Residents of a barangay in Marikina City could not hide their joy after the city government and water concessionaire Manila Water convened on Wednesday, April 24, for the installation of its own direct water line.
(Photos from Marikina LGU)
Citizens of Barangay Tumana met with Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro, his wife Marikina City Rep. Maan Teodoro, and officials from Manila Water as they discussed to them the creation of their own water line and other barangay's water woes.
"Sa loob ng maraming taon, ang suplay ng tubig sa mga tahanan sa Barangay Tumana ay sa pamamagitan ng common watering points o CWP na nangangahulugang walang indibidwal na linya ng tubig mula sa local water concessionaire, at mas mataas ang presyo kumpara sa tubig na isinusuplay sa mga tahanang mayroong sariling metro (For so many years, households in Barangay Tumana have been gettin their water supply through common watering points or CWPs, which means that they don't have their own individual water line from local water concessionaires. This also causes them to pay much higher water fees compared to households who have their own water lines)," Teodoro said.
The mayor explained that the local government unit (LGU) as well as Manila Water will help the barangay with their P22 million water supply balance.
"Matapos na makapag-abot ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng kabayaran para sa new connection ng mga residenteng may pending application sa Manila Water, maaari nang makabitan ng sariling metro ng tubig ang mga tahanan (After the city government handed over the payment for the new connection of residents with pending applications to Manila Water, new water lines and water meters will be immediately installed in their households)," he explained.
The local chief underscored the importance of everyone having access to potable water especially amid the summer season and El Niño phenomena.
“Kailangang kailangan talaga ang potable water kaya tutulungan natin sila na mabayaran ang kanilang bayarin sa Manila Water (They really need access to potable water, hence, we will do everything to help them pay their dues with Manila Water)," Teodoro said, adding that he had also urged the water concessionaire to stop the disconnection of water supply in the barangay.
Aside from the new water line connection, Marikina City will also install free water pipes from the water meters of Barangay Tumana households to shoulder other expenses by its residents.