Bacolod water firm vows to settle bulk supplier dues

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa)-PrimeWater has committed to paying its two-month overdue bills to Bacolod Bulk Water Inc. (BBWI), preventing a major service disruption that threatened thousands of residents.

BBWI, which supplies about 40% of Baciwa-PrimeWater’s water through its Granada and Sum-ag treatment plants, had warned it would shut down the Sum-ag facility in Barangay Salvacion, Murcia, Negros Occidental, due to unpaid dues for May and June.

Mayor Greg Gasataya called an emergency meeting on Aug. 11 after learning of the possible supply cut.

The meeting was attended by Baciwa-PrimeWater General Manager Mona Dia Jardin, Board Directors Sonya Verdeflor, Edgardo Uychiat, Clarissa Araneta, and Rich Ann Zayco, PrimeWater Board Member Farah Jenny Monteclaro, and Engineers John Arlan Canatoy and John Arthur Ramirez.

Both parties pledged to establish long-term payment protocols to prevent future disputes.

In a media interview Tuesday, Gasataya said PrimeWater has begun paying BBWI for its May obligation, while the June payment is being processed, and the July billing has just been forwarded.

While he did not disclose the amount owed, Gasataya said his priority is avoiding any service disruption, particularly as the city is already grappling with water turbidity issues.

He stressed that a cut in supply would have had serious consequences for eight barangays that rely heavily on the Mansilingan Reservoir — Sum-ag, Cabug, Felisa, Handumanan, Mansilingan, Punta Taytay, Pahanocoy, and Tangub.

Gasataya declined to comment on PrimeWater’s financial condition but underscored the need for accountability and long-term solutions.

“That’s something they need to explain. My priority is ensuring Bacolod residents don’t suffer from water shortages,” he said.

He also expressed frustration over repeated investigations into the city’s water issues.

“Honestly, it’s tiring. If I get involved in more probes, residents will continue to suffer. I’d rather focus on finding solutions,” he said.

“If PrimeWater has lapses, they must face the consequences in the proper venue,” he added.

Gasataya called on Baciwa-PrimeWater to urgently address the city’s high non-revenue water (NRW) rate — currently at 38%, or around 107 million liters per day lost through leaks and inefficiencies — and bring it down to 26% or lower.

He said the firm has committed to this goal, which is vital to ensuring a sustainable water supply.

Meanwhile, PrimeWater addressed recent complaints of water discoloration in some barangays.

In a press statement, the firm said the issue resulted from water balancing initiatives aimed at improving distribution and service reliability.

Last week, the City Council called on Baciwa-PrimeWater to swiftly address residents’ complaints about dark, foul-smelling, and potentially contaminated water from household faucets.

PrimeWater said flushing operations are being carried out nightly to restore water quality and reaffirmed its commitment to providing safe and reliable water.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate the public’s understanding as we work to resolve this issue and enhance our operations,” it said.