Consumers protest vs water supplier

CEBU, Philippines —  A day before its town fiesta, around 20 water consumers in the Municipality of Tuburan held a peaceful rally yesterday in front of SAVS Tuburan Water Corp. building calling for the return of their water system to the local government unit.

Unfortunately, nobody was in the office since yesterday was a holiday.

Cesar Gomez, who led the group, said they just want to express their dismay over the poor performance of the joint venture between the LGU and the company for the past three years already.

Gomez said they need water every day especially that they are celebrating their town fiesta today.

The consumers were also asking why the company was not able to improve their water supply knowing that Tuburan, as the name implies, has a lot of water sources.

The rally was in support to the LGUs move in filing a petition before the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City for the recession of the contract between the SAVS Tuburan Water Corporation represented by its President, Arlene Villaroel.

“Tubig pribado, ibalik sa munisipyo,” was among the battle cry of the consumers.

They added that while they are supporting the effort of the LGU to sustain Tuburan as COVID-free, they are also suffering for lack of water.

Tuburan Mayor Danilo Diamante had said he granted a permit for the said rally provided the group must observe quarantine protocols, particularly the physical distancing.

Elements from the Tuburan Police Station and Bureau of Fire Protection were seen monitoring the activity.

Diamante said there was already a case filed in court last March 3, 2020 but was overtaken by the community quarantine due to COVID-19.

It was during the time of the mayor’s brother, now Vice Mayor Democrito Diamante, when a Joint Venture Agreement was entered into between the LGU of Tuburan and SAVS Tuburan Water Corp. for the upgrade and modernization of the town’s water supply.

The company reportedly assured to improve and to replace all old pipes and the water would be potable and there will be sufficient supply of water.

“However, within the two-year period of operation by the defendant, the water service of the Tuburan has become very poor and the improvement that was promised was never materialized. The pipes were still rusty and were never replaced; worse, there was shortage of water supply instead,” read the complaint pending before the RTC.

Aside from the alleged poor service, the water the company had supplied reportedly was positive of fecal coliform organism based on water analysis conducted by the Provincial Laboratory of the Provincial Health Office in 2017.

“What is more shocking is that, even the defendant’s office area faucet, the water therein is positive for coliform microorganism,” further read the complaint.

A dialogue was made between the two parties on December 20, 2019 wherein the defendant tendered a Notice to Arbitrate but the LGU stood firm in its decision to rescind the contract.

“Ilang pasalig sa public nga in two years potable and sufficient and supply sa water pero until now walay investment nga gihimo, ang collection lang ang ilahang gi-sustain,” said Vice Mayor Diamante who signed the contract when he was mayor. GAN (FREEMAN)