ZAMBOANGA CITY – Thousands of residents of Barangay Labuan, the second to the last village located in the western side of this city, can now have a sigh of relief with the recent inauguration of a P7.9 million water system project which would provide cheap but potable water – a necessity they have longed for years.

Mayor Celso L. Lobregat led officials of the city government and the Zamboanga City Water district (ZCWD) in inaugurating the newly finished project costing R7.9 million which was jointly financed by the city government with P3.5 million and the ZCWD which shared funds amounting to P4.5 million.

In behalf of his constituents and residents of nearby villages, Labuan village chieftain Francisco Santos said the thankful villagers consider the water system project as a legacy to the people who have long suffered the problem of having no adequate potable tap water for their use.

According to Lobregat, the project is a realization of a dream of the late Lady Mayor Caling Lobregat who envisioned providing potable water not only in the city proper but also to the far-flung villages.

The mayor pointed out that the ZCWD has already expanded its services to as far Barangay Ayala and serving other villages like Recodo, Cawit, Maasin and Sinunuc.

Already in the planning stage are similar water system projects for the villages of Sinubung, Patalon, and Limpapa, all in the west coast.

Similar projects will be set up in the east coast villages, mainly in Vitali, Tolosa, Lanzones and Guisao.

At present, Pasobolong recently got its own water system and the next will be in Barangay Boalan, the mayor said.

He stressed that all these projects are done in partnership with the ZCWD led by its general manager Leonardo Rey Vasquez and board chairman Edwin N. Makasiar.