4 groups back water district privatization

By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter

MANILA — Business groups, village officials and a state college were rallying behind the proposal to privatize Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), the sole water distributor in Iloilo City.

Citing the unresolved water distribution problems in the city, Rep. Jerry Treñas last month filed a resolution seeking the water district’s privatization.

The Iloilo Economic Development Foundation, Inc. (ILED); Iloilo Hotels, Restaurants and Resorts’ Association (Ihrra); Liga ng mga Barangay–Iloilo City Chapter; and the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (Wvcst) were supporting Treñas proposal.

Privatizing the water distribution facility is the “best option,” said ILED — a group of 350 local businesses — in Resolution No. 2, series of 2014.

“The city of Iloilo has long suffered from poor connection, intermittent service and inadequate water supply,” ILED said in a statement released to Panay News.

These have left consumers paying huge amounts just “to provide commercial buildings, industrial sites and residential homes with clean, potable water,” it said.

MIWD also needs “immediate rehabilitation,” the organization said, because many industries, like tourism and business process outsourcing, depend on reliable water distribution.

Meanwhile, Ihhra believes water supply in Iloilo City and nearby towns will be “robust” once the MIWD is privatized.

“Iloilo’s numerous consumers can only benefit from the strengthening of the province’s water infrastructure,” said Albert Ong, Ihrra president.

Carmelo Ambut, officer-in-charge of Wvcst’s Office of the College President, said they “look forward” to seeing the city move forward through “efficient water service.”

Ambut said Treñas’ proposal will help improve the quality of life of Ilonggos.

Barangay councils in Iloilo City also echoed Treñas’ proposition.

“The people of our respective barangays have expressed their discontent over the very poor service of MIWD,” said the Liga ng mga Barangay.

It said the city’s water problem has beleaguered the public for so many years.

Treñas hopes that Iloilo City can find a solution to its water problems before it hosts Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit ministerial meetings next year.

“The situation is urgent and is made more urgent because of APEC,” the congressman told Panay News in a phone interview.

In his resolution dated Aug. 12, 2014, Treñas cited the case of the Metropolitan Water Works and Sewerage System (MWSS) as a successful case of privatization.

The privatization of MWSS averted the impending water crisis in Metro Manila in the ’90s, said the congressman.

Treñas also claimed that MIWD is suffering from “severe financial losses.”

“The absence of an effective system of local utilities,” he said, “is a deterrent to economic growth, a hazard to public health, and an irritant to the spirit and well-being of the citizenry.”/PN