The Baguio Water District estimates around PhP5 million worth of damages to its various facilities after Typhoon Ompong crossed this way last September 15, 2018.
Around PhP4.42M initial cost of damages was assessed even as the water supply in affected areas has been fully restored by September 21.
BWD General Manager Engr. Salvador M. Royeca said over a live radio interview with DZEQ Radyo ng Bayan on September 24, 2018 that the costs of damages only include an assessment of materials and equipment needed without any assessment on labor costs.
The facility that sustained the most damages is the Pinesville deepwell (Php1.2M) with collapsed electrical posts damaged transformers and accessories including pump and motor unit, and damaged/cut transmission lines with an approximate length of 40 meters.
The other facilities that sustained damages are: Camp 7-1 deepwell -P900K; Sto. Tomas transmission line (Php500K), Ambiong to Pacdal transmission line -P400K, Stage 1 sources – P400K, Amliang sources -P 350K, Amliang transmission line along Digdigwayan and TipTop -P300K, Camp 8 deepwell – P200, Amparo pumping station -P150K and BGH distribution line -P20K.
The temporary water supply problem affected various areas particularly in the southern part of the City but was partially managed as early as September 18. Repairs on the damages were completed six (6) days after the onslaught of the typhoon leading to normalization of about 90% of the water supply.
Around 9,500 active connections were estimated to have been affected by the unscheduled water service interruption due to the incurred damages.
Following the restoration of water supply, the BWD management assured the public that applied repairs are well-built.
“We assure users the repairs applied are not just temporary repairs, except for a few where remedial measures had to be undertaken to immediately restore water supply but at all costs, we make sure that it will not take long for water supply to be restored,” said Royeca who also pointed that rethinking and redesigning Baguio City’s water system is timely and need to be well-prepared for such natural occurrences like typhoons.
Meanwhile, Royeca said that water supply restoration costs on the facilities will be shouldered by the District and are not passed or distributed to the bills of its consumers.
By Mark Victor Pasagoy
