 million initial cost of damages was assessed even as the water supply in affected areas has been fully restored last September 21.
BWD General Manager Engr. Salvador Royeca said that the costs of damages only include an assessment of materials and equipment needed without any assessment on labor costs.
The facility that sustained the most damages is the Pinesville deep well (P1.2M) where collapsed electrical posts damaged transformers and accessories including pumps, motor units, and damaged/cut transmission lines with an approximate length of 40 meters.
The other facilities that sustained damages are: Camp 7-1 deep well (P900,000); Sto. Tomas transmission line (P500,000), Ambiong to Pacdal transmission line (P400,000), Stage 1 sources (P400,000), Amliang sources (P350,000), Amliang transmission line along Digdigwayan and TipTop (P300,000), Camp 8 deep well (P200,000), Amparo pumping station (P150,000) and BGH distribution line (P20,000).
The temporary water supply problem affected various areas particularly in the southern part of the city but was partially managed as early as September 18.
Repairs on the damages were completed six days after the onslaught of the typhoon leading to normalization of about 90% of the water supply.
Around 9,500 active connections were estimated to have been affected by the unscheduled water service interruption due to the incurred damages.
Following the restoration of water supply, the BWD management assured the public that applied repairs are well-built and water supply restoration costs on the facilities will be shouldered by the district and are not passed or distributed to the bills of its consumers.