Why are other mayors around the county allowing the bad services of PrimeWater?
This was the question raised by Water Watch Advocates convenor Wennie Sancho in a press statement yesterday.
Mayor Vilma Balle Caluag of San Fernando, Pampanga, suspended PrimeWater’s Permit and ordered the Water District to take over. Caluag said that the suspension order came after months of study, extensive assessment and hearing on the concerns of the consumers, Sancho said.
In Bacolod City, the joint venture agreement (JVA) between BACIWA and PrimeWater continues to hold on despite voluminous complaints filed by Water Watch Advocates before the Office of the President and the Local Water Utilities Administration. No action has been taken until now since the public hearing on July 14. BACIWA PrimeWater had not done any substantial measures to address the issues raised during the public hearing, he said.
What is holding back the local City Government of Bacolod City under Mayor Greg Gasataya to revoke if not suspend the JVA between BACIWA and PrimeWater? What are the reasons why the City Government of Bacolod continues to honor the JVA despite public clamor against it? Are the people of Bacolod City happy and satisfied with the water services and supply of BACIWA PrimeWater? What is holding the Honorable Mayor Greg Gasataya to address this issue of turbid water and inadequate water supply that has been haunting us for a long time? Sancho’ press statement asked. As consumers, we demand an answer.
Sancho said it would seem to appear, according to most observers, that there is a “foot dragging” policy allegedly when it comes to the revocation or termination of the JVA between BACIWA and PrimeWater.
It is somewhat strange that, with all due respect to Congressman Albee Benitez, it seems that he is in the same predicament with Mayor Greg.
Water Watch Advocates would like to address that despite the raging issue of corruption, the well-being of the people of Bacolod City, especially access to reliable and potable water remains the city’s top priority and it is incumbent upon Gasataya and Benitez to address the water crisis in Bacolod City by revoking the JVA between BACIWA and PrimeWater like what they have done in San Fernando, Pampanga, he said.
“Despite the voluminous complaints we had filed against BACIWA PrimeWater to the Office of the President and the Local Water Utilities Administration, no action was taken until now. We want to hear the response of the two most respected officials of the City of Bacolod on how to resolve this perennial issue of water crisis and mismanagement of BACIWA PrimeWater. We hope to hear from them as early as possible,” Sancho added in his statement.*
