a. Roads and Bridges
There are about 820.89 kilometers of road linking the different parts of the city. 102.70 kms or 12.51% are classified as National Road, 60.40 kms or 7.36% Provincial Road, 61.35 kms or 7.47% City Road, and 596.44 kms or 72.66% barangay roads (Table 72: Inventory of Roads). About 14.14% of all roads in the city are paved, that is, either concrete or asphalt. These are in the poblacion areas. At least 85.86% are unpaved (gravel or earth filled). These are primarily the barangay roads. These unpaved roads leading to the rural barangays usually require regular maitenance since they are easily destroyed by heavy rains. There are also logging roads leading to the forestal communities, but these are usually passable by farm animals and single motor cycles only, making it hard for communities to transport products into the market.
Connecting the various road networks and cutting across rivers and creeks are at least 22 bridges of various types (Table 73: Existing Bridges, Location and Type of Construction Materials Used). Almost all of these bridges are said to be in good condition. There are 15 bridges or 69.35% totaling to about 470.67 m in length that are administered nationally, while 3 bridges of about 115.00 m are under the province’s administration. Only about 93.00 m or about 13.70% are under the administration of city and barangays (Table 74: Bridges by Type of Administration).
The current main highway in the city center is now congested. Heavy traffic and congestion has been observed in the main highway, especially during peak hours. The absence of proper and adequate parking areas further contributes to the congestion. The situation underlies the need for a bypass road as well as more traffic aides. The city has two proposed roads to answer the above concerns. The first proposal is the Circumferential Road from Sumpong to DPWH Depot in Casisang, which is 2.5 km. in length. The other is the by-pass road from Dalwangan to San Jose with a total stretch of 15 km.
1. Transportation Facilities
There are various types of public transportation. Buses that ply the Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Cotabato and Davao route are used for travel from the city to other provinces. There are also mini-vans that transport passengers from Cagayan de Oro to Malaybalay. The multi-cabs ply the main highway from the poblacion proper to other points of destination within the city and nearby barangays. The four-wheeled motorelas are limited to the inner streets. Recently, tri-sikads have also begun to operate in the inner streets of Barangay Sumpong. Jeepneys are usually used for travel from the poblacion to other barangays and municipalities. In far-flung areas, motorcyles (habal-habal) are the fastest means of transportation.
The main terminal for public transportation vehicles is in the public market, especially for buses, mini-vans, and jeepneys. For motorelas and tri-sikads, street-corners of convergence serve as terminals or waiting areas.
With the increase in traffic of both vehicles and pedestrians, especially in the poblacion, there is a growing concern for better and safer organized streets. There is a need to designate walking pavements or pedestrian lanes, including pedestrian overpass especially for the use of children and students crossing the major highway.
There are 2 major telephone companies in the city, the Southern Telecommunications Company (SOTELCO) and Philcom. Both Philcom and Sotelco offer Internet connections. Mobile phone services available in the city include Globe, Smart, TM and Sun. With the growing demand for better communication systems companies are facing the challenge of providing better and higher quality services to the population.
Broadcast media include 5 radio and 2 television repeater stations, including a cable station. Most national dailies such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Philippine Star are available. Local newspapers include the Bukidnon Newswatch, Gold Star Daily and Bukidnon Plateau.
There are 4 major courier services available in the city for national and international forwarding. The post office, the Bureau of Telecommunication and 2 telegraphic companies serve other communication needs.
The telecommunication technologies have continued to improve over the years. But the mode of communication in the upland barangays are still the old and tested letter sending through vehicle drivers and broadcasting over the public radio stations.
The old National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) originally constructed the present water supply system of Malaybalay in 1955. In 1975, the Malaybalay Municipal Council approved a resolution, which created the Malaybalay Water District (MWD) and gave it the mandate of delivering safe, sufficient and potable water to the people of Malaybalay. In 1980, the Water District constructed a new water supply system for Malaybalay.
The existing waterworks facilities of the MWD consist of 2 pumping stations, water sources, deep well, concrete reservoirs, transmission lines, distribution network, treatment plant and appurtenances.
The 6 surface water sources for the city’s water supply are the Kibalabag Creek, Sawaga River, the mountain creeks of Celeringan, Calawaig, Malandog and Bag-as. There are two groundwater sources, the BLISS and the Azura Deepwell. The local water utility serves only 30.48% of the total city population, so the remaining population relies on other means like directly tapping from springs for their potable water needs.
3. Service Connections and Water Supply
Based on 2005 data, there are a total of 7,503 connections. Of these, 5,972 or about 79.59% are domestic connections (Table 75: Number of Connections and Average Consumption). Given that the average household size is 5.5, the estimated service population is about 41,266.
There are 1,425 commercial and semi-commercial connections, which account for about 18.99% of total connections. Water supply is used mainly for domestic consumption, which accounts for 80% of total water consumption. The average monthly domestic consumption is 115,021 cubic meters.
Water District connections means a Level III type of water system or individual household connection. Throughout the city, only 14 barangays out of 46 are served by the MCWD. These areas are mostly at the Poblacion and lowland areas. These barangays are Barangays 1 to 11, Casisang, Kalasungay and Sumpong. In other areas, especially the upland and far-flung areas, Level I and Level II are still the predominant type of water system.
The estimated population served by the MCWD is only 30.48% of the entire city’s estimated population of 136,210 in 2005, or 72.97% of its service area population of 56,5509. With the projected demand of water by the year 2000 and beyond, discussions are going on between the local government and the Malaybalay Water District regarding the development of 3 potential water sources: the Kibalabag River, Capitan Angel Creek and Dumagulus Spring. On May of 2005, the Kibalabag River source was finally operational.
The distribution of Water is now going to Laguitas and will ultimately reach barangay Bangcud in the future.
All the 46 barangays are already energized. Majority or 57.07% of the city’s households have electricity for lighting. 39.88% of households still use kerosene. (Table 76: Household by Type of Fuel or Lighting).
Malaybalay is served by the Bukidnon Second Electric Cooperative Incorporated or BUSECO, which started its operations in 1979 (Table 77: Number of Connections by Type of Users and Average Consumption). Recent data from BUSECO indicate a total of 16,157 power connections. Of these 14,107 or 87.31% are residential connections, while 1,454 or 9.00% are commercial establishments.
While the number of household connections is 9 times more than the combined industrial and commercial connections, the average monthly consumption of households is 3.06% less than the latter. In actual number, businesses use at least 73,560.39 kWh per month more than households. This trend is not surprising because businesses tend to use more electricity than households.
However, the data underlines the need to plan ahead to ensure that there is enough power supply for the city’s growing power demands. Already, at least 43% of the population remains without electricity and those who do have experience regular power outage. This sector needs attention especially with the expected increase in population as well as business establishments.
Local water utilities Administration (LWUA) estimate of population served is 70% of MWD service area, as reflected in the 1999 “Ten-Package Water Supply Feasibility Study Project Package H”. Discrepancies may be explained by differences in population estimates.