16 August 2005
City to tap Awai water in future
IN the next few years, the city of Dagupan may draw water from San Jacinto town, some 27 kilometers to the north-east in case its wells dry up or become severely affected by salt water intrusion.
The water may be pumped from barangay Awai in San Jacinto, where the city bought a 30-hectare property in 2001 for multi-purpose use--water source, relocation site for squatters and site for sanitary landfill.
Last week’s tree planting activity in the area spearheaded by both Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim and San Jacinto Mayor Rodolfo Columbres, along with the personnel of the Dagupan City Water District and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, confirmed the plan of the city to generate potable water from the area.
The move envisions to create a big watershed area and a forest park that can be harnessed for potable water to be conveyed by gravity irrigation via a long pipepine to Dagupan City, which is now experiencing some problems of water intrusion in its wells.
This appeared to indicate that Dagupan City has already junked its plan to convert part of the 30-hectare property as site for sanitary landfill, a move strongly opposed by San Jacinto Mayor Columbres and his constituents.
A memorandum of agreement signed by Lim, DCWD General Manager Ramon Reyna and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rogelio Pimentel during the tree planting activity sought the conversion of a large part of the property into a watershed area and a forest park.
Regular tree planting activities by city government employees of Dagupan will soon be scheduled in the area, till it becomes a forest resort and a watershed.
As a possible water source, the area could be an ideal place because today, some parts are inundated by rain and run-off water from adjacent rolling hills.
Bought by Dagupan at P16 million, the property is adjacent to a big parcel of land in barangay Lobong owned by the Duque family which itself may be converted into an exclusive golf course. (PNA)
The water may be pumped from barangay Awai in San Jacinto, where the city bought a 30-hectare property in 2001 for multi-purpose use--water source, relocation site for squatters and site for sanitary landfill.
Last week’s tree planting activity in the area spearheaded by both Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim and San Jacinto Mayor Rodolfo Columbres, along with the personnel of the Dagupan City Water District and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, confirmed the plan of the city to generate potable water from the area.
The move envisions to create a big watershed area and a forest park that can be harnessed for potable water to be conveyed by gravity irrigation via a long pipepine to Dagupan City, which is now experiencing some problems of water intrusion in its wells.
This appeared to indicate that Dagupan City has already junked its plan to convert part of the 30-hectare property as site for sanitary landfill, a move strongly opposed by San Jacinto Mayor Columbres and his constituents.
A memorandum of agreement signed by Lim, DCWD General Manager Ramon Reyna and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rogelio Pimentel during the tree planting activity sought the conversion of a large part of the property into a watershed area and a forest park.
Regular tree planting activities by city government employees of Dagupan will soon be scheduled in the area, till it becomes a forest resort and a watershed.
As a possible water source, the area could be an ideal place because today, some parts are inundated by rain and run-off water from adjacent rolling hills.
Bought by Dagupan at P16 million, the property is adjacent to a big parcel of land in barangay Lobong owned by the Duque family which itself may be converted into an exclusive golf course. (PNA)
