Provision of adequate and less expensive power and water supplies is one of the priority thrusts of the administration of Mayor Hernani “Nani” A. Braganza in his bid to make the city the tourism and investment hub in Northern Luzon.

We expect an influx of investments into our city and we must start preparing now to address these (water and power) concerns, “Braganza told the Regional Weekly Inquirer news team recently.

Although he foresees no major setback in power supply in the near future because of the presence of a power plant in nearby Sual town, Braganza said there is still a need to lower poser cost to entice more investors to come.

We plan to have lower power cost by inviting more investors so that we could make special arrangements with the power suppliers for cheaper cost of electricity, “he said”

As to the water supply, Braganza disclosed that the city is endowed with vast reservoir of underground water and about 18 kilometers of river system which the city government could tap as water course.

He cited the local water agency for its performance in laying down the physical requirements to meet growing demand, such as the installation of the main pipelines which is now 95 percent completed.

City Administrator Wilmer S. Panabang disclosed plans of the city government to tap the city’s vast river system as source of potable water supply as well as irrigation.

In his speech during the inaugural session of the city council last week, Braganza expressed concern about reported salt water intrusion in the underground water source in at least two of the city’s coastal barangays.

He said he has already directed the city planning and development office to come up with studies and recommendations to address the situation.

Another priority is the construction of more irrigation facilities, he said.

So far, Braganza said, some 2,000 hectares have been irrigated out of the 8,000 hectares of farm-land in the city. (Ruel C. Camba-Managing Editor/RWI)