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[av_heading heading=’Joe presses for ‘open discussion’ on MIWD venture ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY CAROLYN JANE ABELLO
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ILOILO City – The impending increase in the water rate worries him, stressed Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
This was why he asked the Sangguniang Panlungsod to conduct an inquiry “in aid of legislation” on the P12.349-billion water distribution joint venture of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD) and MetroPac Water Investments Corp. (MWIC).
Espinosa denied he was meddling in the affairs of MIWD or had other hidden agenda. But he pressed for an “open discussion” of the joint venture and its effects on consumers.
“They can accuse me of anything and everything basta ang akon ‘ya, gusto ko lang mabal-an sang pumuluyo nga may increase nga matabu sa inyo water bill,” said Espinosa.
Yesterday, MIWD officials explained to the city council its 25-year joint venture with MWIC. Outside city hall, Panay Consumers’ Alliance held a picket and lambasted MIWD for privatizing its services.
“Water is a basic human right. It is the government’s duty to ensure the delivery of accessible, affordable and safe potable water to the people,” the alliance’s spokesperson Lucy Francisco.
MIWD has a pending application at the Local Water Utilities Administration for a new rate – P200 per 10 cubic meters of water or P20 per cubic meter.
This is P41 more (or 26 percent higher) than the current rate of P159 per 10 cubic meters (P15.90 per cubic meter) of water.
The joint venture with MWIC, meanwhile, provided that for the first two years, the price prevailing at the time of the water distribution takeover would be followed.
MIWD and MWIC sealed their joint venture last month.
Espinosa warned of more rate increases. He said “there won’t be any rollback in the water rate unlike in fuel.”
“Kon dako imo investment, dako man imo increase. Indi lang nga bawion mo ang imo investment, may ginansya pa,” said Espinosa, a lawyer and a businessman.
Panay Consumers’ Alliance, meanwhile, demanded a government takeover to improve MIWD services.
It also called for transparency at MIWD, and specifically for the water district to make available for public scrutiny all its contracts with private corporations.
The MIWD-MWIC joint venture sets out to achieve the following in the next five years:
* increase service coverage
* increase areas with 24/7 water supply at a minimum pressure of 10 psi
* continuous compliance with Philippine Standards for Drinking Water
* reduction of nonrevenue water (water losses)
* efficient and responsive customer service
* construction of septage treatment plant subject to the issuance of any applicable governmental approvals, and purchase of new desludging trucks
Last month, Dec. 14, Espinosa announced he was not anymore recognizing the current composition of the MIWD Board of Directors. The water district, however, ignored him.
The mayor clarified he has nothing personal against MIWD officials.
“I don’t want to be accused of sleeping on the rights of Iloilo City consumers. Ako na ‘ya karun mabasulan kon ano mahinabo,” he explained./PN
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