Solve Carmen woes in 1 year - Garcia: Water supplier gets ultimatum

CEBU, Philippines — Fed up by the lingering water crisis in Carmen town, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has given a one-year ultimatum for Manila Water Consortium Inc. to solve the water problem there.

Garcia called a meeting yesterday with representatives of the water supplier and town officials headed by Carmen Mayor Carlo Villamor to thresh out the town’s water woes.

Garcia also asked that the water firm complete at least 50 percent of the connections leading to “problematic areas” within the next six months.

She did not tell, though, what sanctions she would impose if the firm fails to meet her ultimatum.

Villamor, in an interview, said that they wanted a Level III water connection in the households.

He said that the firm should make good its promise in 2010 that the town be provided with water.

“Manila Water did not comply with their promise,” said the mayor, adding “it started sa commitment sa Manila Water pag 2010 to help Carmen with its water problem.”

This promise, the mayor said, included Manila Water providing certain cubic meters of water and a Level III water connection.

Villamor said that seven barangays in his town were affected by the water connection problem. These are Luyang, Cogon East, Cogon, West, Dawis Sur, Dawis Norte, Poblacion and Baring.

Villamor said that water supply in these barangays are not running on a 24/7 basis or water supply is only about two to four hours in a day.

“Ang among sabot ni Governor Gwen ron is a Level III connection, meaning maabot gyud sa mga faucet sa mga balay,” said Villamor.

The mayor said that it is ironic that his town is home to the Luyang River, which serves as the bulk water supplier’s source, but now faces a water crisis.

“The source of water is from the Luyang River in Carmen so the first gyud unta nga maka-benefit ana is ang mga tawo sa (residents of) Carmen,” said Villamor.

During the meeting, the Manila Water presented its proposal to put up, within the next five years, another water source facility as a solution to the town's water problem.

But for Garcia, five years is too long a time to wait.

Garcia said she has ordered the provincial engineer to make an independent assessment of Carmen's water distribution.

She also directed Manila Water to show its existing Joint Venture Agreement, as well as the breakdown, tariff, implementing rules and regulations, as well as the reciept of Metropolitan Cebu Water District, to determine how much volume of water was actually supplied.

Garcia said she will check if the terms and conditions of the JVA were followed. — with reports from Le Phyllis F. Antojado, JMD (FREEMAN)