Eddiegul orders 3 dads to draft new MCWD deal

CEBU, Philippines - Three councilors will draft the amendment to Talisay City's agreement with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) to extract water in the city.

Mayor Eduardo Gullas said he ordered Councilors Richard Francis Aznar, Rodi Cabigas and Jojo Bacaltos to draft the new memorandum of agreement since the current deal is already outdated and does not serve the best interest of Talisaynons.

City legal officer Giovanni Sususco earlier recommended the need to amend the agreement because Talisay's share in the venture is reportedly "low."

He said the city government receives a check from the MCWD quarterly as its share. Recently, it received a check amounting to P300,000.

Gullas thinks this amount is not equitable.

"It's not enough and unfair on the city's part. Labaw pa ang angay nilang bayaran sa Talisay. Gamay ra gyud kaayo," he said.

The mayor said Sususco did a thorough study on the contract with MCWD.He said he approved of Sususco's recommendations.

Among such recommendations was for the city government to make an inventory of the wells that MCWD has in Talisay.

Sususco suggested that there should be a city government-owned water meter installed in every pumping station of MCWD.

He also said there should be a limitation on the volume of water extracted, as well as a representative from the government to sit as one of the board members.

Sususco maintained that the purpose of amending the contract is to protect the waters of the city.

Sought for comment earlier, MCWD spokesperson Charmaine Rodriguez-Kara said they will address Sususco's recommendations once they will formally receive a copy.

"Once we receive a copy, we will address all of them immediately. We will abide (by) the request and recommendations of Talisay City government," she said.

As to the membership in the board of directors, Kara said they are hoping to bring the matter to the mayor and to the City Council during a scheduled meeting, probably in November.  (FREEMAN)