"Although water supply is a national government concern, we are taking the lead in finding ways to alleviate the water supply problems and needs of our constituents in the city," Bernabe said.
The committee will initially focus on mitigating the water supply shortage in BF Homes, the city’s largest private subdivision with close to l2,000 households.
"The present estimate is that only 25 to 30 percent of the total households in BF are getting regular water supply from the subdivision’s water supply system. The majority are forced to buy their daily water supply from private water tankers," Bernabe said.
Drinking water are bought from water refilling stations.
Bernabe has designated City Administrator Noli Aldip as chairman of the six-man ad hoc committee. Acting as members are Jess Arranza, Rolando Navarro, Roberto Sta. Maria, Mel Arela and Diana Malig.
Aldip said their initial thrust is to arrange a meeting with officials of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System (MWSS) and Maynilad Water Company, the concessionaire servicing the western sector. Separate talks will also be undertaken with executives of the Philippine Waterworks Company, the current operator of the water supply system in BF Homes.
"The steps that we shall take to fasttrack a solution to the water supply problem in BF Homes shall depend on the outcome of our talks with the two government agencies and Maynilad, and the information that we will get from them," Aldip said.