Helpers haul water at MPD after supply cutoff

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila Police District headquarters is turning to its “strikers” or helpers to haul water after its service was cut off Thursday when the MPD was unable to pay its P14.2-million water bill.

“We are coping. This is not a new phenomenon here. We are striving to maintain the cleanliness of the compound and the building through resourcefulness,” MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla told The STAR.

Rongavilla ordered the strikers to store water at night, sourcing it from a water pipe that is not affected by the supply cutoff. According to old-timers at the MPD, the pipe, installed during the pre-war years, has a different water connection. Strikers also fetch water from the nearby Special Weapons and Tactics office just outside the headquarters.

Rongavilla also requested the Bureau of Fire Protection to temporarily provide potable water at the headquarters until the problem is solved.

He is optimistic that water supply at the MPD headquarters will be restored next week. He said the Philippine National Police (PNP) assured him that there will partial payment of the bill, which accumulated since 2005.

According to Rongavilla, just like any other police headquarters the PNP sets aside a specific budget for their water and electric consumption. However, due to the yearly increase in personnel, the budget kept on falling short of the water bill. The balance kept on accumulating until it reached P14.2 million.

He said the PNP is revising its budget allocation for every police headquarters.

Rongavilla said he also brought up with the PNP the MPD’s P100-million power bill, incurred since 1998.

“The PNP assured me that partial payment will be made with Meralco to avert a possible power cutoff,” he said. – Nestor Etolle, Sandy Araneta