City Council approves agreement with private firm for water supply, extraction

CEBU, Philippines - The City Council yesterday approved the Memorandum of Agreement between the city and a private water contractor after ensuring economic and environmental safeguards are in place.

After a length discussion with fellow city councilors, Councilor Jose Daluz III, the author of the resolution endorsing the MOA, said Abejo Builders Corporation has agreed to maintain the water table and to coordinate with the city’s environment agency to avoid over-extraction.

Abejo had committed itself to extract and supply water to barangays or sitios not serviced by the Metro Cebu Water District. Abejo also agreed to supply its extra water to MCWD.

The enforcement of the MOA was also brought down to five years from 25 years, Daluz said.

Daluz also considered the suggestion of his colleague that two percent of the gross receipts MCWD will pay to Abejo will be given as share to the city. Three barangays are now under contract with Abejo.

Councilor Nestor Archival, chairman of the Council committee on environment, earlier said in his committee report that it is necessary to know the amount of water that will be extracted from a source in order to prevent further salt water intrusion into the drinking water of Cebu City.

He said the demand of Cebu City is around 4,000 to 4,500 cubic meters of water daily and only 2,000 cubic meters are being supplied by MCWD.

“So we presume there are around 2,000 that are getting directly from a source and are not controlled, these contributed to the salt water intrusion; its not really the money but the future,” Archival said.

Archival also said the MOA must also prohibit Abejo from supplying to other places the water it extracts from Cebu City.

Daluz said Abejo has equipment that monitors its daily extraction to make sure it doesn’t go overboard.

In relation to this, Councilor Edu Rama suggested that a city or Local Water Board be created to monitor water extraction in the entire city.

It was agreed that concerned agencies be invited to the City Council to discuss the implications of the undertaking.

Meanwhile, Councilor Augustus Pe said the city should encourage water companies to find ways of diverting water from sources, especially rivers, to let its water flow back to Cebu City.

“We have plenty of water sources but, instead, they go out of Cebu City like in Consolacion, in Balamban and in Talisay,” Pe said.

Abejo is currently supplying around 5,000 cubic meters of water in Talisay City but its project hit a snag in 2004 when several barangays complained they were not consulted first when Abejo started putting up and operating its water extraction facility.

At least three barangays in Talisay City expressed its opposition against Abejo fearing loss of water supply and other environmental hazards. — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO   (THE FREEMAN)