Military expands water service in former ASG stronghold

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 10, 2023): Military expands water service in former ASG stronghold (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

WATER SYSTEM. The military undertakes the construction of projects to expand the service areas of the water system they built earlier in a former Abu Sayyaf stronghold in Talipao town, Sulu province. Capt. Ron Villarosa, the Army's 6th Special Forces Company commander who oversees the projects, says in an interview Tuesday (Jan. 10, 2023) the project includes the construction of a 40,000-liter reservoir and six-kilometer pipe-laying of the Sinumaan Complex Level II Water System. (Photo courtesy of 6SFC)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military is constructing projects to expand the service areas of a water system they earlier built in a former stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Talipao town, Sulu province.

Captain Ron Villarosa, commander of the 2nd Special Force Battalion’s 6th Special Forces Company, said Tuesday the projects include the construction of a 40,000-liter concrete reservoir and six-kilometer pipe-laying work of the Sinumaan Complex Level II water system in Barangay Sinumaan of the municipality.

“The reservoir and pipe-laying construction are now 70 percent and 80 percent complete, respectively” Villarosa, who oversees the implementation of the projects, said.

He said the project will benefit the residents of Barangay Lumbayong.

The source of the water system has an elevation of 524 meters above ground level that presently supplies natural drinking water using gravitational force to the “Balik-Barangay” communities in the municipalities of Talipao and Patikul.

These include the Sinumaan Complex in Talipao comprising the villages of Bud Bunga, Upper Sinumaan, Lower Sinumaan, Kagay; as well as Upper Kamuntayan and Danag in Patikul.

They were named as Balik-Barangay communities since the residents have just returned to their homes starting last year after the military successfully drove out the ASG bandits in the area.

The villagers fled to safer areas several years ago due to the presence of the ASG in their communities.

Villarosa said funding for the construction of the water system was generated from the full proceeds of the Sulu 1st Heroes Ultra Run held in August last year, with additional support from Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1192392