Prime Water must clarify this

By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy

I was out of Bacolod last week when a friend informed me of an article being distributed in Bacolod. He asked me to comment on it because I had carried the issue for a long while.

The article is a one-page photocopy of an article written by Segundo Éclair Romero of the Philippine Daily Inquirer of November 25. Entitled “Local water: the new battleground” the writer focuses on the spreading takeover or joint ventures by Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation, or Prime Water.

As our readers know there is strong opposition against the joint venture between the Bacolod City Water District and Prime Water. The opposition is distributing this photocopy with a note at the top of the article “Andam Bacolod” (Beware Bacolod). Clearly the target is Prime Water.

Romero narrates the methods of Prime Water in its entry into several water districts in the country, calling it a blitzkrieg with promises of more water but silent on water rates.

The article is long so let me just focus on the writer’s allegations about the control that Prime Water now has in several water districts and what happened after Prime Water took over. Those who wish to read the entire article can log in to www.inquirer.net.

The contention in Bacolod is whether Prime Water will mean better services, more efficient management, improved water supply to the city and lowered or maintained rates. The opposition here are not convinced that Prime Water will be able to comply with these conditions so that, the argument goes, what’s the point in getting into a joint venture?

Unfortunately, Baciwa and Prime Water have not addressed these concerns and, thus prolonged the opposition to the extent that the issue became political.

Nevertheless, the city government appears in favor of the venture considering that the Board of Directors, all appointed by Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia are his political allies and whose positions were apparently rewarded as an election booty.

Romero cited cases where Prime Water came into the water district ostensibly to improve its performance, but Romeo claims the contrary happened. Here are some of the places he mentioned.

In Zamboanga, the water district “rationed water in January 2019 because Prime Water supplied only 28.8 million liters a day (MLD), far from the Prime Water contractual obligation commitment to provide 50 MLD.”

In Guagua Water District, the Commission on Audit 2018 annual report said, “that the district produced water from eight of its 13 pumping stations have twice the allowable level of arsenic.” Are the consumers aware of this?

The Food and Drug Administration says “that long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic is associated with higher rates of skin cancer, bladder cancer and lung cancer, as well as heart disease. Arsenic does not build up in the body” which means it can be excreted. However, “If the dosage in the body is high enough, arsenic poisoning can eventually cause multi-system organ failure, most likely driven by cell death and hemorrhaging. The good news is that if caught early, arsenic poisoning is treatable.”

The article did not say how “high enough” is the level of arsenic in the water there because arsenic is found in all minerals. Was it high enough to cause sickness? If so, the district or Prime Water can be sued.

In San Pablo City, the Water District Employees Association president reported that “consumers now pay almost P1,200 per month, up from P400 before privatization.” He also said this goes for similar water districts that have privatized in the south – Metro Quezon, Lemery in Batangas, Los Baños in Laguna, Batangas City and Rosario in Batangas and Daraga in Albay.

These are examples. Did the officials of Baciwa consider these, especially the increased water rates which is the primary concern of the Bacolod concessionaires?

The writer asked the same question queried here: Are the water districts engaged by Prime Water the utilities that need the greatest help, or are they the ones simply with the greatest profit potential?

Baciwa earns a profit but it claims lamely it cannot expand for lack of funds.

Baciwa and Prime Water have already committed to the joint venture. Still, Prime Water need to clarify the above claims to secure its position and disarm the opposition.

Not only the claims of Romero but other issues, like where Prime Water will get its water considering the inability of Baciwa.