Cops secure CDO water treatment facility

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — Tension has gripped the Cagayan de Oro water treatment facility as Mayor Rolando Uy ordered members of the police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to secure the property.

Uy issued the directive as the April 30 deadline set for the Cagayan de Oro Water District to settle its obligations to Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI), the supplier of treated water, amounting to P426 million was rejected by the COWD board.

A task force created by Uy and a team from COBI failed to agree on a win-win solution on Tuesday.

On Friday, Uy said he wanted a provision in the COWD-COBI contract to be revoked, noting that it is detrimental to water consumers in the city.

During his regular radio program, Uy said COWD entered into a contract with COBI to impose an increase of P3.97 every three years.

He expressed concern that the provision on water rate hike would be a continuing burden to consumers if not stopped or revoked.

Uy said there is no basis for a regular increase in water rates.

COBI, for its part, said COWD refused to pay the bulk water it has supplied even though the water district continues to collect fees from its consumers.

COBI said issues concerning water rate hikes can be discussed. It said Uy’s complaint can be addressed if COWD submits a repayment plan.

On April 30, COBI threatened to cut water connections to thousands of consumers if COWD does not settle its obligations.

The deadline set by COBI ”will test the water” if it is capable of denying the populace of Cagayan de Oro from the supply of water.

COBI maintained its commitment to supply safe drinking water to the people of Cagayan de Oro City.

“We encourage COWD to work with us to ensure water supply for all Cagayanons,” COBI said.

New players

Uy said he is welcome to the idea of accepting new players.

On Tuesday, he met with other bulk suppliers, including South Balibago Waterworks, Mindanao Cooperative Water Services and JE Hydro, Kyogojo.

The three firms assured the mayor they can cover the shortfall if and when COBI cuts the water supply to COWD.

COBI said that the matter is purely a commercial disagreement, and finds it irregular that the local police have been deployed to protect the property of a private sector corporation.

COBI said it does not believe that fundamental rights related to water are the issue here.

Meanwhile, Joffrey Hapitan, manager of Rio Verde, said that based on the meeting between Uy and Rep. Jose Alvarez, the latter assured the mayor that there would be no cut of water supply to COWD.

“We at Rio Verde firmly believe that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right,” Hapitan said.

Meanwhile, Uy issued an executive order yesterday placing the city under a state of calamity as he ordered the activation of the city’s incident managemen team to ensure that water supply in the city continues.