Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Baciwa dialog nearly ends up to boxing match By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
THE dialogue Tuesday between representatives of the Bacolod City Water District (Baciwa) and residents of Barangay Felisa nearly ended in a boxing match.
The closed-door dialogue held at the Office of the City Mayor created a tension among several residents from Barangay Felisa to raise their voices although Mayor Evelio Leonardia was in the adjacent room.
Both the Baciwa people and Felisa residents could not agree on a win-win solution.
Felisa residents who are against the operation of Baciwa's water well No. 8 claimed that their hand pumps could hardly generate water because of the large volume of water allegedly drawn by Baciwa's well.
Well No. 8 has been the subject of a cease and desist order issued by Leonardia in 2004. The order came after residents filed complaints against its operations.
"Baciwa, through its engineering personnel, is doing all the necessary engineering studies and surveys to address this problem," Baciwa Acting General Manager Atty. Julie Ann Carbon said, adding that the water firm also had initial studies which showed that there were hand pumps that have enough water supply.
"We could not understand why some residents complained of experiencing the lack of or no water supply from the time Well No. 8 was operated," Carbon said.
"We just need the cooperation of Barangay Felisa to implement the solution which was implemented by virtue of the said order," she said.
She added that Baciwa is not instigating a conflict among the residents at Barangay Felisa.
"Each resident has a right. If their hand pumps got depleted, he or she has the right to complain. But if he or she has already enjoyed the services of BACIWA, he or she has also the right to disallow all movements that will lead to the stoppage of the operation of Well No. 8," she said.
"All our connectors there have experienced convenience because of the services of the water district. We also repaired some hand pumps in Barangay Handumanan," she said.
She claimed that one resident complained of spending P100 a day for water.
"That's P3,000 a month. This means that she has never seen or appreciated the wisdom that she could have saved more if only she has applied a water connection with the water district," she also said.
"We have complete figures and facts. We don't back out from our responsibilities. We have complied with the order of the City Mayor and the mandate of the Water District," Carbon said.
Others, she said, only complain without basis.
"They don't even have the figures. How many residents don't have water? Who were affected? How many of them were affected?" she asked.
She added that a survey was conducted by Baciwa in the area but some reportedly refused to let them in.
"So, with the suggestion of the City Mayor that we will continue the survey and inspection, we will do it. The water district has been appealing that we will not stop the operation of Well No. 8 at Barangay Felisa because it has already helped and gave convenience to a majority of our consumers," she stressed.
"I hope that the City Government, Baciwa and residents of Barangay Felisa will sit down for another round of dialogue. Let's discuss things peacefully, without emotions, without interests and be open minded so that we could accept suggestions for the good of the majority. We want to implement solution to this problem. We don't look for problems but solutions," she reiterated.
