BACOLOD City – Due to several complaints that arose in the operation of the six water pumping stations in Arao Relocation Site in Barangay Vista Alegre here, the city government has decided to take over the operation.
The pumping stations were provided by a party-list to the residents of the relocation site. As to its operation, the residents formed an association to operate and manage the pumping stations.
According to City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr., the water pumping stations are income-generating because there are refilling stations.
The residents, however, complained about how the officers manage the operation of the pumping stations, and they brought up the issue to the City Legal Office (CLO).
Following this, Ting said the city government decided to take over the operation of the pumping stations. Personnel from the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) were also deployed to guard the stations.
“We will have to put in place and craft guidelines so that they will have the basis on how to manage and operate it properly,” he added.
Ting further revealed that, based on the complaints, association officers are receiving a P2,000 monthly honorarium, resulting to budget problems especially when the pumping station malfunctioned and would need repair.
He also explained that the pumping stations are solar power-operated but solar power is not a reliable source of energy especially during inclement weather, thus it cannot properly sustain the operation of the pumping stations.
“They need a reliable power supply. So what they did is to connect the pumping stations to some houses which is dangerous,” Ting said. “Since they are tapping from houses they need to pay for it. That is why others were complaining of paying more than P200 a month while others failed to pay.”
The CLO chief however clarified that the operation of the pumping stations will be returned to the association officers after all issues would be resolved./PN
