Talisay, MCWD may sign new deal

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City is likely to sign a new agreement with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District for the operation of water supply facilities within the vicinity of Jaclupan Valley.

This after it was confirmed that the August 2, 1994 memorandum of agreement entered into by the city and MCWD had actually expired.

In yesterday's session, MCWD general manager Armando Paredes told Talisay City Council that the MOA in question was for the construction of 19 wells and 19 pumping stations in Jaclupan only, and not in the entire city.

MCWD officials said the construction in the vicinity of Jaclupan was finished by 1995 after water supplying firm invested more than P700 million.

Officials from the water district were present at the session yesterday to supposedly revisit how revenues from MCWD's venture in Talisay are being shared with the city.

The revenue stipulation was not however, tackled in the session.

Earlier, Councilor Aldin Diaz sponsored a resolution that seeks to determine whether the sharing of revenues is "just," as well as to make sure that MCWD is strictly following the stipulations of the decades-old contract.

Diaz, chairman of the city's Committee on Labor, Trade and Industry, said the explanation of MCWD officials gave them an overview and understanding on the actual operation.

Both MCWD and the city council agreed that there is a necessity to come up with a new MOA.

Meanwhile, during the session, Councilor Doroteo Emit also raised there are certain barangays in the city that do not have supply of water from MCWD.

There are some portions of Barangays Pooc, Biasong, Dumlog, Maghaway, Candulawan and Jaclupan that have no access to MCWD's water, said Emit.

But MCWD information officer Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara explained that MCWD cannot supply water to some areas because other houses and families are not availing of the same.

"Ang ilang mga rason kay naa sila'y kaugalingong tabay. It does not mean nga wala sila'y supply of water…it doesn't mean pud ang MCWD maoy hinungdan nga wala sila'y tubig," Rodriguez-Kara said.