Marinduque Gov. Presbitero Velasco Jr. expressed confidence that the desalination project of the Marinduque Water District (MWD) with the Pasig City-based Peak Off-Grid Innovations and Solutions would end a decades-old potable water supply problem in the province.
MWD awarded the project to the company on Friday, March 10, at the Marco Polo Hotel on Ortigas Ave. in Pasig City.
GOV. Velasco (FB)
The event was attended by Velasco, Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Vice Gov. Lynn Angeles, and Finnish Ambassador to the Philippines Juha Markus Pyykkö.
Peak Off-Grid has set up modern facilities designed to deliver at least 29,200 cubic meters of drinkable water daily to meet the islanders’ demand for personal, household, and irrigation purposes.
Facilities have an uninterruptible supply of potable water using solar-powered Finnish desalination technology.
I am pleased that this unique Finnish technology is offering solutions to the challenges of the people of Marinduque. Finland’s water expertise is world-class, Pyykkö said.
Gov. Velasco said the project is a game changer for his constituents who have been grappling with acute potable water supply shortage over the decades.
“We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and soon enough, our water woes will be over,” he said.
The multi-million project involves the construction of desalination facilities that could convert seawater into fresh drinking water and other water needs.
It combines solar desalination technologies with freshwater management, efficient storage facilities, and tapping rainwater to boost the supply chain.
Residents of Marinduque have been battling potable water shortage, exacerbated by a long drought that hit the northern municipality of Santa Cruz and parts of the capital town of Boac.
The Boac River, the island-province’s main waterway, is considered a dead river due to mine tailings from a mountain pit of Marcopper Mining that aggravated the residents’ sufferings.
This was considered as the worst environmental disaster in the country that deprived the people of safe drinking water and livelihood for those inhabiting the river banks.
“Since tapping the Boac River is not an option for the time being, we have the sea surrounding our province as an inexhaustible alternative,” Gov. Velasco noted.