In Iloilo City, the local city council is actively pushing for the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to expedite the approval of a water allocation request from Agsirab Water Resource Corporation. The corporation is seeking an allocation of 600 liters per second (LPS), which they hope will not be taken from the National Irrigation Administration’s allocation.
Councilor Romel Duron, who leads the city council’s public utilities committee, emphasized the potential benefits of this allocation for both the city and surrounding municipalities, which are currently facing water supply challenges. He believes that approving Agsirab’s request could significantly alleviate these issues.
Agsirab has entered into a memorandum of agreement with Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), under which Agsirab will supply water that MPIW will purchase. Duron noted that while MPIW has explored desalination as a water source, surface water, which Agsirab would provide, is a more cost-effective option.
Duron is optimistic that the NWRB will not only approve the current request but also restore the allocation to the originally requested 1,200 LPS. He plans to present a progress report on his proposed resolution endorsing Agsirab’s request during the city council’s regular session.