President Aquino yesterday led the unveiling ceremony of the Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project in Norzagaray, Bulacan that will pave the way for the construction of a new tunnel that will ensure continuous water supply in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
The new tunnel will allow the rehabilitation of old tunnels and aqueducts that pose serious threats to the security of water in Metro Manila.
Aquino said that in the remaining 35 days in office, his administration continues to work for his Boss, the Filipino people.
“Sa paglipas ng panahon, di po mawawalay sa aking isip ang mga tagumpay na tulad nito, kung saan talagang nagpapamalas ng bayanihan at malasakit sa isa’t isa ang mga Pilipino, para makamit natin po ang ating kolektibong mithiin,” Aquino said.
“Sa halos anim na taon nating pagkakapit-bisig sa pagbagtas sa Daang Matuwid, ipinakita natin sa buong mundo ang kayang makamit ng nagkakaisa at nagtutulungang Pilipino,” he said.
“Hanggang sa huli po, isang napakalaking karangalan para sa akin ang makapaglingkod sa ating Inang Bayan, at sa ating dakilang lahi,” he added.
Aquino noted that the new tunnel (Tunnel No. 4) to be constructed will allow further rehabilitation work on Tunnels 1 to 3 and Aqueducts 3 to 5 which is said to be a 75 year-old raw water transmission system.
Aquino noted that the leakage on the aqueduct is estimated at 2.2 cubic meters per second, or five percent of the total water flow.
“Ang mga tunnels ay marupok na dahil sa kalumaan, kaya kailangan nang patibayin,” Aquino said.
Tunnel No. 4 will be from Ipo to Bigte, Norzagaray, Bulacan (6.4 kilometers) and will have 19 cubic meters per second (1,600 million liters per day) capacity to serve the 14 million residents of Metro Manila as well as Rizal, Bulacan, and Cavite.
The Angat Water Transmission Improvement Project will be built by Italy’s Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti for R3.3 billion and will be funded through a loan from the Asian Development Bank.
The project is expected to be completed by September 2020.
