CLARK FREEPORT— Some 150 families, mostly Aetas, residing near this Freeport will benefit from a renovated water facility project of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) in partnership with Clark Water Corporation (CWC) and Manila Water Foundation (MWF).
The ceremonial switching of the said water facility held on Wednesday at Sitio Haduan. It was led by CDC President and CEO Manuel R. Gaerlan with CDC Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan, CWC General Manager Christina Cruz, and Sitio Haduan Tribal Leader Roy Tanglao.
Gaerlan said that the project aims to provide safe and potable water for communities near this Freeport. He mentioned that the state-owned firm will continue to promote inclusive development through various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
“CDC is taking care of our neighbors, hindi lamang po itong main zone, hindi lamang po para sa sarili naten, hindi lamang para sa pagnenegosyo, kasama po dapat ang pag asenso ng mga pamayanan na nakapaligid sa Clark Freeport Zone at Clark Special Economic Zone. Dahil yan naman ang tunay na intension ng RA 7227 at 9400 kung saan binuo ang Bases Conversion and Development Authority at eventually ang implementing arm nito ang Clark Development Corporation, upang maiconvert yung mga military bases into something more productive at mahatak naten ang pag asenso ng ating mga pamayanan,” Gaerlan added.
He also encouraged the members of the Sitio Haduan community to keep the facility clean and intact.
“Protektahan nyopo yung ating water line at pangalagaan nyo na hindi po masira at yung ating mga kawad ng kuryente. Para kayo ay tuloy tuloy at ikanga for 24/7 may tubig at may kuryente,” he said.
For her part, Cruz cited CWC’s partnership with CDC. She mentioned the relevance of this project in their mission of delivering quality services to various communities here.
“Isa pong malaking karangalan sa amin na maging parte ng isang napakagandang proyekto. Bilang isang utility company, isa sa mga layunin namin ay makapagbigay ng sapat at malinis na tubig sa bawat komunidad na aming nasasakupan. Bagamat ito pong Sitio Haduan ay labas ng ating service coverage area, sa pakikipagtulungan po natin sa CDC at sa mga community leaders nabuo natin itong project na ito at naisakatuparan,” she said.
Some of the work done to rehabilitate the Haduan water facility included connecting the water pump to electric power, repairing the facility’s motor pump, and rehabilitating damaged pipelines. A timer or automatic switch was also installed to easily operate the facility.
CDC External Affairs Division (EAD) Assistant Vice President Rommel Narciso said that in 2017, the CDC, CWC, and MWF advocated for the establishment of a water system in Haduan. Due to damages and insufficient maintenance, the facility eventually needed to be repaired and restored in order to reconnect the area’s water line. The state-owned firm and Clark Water also poured in P312,000 for the rehabilitation of the water facility. Aside from the repair of the water system, the area’s power line was also restored.
Other CDC officials who attended the activity are CDC Vice President for Admin and Finance Mariza Mandocdoc, CDC- Vice President for Engineering Services Group Ralph Mamauag, CDC- Vice President for Legal Affairs Atty. Josep Jerpi Miranda, CDC Public Safety Division (PSD) Manager Antonio Rosario, and CDC- Corporate Services Division Manager Atty. Anna Gayle Barin.