Baciwa P13 fee hike on hold

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BY MAE SINGUAY
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February 15, 2018
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BACOLOD City – The implementation of the P13 increase in the maintenance fee of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) will be put on hold, according to Baciwa Board chairman LorendoDilag.

The Baciwa Board approved Resolution No. 009 on Jan 12 which raised the Meter Repair and Maintenance Fee, now named the Service Connection and Maintenance Fee, from P2 to P15.

Baciwa general manager Juliana Carbon issued a notice on Jan. 16 informing the water district’s concessionaires about the fee increase, which is supposed to take effect this month.

Dilag said the implementation was put on hold in realtion to the city council’s resolution requesting Baciwa to seek the approval of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) on the fee increase.

Dilag said they will issue a resolution about the postponement of the fee hike implementation.

He also stressed that the postponement of the fee increase is “indefinite” pending opinion from LWUA.

Baciwa Board member Mona DiaJardin said before they approved Resolution No. 009, they asked the Baciwa management if the fee hike needs approval from LWUA.

The management said no, according to Jardin.

Jardin added that the management advised them that only a resolution is needed for the fee increase.

According to Jardin, she will meet with LWUA officials on Feb. 21.

Whatever will be discussed between her and the LWUA officials she will relay to the Baciwa Board during their Feb. 26 regular meeting, Jardin said.

The fee increase has received criticisms from a local consumer group.

Secretary-general Wennie Sancho of Water Watch called the P13 increase “grossly disadvantageous to consumers.”

Sancho earlier demanded justification of the increase from Baciwa.

Sancho said Water Watch is strongly opposing the increase.

He added that Baciwa did not conduct “sufficient” consultation with its over 52,800 concessionaires prior to the fee hike.

Baciwa did not also conduct adequate information drive regarding the increase, Sancho said./PN
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