Water and sanitation projects completed reaches over 600 units in 6 years

By Bong Pedalino, PIA Southern Leyte
December 22, 2005

MAASIN CITY  – Some 642 units of various water and sanitation (WATSAN) projects province-wide had been finished from 1999 up to the third quarter of the current year, 2005, according to Gov. Rosette Y. Lerias.

In a recent talk show program KAABAG at Maasin Cable TV where she was the guest, Gov. Lerias spelled out some of the highlights of her administration in what looked like a year-ender report.

She singled out among others the water and sanitation projects like shallow wells and deep wells which this year alone totaled 77 units with a cost of P 7,036,676.02.

Among the latest beneficiary barangays of the WATSAN were Bato I, Hantag, Manhilo, all from this city; Sindangan, in Macrohon, and Buac Gamay, inSogod.

Another program consistently carried out by the provincial government since 1999 up to the present was the Civic Action (CIVAC), whose overall beneficiaries in six year’s time has reached 96,785 individuals.

“The CIVAC was a very visible way of bringing the government closer to the people, particularly those living in the innermost, hinterland villages of the province,” said Gov. Lerias.

Aside from free consultation and free medicines given during the CIVAC, several other free services can be availed, like tooth extraction, circumcision, massage, and haircut by the Philippine Army.

The barangay tanods will also be briefed with lectures on legalities and technicalities of basic laws for an effective peace and order and crime prevention in their locality.

In the same KAABAG program the Governor also mentioned some infrastructure projects completed like some educational facilities under the TEEP and SEDIP, and construction of bridges under President Arroyo’s Bridge Program.

In keeping with the spirit of the Christmas season, Gov. Lerias also disclosed that on December 15 she led in an activity called “Pamaskong Handog” where in Maasin some 100 indigent families received packages and another 110 family-beneficiaries in Padre Burgos also got some “bundles of joy.”