CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COWD) is pushing for a P5-million water treatment plant as part of its modernization plans.

In an interview on Friday, COWD general manager Edna Najeal said the plant is among the priorities in its 2025-2035 Development Program to improve the city’s bulk water supply and distribution system.

"With these proposed plans, we have to implement a water rate adjustment," she said.

Najeal added that the proposed facility will source and treat surface water from Bobonawan River in Baungon, Bukidnon, and the Cagayan River.

Alongside the treatment plant, COWD is prioritizing a P12-billion repiping project to replace decades-old pipelines across the city.

COWD officials admitted challenges in terms of funding projects, but they have appealed to the Department of Public Works and Highways to allocate funds for the repair of damaged pipelines and pipe bridges affected by road and bridge construction projects.