Union casts doubt on MCWD’s new contract

CEBU, Philippines — The Metropolitan Cebu Water District Employees Union is still against the privatization of the water district.

This, after the water district recently issued the notice of award to FDC Water Utilities, Inc. (FDCWUI), Filinvest’s utility arm, for its unsolicited proposal to put up desalination plants. FDCUI has secured a 25-year bulk water supply deal with MCWD to supply potable water to Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Talisay City.

MCWD Employees Union president Abigail Almeria, who also sits as president of the Alliance of Government Workers in the Water Sector, questioned MCWD’s move.

Instead of solving issues with existing bulk water suppliers, she said, MCWD inked an agreement with another supplier. FDCWUI is expected to supply 80,000 cubic meters of desalinated water per day to MCWD.

“How could the management have another water supplier when, in fact, more than 20,000 cubic meters of water per day from various water sources are now lost within MCWD franchise area. The management is not doing anything about it,” she said.

For instance, she said, MCWD’s water supplier, Abejo Water Corporation, is no longer supplying 3,000 cubic meters per day to MCWD after its lease contract of land in Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City was not renewed by the lot owner.

Another Abejo’s water wells in Consolacion town, Cebu, are no longer producing 7,000 cubic meters per day due to salt water intrusion.

Almeria said MCWD’s contract with Abejo is set to expire by December this year.

On other hand, Abejo’s water wells in Pit-os, Talamban in Cebu City, are also no longer supplying 4,800 cubic meters per day as stipulated in a 15-year agreement with MCWD.

 She said the water facility is no longer operating.

“Naa man gyud unta nay Term of Reference like before mo enter sa contract i-specify ang sustainability sa pag-supply sa tubig. At least two years before the expiration sa contract ma-negotiate na unta na pero wala man,” she said.

Moreover, Almeria said MCWD’s 10-year water supply agreement with Abejo for the water facility in Suba-Basbas, Lapu-Lapu City remains unfulfilled. The facility is supposed to supply 7,000 cubic meters of water to MCWD.

“MCWD has several water sources and yet it seems these are being abandoned. Now, the management has welcomed another water supplier. Dili man gani successful ang partnership with existing bulk water suppliers unya karon naa na pud laing partner,” she said.

Aside from unresolved water suppliers’ issues, Almeria said, MCWD pipelines are not designed for FDCWUI’s desalinated water.

Almeria said the union is concerned with the sustainability of MCWD’s operations.

“If these current situations with the existing bulk water suppliers are not being addressed and with the entry of the 80,000 cubic meters per day, as well as the system loss of about 67,969 cubic meters per day, can MCWD still sustain its operations?”

“Nahingawa ang union for the water district nga og di matagad ang present situation with existing bulk water suppliers unya dugangan pa gyud og another 80,000 cu.m., maka-sustain pa ba ang MCWD ana with 29.19 percent systems loss?” she asked. — KQD (FREEMAN)