MANILA -Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) has secured a P375-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines, intended to help upgrade the delivery of water services and address the needs of its rapidly growing customer base.
Michael de Jesus, president and chief executive of DBP, said in a statement the loan was extended under the state-run bank’s Water for Every Resident (Water) program.
The program is part of DBP’s intensified efforts to improve local infrastructure and community facilities especially, for fledgling cities and towns.
De Jesus said the new loan builds on earlier initiatives of DBP to contribute to the provision of safe, reliable, and affordable water supply and help achieve inclusive growth, particularly in Puerto Princesa City.
Established in 1976, PPCWD caters to 53,000 active customers who are living in 50 out of the 66 barangays of Puerto Princesa City.
In terms of population, its service area represents about 17 percent of Puerto Princesa’s total population of 307,000.
Through the loan, DBP is supporting PPCWD’s plan to build a 3,000-cubic-meter reservoir and install an ultraviolet disinfection system.
Both facilities are expected to help expand availability of potable water to Puerto Princesa residents.
Also de Jesus said the loan would also partly finance the installation of a water transmission line that will serve barangays that are primed for increased economic activity, considering the improvement of critical utilities and essential public services. INQ