THE Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) is pursuing its expansion program to meet the water requirements of its concessionaires, particularly in Naga, a rapidly growing city. In the coming years, Naga will be operating the 25-hectare Naga City Industrial Park (NCIP).
MNWD General Manager Florencio Tam Mongoso Jr. disclosed that his office is negotiating with the city government to procure a parcel of land for the expansion program.
The undertaking is part of the water firm’s preparation that aims to ensure the delivery of the required volume of potable water to various factories at the NCIP, located in the city’s economic zone along Nursery Road in Barangay Carolina.
Mongoso mentioned that the targeted land parcel is an ideal water source, capable of producing 30 to 60 liters of water per second. Considering the NCIP’s water requirements, the MNWD plans to establish multiple sources of potable water in the area to provide alternatives in case one source becomes defective.
The need for multiple water pumps is driven by the expectation that the factories will operate 24/7 and expand their operations over the next 5 to 10 years. Mongoso also noted the potential for more residential or commercial developments near the NCIP, as seen in other economic zones.
Mongoso said that the technical description of the MNWD project is underway and expressed hope that it will be endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod for deliberation and approval by August.
NCIP offers industrial lots for sale or lease, a commercial strip accommodating up to sixteen establishments, a public transport terminal, a cargo terminal, a power sub-station, a water treatment facility, and a gasoline station. These amenities create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
The establishment of NCIP is anticipated to provide a significant economic boost to Naga City and the Bicol region. Investments from manufacturing firms are expected to reach billions of pesos, generating thousands of direct manufacturing jobs. Fuji Industries Naga Corp., the first ecozone locator, alone plans to employ 1,500 people at full operation.
Based on this projection, NCIP could potentially create up to 12,000 direct jobs for the region. Additionally, the ecozone will stimulate the growth of support industries, further increasing employment opportunities.
Aside from the multimillion-peso project benefiting the NCIP, the water district is developing four distribution lines, interconnections, and loop connections. This infrastructure aims to ensure the continuous supply of potable water, even if a pumping station becomes defective. If a pumping station fails, other stations can augment the water supply to the affected areas.
He explained that loop lines prevent total water outages in affected areas, ensuring a reliable water supply. The project is progressing, and MNWD technical personnel have begun seeking approval from the Sangguniang Bayan of the municipalities within the MNWD’s coverage area.
He emphasized that interconnections and loop lines are essential since all potable water sources are in Naga City. These connections will ensure water reaches even the remotest areas of the municipalities served by MNWD. Without loop lines or interconnections, any defect in pumping stations would disrupt the water supply to far-flung areas, impacting numerous concessionaires.
Mongoso also addressed concerns about purchasing water from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
He reassured farmers that MNWD would only buy excess water, not the volume needed for their fields. The NIA agreed to sell water to MNWD because the number of rice fields is decreasing, and the irrigation water allocated to them is not fully utilized. He assured that farmers would still have priority access to irrigation water.
Written by Jason Neola (CEPPIO)
