Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, center, Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc. President Keith Ada, third right, the group’s senior adviser, former Rep. Martin B. Ada, second left and other members of the organization pose next to the new 1,000-gallon water tank at Sugar Dock Beach on Wednesday.
BANTALAN Sugar Dock Inc. received a brand new 1,000-gallon water tank from Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, who donated it.
The group’s president, Keith Ada, said that for decades, the Sugar Dock community used to have water from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., allowing beachgoers to take a bath after swimming in the lagoon. But the water was disconnected three years ago, and that “kind of put us in a bad spot here because a lot of people depend on that water supply.”
Ada said the water supply at Sugar Dock provided a “critical lifeline” for residents of Precinct 2 during typhoons.
He said that in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu in Oct. 2018, people gathered at Sugar Dock beach because water was available.
Since the water supply was disconnected, Ada said, “we have been trying to do what we can — we spoke to a lot of elected officials,” except for the Senate president.
When she found out about it from other members of the community, she offered to help, Ada said.
Of all the elected officials, he added, it was Deleon Guerrero “who came to help us with our need.”
“She took action quickly and even bought water to fill the tank,” Ada said.
Ada also thanked the Division of Parks and Recreation for installing the base where the water tank stands now, as well as the pipe that delivers rain water from the roof of the adjacent pala-pala.
Deleon Guerrero said a member of the Sugar Dock community brought the matter to her attention. Since her office had enough funds, she bought a 1,000-gallon water tank for the local community group.
“And I’m so happy it is up and ready for use of the community,” she said.
She said it’s always important to extend help to community members whenever they reach out to their elected officials.
