Compostela stops Mactan Rock water project

Compostela town Mayor Ritchie Wagas will no longer allow Mactan Rock Industries Inc. to continue its “Barangayan” water project in the town.

This after he discovered that the company has not secured necessary permits from the office of the mayor for it to operate.

Few days after he took office, Wagas ordered the municipal treasurer to look whether Mactan Rock has secured a permit to operate for its project in barangay Cabadiangan.

In a memorandum dated July 9, Wagas said records in his office show that Mactan Rock has no business permit to operate.

Last Tuesday, Wagas announced that he would no longer allow Mactan Rock to continue its water projects in the town after it was determined that the company has not secured permits from the mayor’s office.

“How would we recognize them when they don’t even recognize us?” Wagas said. “The municipal treasurer’s office has already conducted an ocular and found they are operating without a permit. As soon as possible, we will stop their operations.”

When sought for comment, Antonio Tompar, Mactan Rock’s president and chief executive officer, said they have applied for all the necessary permits for their “Barangayan” water project in barangays Cabadiangan and Tamiao.

Tompar explained that “Barangayan” is Mactan Rock’s water project in partnership with the barangays aimed to provide accessible and affordable water supply to village residents affected by scarcity of water.

“We have an agreement with the municipal government during the term of the former mayor who gave the site where to implement our project. The barangay and the town council have even issued separate resolutions endorsing our project,” he explained.

Tompar said if Wagas would stop their project, he is worried about the 100 families who are beneficiaries of Barangayan. “Sila na manubag sa mga tawo nga mawad-an og tubig.”

But Wagas said they would assure the residents that they would have enough water because the municipal government is already negotiating with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District on how to provide additional water for the town.

The MCWD is also expected to open soon an office beside the municipal hall where residents can pay their water bills and apply for water connections.

At present, only about 10 percent of the town’s population has water connection with the water district.

Since 1993, when the former mayor turned down MCWD’s application for permit to operate its 14 wells in the town, the water district has not provided services to the town, including water connections for the residents.

With this, majority of the residents get their water from underground source through drilling or deep wells while those who could not get water from these sources are being supplied with water by Mactan Rock through its Barangayan water project.

But with the ongoing talks between the MCWD and the municipal government, Wagas said residents would have ample water in the near future when the water district will provide more connections for the residents, and the 14 wells would finally begin to operate. — Wenna A. Berondo/LPM