Town mayor airs water, power woes

NAGA CITY---The poor and unreliable supply of clean water and electricity in the coastal municipality of Siruma, Camarines Sur remains a nagging problem.

“Scarcity of clean water and electricity here is still a big problem to the constituents,” said newly- elected Mayor Karen Polinga during an interview with Bicol Mail last Monday (July 1) morning.

Polinga won a close fight with her 5,050 votes against the 4,963 votes gathered by her rival, re-electionist Mayor Sandy Ondis during the May 13 local election.

Residents of the town, especially those in the poblacion, have for many years now been falling in line before the “posos or bombahan” (public water pumps) in order to have their daily supply of potable water.

Other deep wells in few households are mainly used for laundry and washing the dishes at home.

Mayor Polinga said she will try to address the problem by first coordinating with the Partido Development Administration (PDA) and Rep. Arnie Fuentebella who have arranged a meeting with local chief executives and other municipal officials within the Partido (4th) congressional district on the second week of this month. The lady mayor also complained of recurring power interruptions.

Siruma, which is under the coverage area of Camarines Sur II Electric Cooperative (CASURECO II), has been for a long time now suffering from poor power supply. She said that despite many resolutions in the past, specifically pointing to weak voltage in their power supply system, the electric cooperative remains to appear oblivious of the problem.

These unstable power supply made worse by constant power interruptions or shutdowns have been causing damages to appliances in the homes and even those in the municipal hall.

Mayor Polinga said more electric posts need to be installed along the Tinambac-Siruma road, especially when re-blocking in other sections of such road had been completed.

Presently, a small portion of the road in Barangay Magsaysay in Tinambac towns remains under construction.