THE surface water project proposed by Davao City Water District (DCWD) has an estimated cost of P6 billion with a target completion date by year 2016, three years later than what was initially proposed.

Initially planned to be completed by 2013, the completion date of the project was moved to 2016.

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Imelda Magsuci, DCWD spokesperson and finance officer, told Sun.Star Davao that a comprehensive detailed feasibility study being done on the Tamugan and Panigan Rivers will be completed by February 2010.

"After that we will need three years for the procurement and search for funding as we are not subsidized by both local and national government," Magsuci said. "And another three years for the implementation and construction of the project will be needed. By 2016, the project will be able to service the areas we have targeted," she said.

Among the areas on the list of DCWD are the barangays of Acacia, Bunawan, Callawa, Gatungan, Indangan, Lasang, Mahayag, Mandug, Mundiang, and Tibungco in the second congressional district. The villages of Biao Escuela, Biao Joaquin, Calinan, Gumalang, Lacson, New Valencia, Riverside, Talomo River, and Talandang in the 3rd District will also be serviced.

The conduct of the detailed feasibility study started on February 2, 2009 with a cost of P8.2 million.

"The project was proposed in 1997. We did not implement it right away since it is considered as one of DCWD's long-term project that will be implemented within 20 years," Magsuci said.

She said DCWD is pushing for the Tamugan project "in order to deliver services to the 182 barangays in Davao City."

"We are now serving 106 barangays or 68 percent of the total barangays comprising the city. With the project, we can assure to give 100 percent service to all of the barangays," Magsuci said. (CPM)