Former Supreme Court Justice and now Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. lauded an upcoming desalination project designed to ultimately bring an end to the province’s decades-old problem of inadequate potable water supply.
Velasco was referring to a recently concluded bidding and awarding between Marinduque Water District and Pasig City-based Peak Off-Grid, Innovations and Solutions Inc. for the setting up of modern facilities to deliver 29,200 cubic meters of drinkable water daily to meet the province’s demand for personal, household and irrigation purposes.
The facilities boast of uninterruptible supply of potable water using Finnish desalination technology running on pure solar power.
Velasco, along with Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco, Vice-Governor Lynn Angeles and Finnish Ambassador to the Philippines Juha Markus Pyykkö witnessed the awarding ceremony on Mar. 10, 2023 at Marco Polo Hotel on Ortigas Ave., Pasig City.
“I am pleased that this unique Finnish technology is offering solutions to the challenges of the people of Marinduque. Finland’s water expertise is world-class,” said Pyykkö.
Velasco said the event is “a game changer” for his constituents who have been grappling with acute potable water supply shortage over the decades.
“We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and soon enough, our water woes will be over,” he said.
The multimillion-peso project involves the construction of distributed desalination facilities to convert raw seawater into fresh potable water safe for drinking and other household needs as well as for irrigation.
The project combines solar desalination technologies with freshwater management, efficient storage facilities and tapping rainwater to boost the supply chain.
Marinduque residents have long been battling with potable water supply shortage, exacerbated by a long drought that hit the northern municipality of Santa Cruz and parts of the capital town of Boac.
The death of the island-province’s main waterway, the Boac River, due to mine tailings aggravated the residents’ sufferings. The tragedy, considered as the worst environmental disaster in the country, deprived the people of fresh source of water and livelihood for those inhabiting the river banks.
“Since tapping the Boac River is not an option for the time being, we have the sea surrounding our province as an inexhaustible alternative,” Velasco said.
Marinduque Water District recently conducted an unsolicited proposal via a Swiss Challenge for a contract to convert sea or raw water into 29,200 cubic meters of potable fresh water for the whole province. Peak Off-Grid, Innovations & Solutions emerged as the winner of the contract.
The project aims to supply 240,000 inhabitants of Marinduque with an uninterruptible supply of potable water.