TRINIDAD, Bohol – Richli Corporation has inaugurated the new P100-million water treatment facility in barangay Hinlayagan Ilaud during the simple program last week where Health Sec. Teodoro Herbosa was the guest speaker.
Bishop Patrick Daniel Parcon led the blessing of the said facility that sourced out water from Hinlayagan river and supply it to the town’s needs with safe and potable water after the holy mass he officiated.
Then the ceremonial ribbon-cutting took place thereafter and opening of the valve of the facility by the secretary assisted by Mayor Roberto Cajes, corporation chief Richard Lim and president Ralph B. Lim and other company officials witnessed by the people of the town and visitors.
Mayor Cajes said that he welcomed the company’s facility that will soon have safe potable water for the growing population of the town. He thanked the company for the new facility under agreement, which the town may earned income from it.
He said that what prompted him to come here and inaugurated the facility is thru the persistence of his cousin, Manny Herbosa, president of the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) where the corporation loaned.
He, in his short speech, said that the facility of Richli is a testament of the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), especially when the water need of the people is concerned. But the corporation may take the risk, he added.
He said the government needs a partner in private since it looks like it cannot do it alone as if is facing problems in the health sector.
The corporation has erected this project for bulk water supply and provide technology in water treatment while the bank provides for the fund, the secretary said. He said that it’s good to have a facility like what Richli Corp has now for getting away with water chemicals, lead and others to make safe and potable water.
He said he encouraged other local government units (LGUs) to partake in the project.
When asked if Richli’s water is costly, Herbosa countered during the presscon at Eskaya resort that it is more costly if one drinks a contaminated water and get sick that need to be medically treated thru medicines.
Richli’s motto, “More Water, More Life” reflects water is important in every human being since, according to Herbosa, he/she is composed of 70% water.
This (facility) is timely since 30% of the population in the country do not have sources of clean water, the secretary said.
He said in his travel around the country to gather information on the health care situation he found that there are a lot of problems facing the health sector, particularly on the procurement system.
He said that he’s planning to launch the Bagong Urgent Care for Ambulant Services (BUCAS) for rural health units for primary health care in the country-sides.
He promised to help Trinidad town of its health needs by utilizing an edifice for laboratory, providing X-ray, hematology, blood testing facility and other services because there is already clean water.
Present during the inauguration and blessing of the facility included Vice-Mayor Fernando Erio, Sangguniang Bayan members, ex-mayor Judith D. Cajes, her daughter councilor Joanne Imboy and her husband, Jetru Imboy, city ex-mayor and son-in-law of Mayor Cajes, Baba Yap, CPG Construction honcho Engr. Gerry Garcia, who constructed the facility, wife of Richard Lim Phoebe Lim, health regional director Dr. Bernadas and other guests and visitors. (ricobedencio@yahoo.com)
