- PBBM in Davao City to inaugurate Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. went into the lion’s den as he graced the inauguration of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP) barely two weeks after Mayor Sebastian Duterte openly called for his resignation.
However, the inauguration ended without fanfare, especially since city officials were noticeably absent from the ceremony held on Feb. 7 at the Apo Agua Water Treatment Facility in Davao City.
Mr. Marcos only stayed for about 20 minutes without talking to reporters after finishing his 10-minute speech and the tour of the facility. He had a scheduled situation briefing at the DPWH office in Panacan on the damage wrought by continuous heavy rains due to the shear line weather phenomenon.
In his keynote speech, President Marcos said the project, a partnership of Apo Agua Infrastractura Inc. (Apo Agua) and the Davao City Water District (DCWD), will help ensure water supply sufficiency and address climate change threats.
Mr. Marcos Jr. mentioned the project will lessen Davaoeños’ reliance on limited groundwater by tapping the Tamugan River as a sustainable water source.
“This model that we are inaugurating here today is right in line with the shift in policy of the government, of taking water from surface water sources rather than from digging wells,” the President said.
The Chief Executive also stressed the urgency of expediting the completion of improving water security, as well as all water projects across the country, as this will be in defense against the seasonal challenge of water scarcity.
“Any disruption to the water supply such as the one post by the El Niño phenomenon, which we are feeling the effects of, degrades our quality of life, dampens our economic activity, and can fuel disorder. A whole emergency of what is scarcity is the hardest to contain. It is, however, preventable. With foresight, united action, and strong political will,” he said.
He also said the project would pave the way for enhanced economic growth, job creation, and an improved standard of living for Filipinos.
The DCBWSP is the largest of its kind in the country, delivering a water production capacity of 300 million liters per day. The project augments DCWD’s reliance on groundwater sources to recharge the majority of its wells.
On Jan. 28, Mayor Duterte challenged the President to step down if he could not fulfill the demands of his position.
“Mr. President, kung wala kay gugma, wala kay aspirations sa imong nasud, resign (if you have no love and no aspirations for your country, resign),” Duterte said during the Hakbang ng Maisug Leaders Forum in Grand Men Seng Hotel, Sunday.
“You are lazy and you lack compassion,” he added.
The mayor’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, also did not mince words when he accused Mr. Marcos of having a substance abuse problem. In response, the President questioned his predecessor’s mental capacity, which might have been affected by prolonged abuse of Fentanyl, a highly dangerous opioid.
