Cebu and Bohol now in state of calamity due to lack of water from El Niño

I agree with the previous commenter that suggests water is like gold and it is worthwhile getting into. Without naming names there is a foreigner who has drilled down to the water table here on Siquijor who charges P150 per cubic metre for the locals. That's disgraceful imo, the poor folks of the baranguay can barely afford it if you factor in travel and haulage - sometimes it works out at more than P15 per gallon jerry can.

So I turned my thoughts to this on the last trip. We have some land that sits above an Australian surveyed water table. There is plenty of water there. So I have started drilling. The plan is to undercut said foreigner who supplies the resorts and allow the locals to draw water at cost + salary for the groundsman/upkeep etc. We've worked it out at roughly P2-5 per gallon jerry can. We will profit on the resort supply.

Call me a fool for not picking up on the profit where it is to be made, but such charges really stick in my craw for a natural resource. I'll never be a millionaire for sure, and my competitor-rival certainly is not one - most of the locals speak of him in disparaging tones. I'd rather have the good will of the locals, the knowledge that I am supplying a reasonable service without profiteering and the satisfaction for a good job done.

Cheers,

C

 

Unfortunately I believe it is he who has the best lawyer money can buy will win...

 

Sounds like you are finding a balance that will reward you with gallons and gallons of goodwill!

Good job - and good thinking. Creating a win-win works every time.

V/R,
nwlivewire

 

Are you sure there are no local officials getting a cut from the other guy's sales? When they come to you to find out why their cut is getting so small you will find out so be sure to let us know.

 

Yeah, no problems, all covered. Not the most popular neighbour in the baranguay...rellies are baranguay Capts etc, I have my ear to the ground. Cheers for pointing the risks out though.

C

 

Good, watch your 6, people get funny when there is involved!

 

Whilst I know it would cost a Lot (but money not Wasted) I am so very surprised that the Administration have not investigated "Desalination Plants" With 7000+ Islands Water is one thing that this Country has Plenty of. It just needs Converting.

 

Fairly expensive original outlay and continued maintenance to keep system working. Plus most waters close to shore are so polluted they are basically unusable or require additional purification before it is usable.

I have a mate in Australia who invented a portable water desalinization and purification system for use on his cattle ranch for brackish water so he could get drinkable water for the ranch hands and cattle to drink. The cost to purchase the system he invented in Australia was AUD $10,000 per unit plus the cost of replacement filters/membranes etc. I know of 1 hotel in Angeles City, Pampanga that is using that system with it's well water and is not using city water anymore. They acquired the system for a fraction of actual cost after the Aussie fellow brought it to the PI to Demonstrate it and try to sell it to Cities/municipalities but fell on hard times when it didn't pan out for him...

 

Yes, traditional desalinization plants are very expensive to build and operate but my mate from Oz. made one that is basically portable and easily set up for neighborhood use and was very cost effective compared to the traditional desalinization plants. Problem is the people with the purse strings here were not interested because they couldn't' figure out an easy way to make it profitable for themselves. It seems nobody in charge gives a d*mn about their fellow Filipino's unless there is money to be made! (not that it's anything new but my Aussie mate didn't know that and it cost him dearly)