Army installs water purifying machines in flood-ravaged areas in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan
By Ben Cal
MANILA, Jan. 2 (PNA) – For two weeks, it was virtually a water world in many communities hit by floods in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City brought by Tropical Storm “Sendong”, yet the people had no potable drinking water until the Philippine Army installed last Friday two water purifying machines to give cheers for residents there in time for celebration of the New Year.
Maj. Harold Cabunoc, Army spokesman, said the water purifying machines were loaned from US Marine Forces Pacific as their assistance to flood victims in northern Mindanao.
Army chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista commended the soldiers for their relentless efforts in the massive relief and rescue operations in the aftermath of Sendong’s destruction.
“I am glad that the Bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos is alive. I will ensure that the Army will continuously support the local government and other local government agencies in their task to rebuild people’s lives in the disaster affected communities,” said Bautista.
Cabunoc said that “initially, the people were hesitant to drink the processed water which was taken from the murky waters of the river nearby.”
“To erase their doubts, the soldiers and the community leaders themselves led the ‘test-tasting’ of the newly purified water,” Cabunoc said.
He said that during the purification process, the residents watched with amazement the brownish-color water taken directly from the river slowly metamorphosed into a crystal clear and potable drinking water.
To prove further that the water was safe to drink, Lidelia Mesina, a licensed chemist and a resident of Hinaplanon village in Iligan City, inspected the two water purifying machines – an Aspen 5000 model that can purify 5,000 gallons of water a day, and the Aspen 200 model capable of purifying 500 gallons per day installed in Macasanding village in Cagayan de Oro City.
Cabunoc said Mesina tasted the purified water and declared the water was safe to drink as hundreds of residents queued, bringing with them containers to get purified drinking water for free.
The soldiers found out that Mesina lost her parents and three young relatives who were trapped in their ancestral house engulfed by surging floodwaters at the height of Sendong’s fury on that fateful night of December 16, 2011, Cabunoc added.
The 52-year old lady chemist with tears rolling from her eyes thanked the Army engineers for installing the water purifying machines in their village and offered their ancestral home as the water distribution center in the area, Cabunoc said.
“Your presence eases our pain and suffering. In my simple ways, I will help you out in your efforts here in our place,” she told 1st Lt. Joshua Lim of the Army’s 51st Engineering Brigade, Cabunoc quoted Mesina as saying.
Aside from providing potable drinking water to the residents, soldiers from the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade assisted in the distribution of relief goods.
Before the soldiers installed the water purifying machines, residents in flooded areas had no potable water after water pipelines were washed out by Sendong’s fury.
1st Lt Dennis Martinez of the 52nd Engineering Brigade led the soldiers who assisted the affected communities in Cagayan de Oro City.
Another machine was also installed in Iligan City to serve the affected residents of Hinaplanon village.
Relief assistance continues to flow.
The three ASPEN model purifying machine were loaned by the US Marine Forces Pacific which is working closely with the AFP’s National Development Support Command (NADESCOM) in its numerous development projects all over the country.
The machine is run by electricity and it has a built-in rechargeable battery that can run for three hours. The soldiers are using power generators run by diesel fuel in areas where the electric power has not been restored like in Hinaplanon village.
As the Army engineers hop from one place to another with their purifying machines, relief goods continue to flow in the collection points inside military camps around the archipelago.
A 22-vehicle convoy from the 10th Infantry Division delivered relief items a few days ago.
Separate deliveries were also made by the 9th Infantry Division based in Bicol and the 8th Infantry Division based in Samar.
The Army headquarters have also collected at least 500 tons of relief items. The initial deliveries were transported by the Navy ship to northern Mindanao four days ago. (PNA)
DCT/RBC/rsm