MCWD alarmed over number of lost meters

The MCWD has expressed alarm over the increasing incidents of water meters lost to thieves. A total of 301 water meters had already been lost to thieves in the first quarter of 2004 alone said Terry Andaya, MCWD spokesperson.

From the start of the year 2000 to April of 2004, MCWD lost a total of 1,391 water meters placing the loss at no less than P2.2 million, Andaya disclosed adding that the water district has not consolidated figures of lost meters for this year yet.

"MCWD bears all the losses as it doesn't charge its consumers for the cost of any replacement of lost water meters," she said.

She said that owners of the water meters should provide them a copy of the police blotter or an affidavit to prove that their water meter is stolen.

"Concessionaires should report loss to authorities. We need to have legal documents as basis so that we can replace stolen water meters," Andaya said.

She warned the public never to buy used water meters as these might come from thieves. Buying stolen water meters is punishable under the Anti-Fencing Law.

"We know whether these are our water meters because we have indications," Andaya said while refusing to divulge the indications that the water meter is from the MCWD.

The water district also warns the public that Presidential Decree 1612 otherwise known as the Anti-Fencing Law of 1979 defines fencing as the act of any person who with intent to gain for himself or for another shall buy, receive, possess, keep, acquire, conceal, sell or dispose of or shall buy and sell or in any manner deal in any article item object or anything of value which he knows or should be known to him to have been derived from the proceeds of the crime of robbery or theft.

Furthermore, the same law provides that a fence includes any person, firm, association, corporation or partnership or other organization, which commits the act of fencing.

The MCWD management will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any person found or caught in possession of stolen MCWD water meter. Moreover, they are also urged to refrain from buying water meters sold by unscrupulous vendors or better yet report anybody selling these to MCWD by sending text messages to 09173255970 and 09173219821 or by calling 2560424, 2548434, 2560413 and 4121836 or by visiting the MCWD main office or by informing the legal department personnel at 2561124 or 2548434 local 307. The management will be giving a monetary reward to those who can catch meter thieves

A new water meter costs around P2,400 while the old model costs around P2,000. A water meter is made of brass and could be sold around P55 per kilo at junkshops. -Jasmin R. Uy