VP NOLI ASSISTS IN ROMBLON REHAB
August 18, 2008

As promised, Vice President Noli 'Kabayan' De Castro flew back to Romblon, Romblon last week (August 13) to turn over the 4.7 million cheque for the Local Waterworks Utility Authority (LWUA) for the rehabilitation of the Romblon Water District (RWD). This was a commitment made by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Vice President during their visit to Romblon last month to check the typhoid outbreak caused by contaminated water supply from the damaged water sources and spring line and dilapidated pipes.

Talking before the members of the Romblon Provincial Development Council, De Castro said, “The President asked me to come back here to fulfill her commitment of rehabilitating your water supply system.” De Castro has been designated by the President as the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORD) for Mindoro , Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan (MIMAROPA).

The expansion project, he said, includes the development and establishment of two additional water sources, re-routing of spring line, replacement of dilapidated pipes and pipe-laying to expand their services to additional five barangays from those in the Poblacion area.

According to De Castro, the check represents a soft loan from LWUA to enable RWD to rehabilitate itself and address water supply contamination which previously resulted to typhoid fever outbreak in Romblon after typhoon Frank battered the province.

He said the loan has a two year grace period prior to the start of amortization.

The provincial office initially hesitated in borrowing again from LWUA since it still has a current loan with LWUA with an P18 million outstanding balance.

However, De Castro convinced the local leaders to accept the new loan since unlike before, the province can already pay its dues on time aside from the important fact that it can immediately facilitate the start of the Romblon comprehensive water plan.

De Castro and his officials were warmly received by local executives led by Romblon town Mayor Gerard Montojo and Vice Mayor Melvin Mesana.

Later in the day, De Castro inspected Barangay Sablayan where a provincial road was badly damaged by typhoon Frank. Prior to that, the Vice President dropped by in Barangay Agpanabat and vowed to provide P2, 000 worth of GI sheets for the families whose houses were severely damaged by the typhoon.

For the meantime, he said HUDCC is going to work with the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the temporary relocation of the affected families.

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