CEBU CITY – Inadequate water supply has been a perennial problem in Kananga, a first-class municipality in the province of Leyte.
KANANGA, Leyte Mayor Manuel Vicente Torres inspects the ongoing construction of a water filtration system in Sitio Matin-aw, Barangay Rizal, Kananga. (Calvin D. Cordova)
But as Mayor Manuel Vicente Torres approaches the final few months of his second term, the town's water scarcity is about to be solved.
A multi-million water filtration project in Sitio Matin-ao, Barangay Rizal, Kananga is already in its final stages and thousands of households will soon be provided with adequate water supply.
“Water was really a big problem before. Barangays used to make their own water system,” said Torres.
The construction of the water filtration system began in 2019.
Torres said the town was able to secure a P100-million fund for the project with the help of Leyte fourth district Rep. Richard Gomez, the husband of Ormoc City, Leyte Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, a sister of the Kananga mayor.
“This project started when I became a mayor of Kananga. It is really good if you are aligned with the congressman because our fund in the municipality is not enough for this kind of a project. It’s easy to implement a project if you and your district representative are together in your vision,” Torres said.
Piping works for the water filtration project are ongoing and once completed, it will provide steady water supply to at least 4,000 residents.
Torres said rehabilitation of the old water system that serves at least 4,000 households will then follow.
“I consider this water filtration project as my biggest accomplishment in my first two terms as a mayor in the town,” Torres said.
Water in the town is sold at a very affordable price of P3 per cubic meter.
“It is very cheap. We need to update our revenue code to suit the needs of the times. It is the rate for how many years, way back to the time of the two previous mayors,” said Torres.
Another major project in Kananga, which has 23 barangays, is also about to be finished – the new municipal hall which is already 80 percent complete.
“By December this year, we will already be moving to the new town hall,” said Torres.
The town secured a P450-million loan from Landbank for the construction of the new government center, including the sanitary landfill.
“We prioritized this project to transfer the seat of government here because the Poblacion is already decongested. We set up the government center here because if this area booms, the development will spread. Because now, development is concentrated in Poblacion,” said Torres.
The new three-story town hall with a floor area of 9,000-square meters stands on a nine-hectare area that the town purchased.
The new town hall could easily be the biggest municipal hall in Leyte. A mini-park, sports facility, commercial spaces, fire, and police stations will be built around the municipal hall.
“The town hall will be like a one-stop-shop because there will be offices of national government agencies and a municipal trial court in the building,” said Torres.
Aside from the mayor’s offices, municipal councilors will also have their own offices in the new town hall.
The construction of the sprawling municipal hall is one of the preparations for the town’s cityhood. Kananga has already met the criteria to become a city, said Torres.
Torres added that the town also has an improved lighting system and has been declared as a drug-cleared town.
Kananga also became insurgency-free under Torres’ administration.
“When it comes to developments, I can say, I have done more in my six years as mayor compared to the 12 years of the previous administrations. The people can see it. I don’t expect everyone to praise me. It cannot be avoided there will be some who will disagree despite the good things that you’ve done. That’s how politics play but there are more who trust and believe in our administration,” said Torres.
Torres is seeking a third term in next year’s election. He is going up against the same opponent whom he defeated in the last two elections.
“There’s still more work to be done but I’ll just do what I can with the time given to me,” Torres said.