City Hall to put up water stations to address crisis

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is putting up water stations in areas where there is no more supply of water from the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.

Acting mayor Margarita Osmeña said they have started making assessment to identify what barangays need water stations. In fact, some of the barangays will have it starting today.

“I think it will start na, they said some may start today,” Osmeña said.

Osmeña said her office has already asked a list of areas from MCWD that the water district could not supply water anymore. These areas will be prioritized in the water station.

The station will be a big tank that contains 4,200 liters of potable water to be supplied by a private company. Osmeña said the payment will be charged to the city’s disaster fund.

Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara, MCWD spokesperson, admitted there is an existing water crisis in the city. She said some areas could no longer be served by the water district for lack of supply.

“Yes, naa gyud ilabi na nga nitaas ang demand sa atong mga customers,” Kara said.

Meanwhile, MCWD has found out that the water meter of a consumer from Barangay Sambag I who complained of high water bill despite having no water supply most of the time is said to be “defective.”

Kara said they have also found out that the complainant, Richileto Reserva, 65, is a legitimate water consumer.

Reserva earlier complained why his water bill has soared when there was no water service most of the time in their place.

Kara promised to look into the complaint and found out that Reserva has “suspected defective meter.”

Kara explained that under their policy, the water district billed the consumer based on the average monthly consumption for the last three months.

She said billing adjustments will be made depending on the findings of the inspection team. Kara said if proven that the meter was defective, Reserva will get a refund. — (FREEMAN)