Capiz SP opposes water district’s bulk supply deal

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is opposing the planned bulk water supply project of the Metro Roxas Water District (MRWD).

The project seeks to buy water from a third-party supplier for 15 years.

The opposition came after the SP led by Vice Governor James “Mitang” Magbanua, the Roxas City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Capiz Chapter presented a joint resolution during a committee meeting on the proposal.

During the hearing led by Board Member Jonathan Besa, it was discovered that the planned deal will increase the monthly water bills of consumers.

Should the plan push through, the production cost of water per cubic meter would go up from P9 to P23.

The provincial board said the consumers will be burdened by the increase in water rates.

Instead of contracting a third-party supplier, the provincial board recommended that MRWD increase the water rate by 16 percent starting 2022 and another 10 percent in 2024 to sustain its operations.

It was also learned during the hearing that there is no assistance from the national government, the reason why MRWD will increase water tariffs.

Aside from this, the provincial board recommended to the MRWD board of directors the following:

1. To consult the local government units of the Municipalities of Panay, Panitan, Ivisan, Sigma and Roxas City regarding the Bulk Water Purchase;
2. Improve their collection efficiency rate;
3. Continuous monitoring of leakages and enhancement of existing pipelines; and
4. To consider MRWD’s in-house Technical Working Group suggestion for a Long Term/Gradual rehabilitation of existing Water Treatment Plant without incurring any loan nor water tariff increase.