Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Prioritize water, MCCI asks gov’t
THE business community in Mandaue City has joined the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) in urging concerned agencies to prioritize the settlement of the water issue for the good of the entire province.
In a board resolution, a copy of which was furnished to Sun.Star Cebu, the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) said the present controversy regarding the Carmen bulk water supply project has “created uncertainty and apprehension” over the competency of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and concerned local government units (LGUs) in performing their duty to provide water at reasonable cost.
“We request the MCWD, Neda 7 and the LGUs of the Province of Cebu to come up with a comprehensive short- to long-term program to ensure water availability and accessibility to the general public and to resolve the issue on the Carmen bulk water project,” read the resolution signed by MCCI president Eric Mendoza.
The Carmen bulk water supply project, proposed by an Ayala-led consortium, has been hounded by controversies that include the price of water.
The Ayala-led consortium is proposing to sell up to 45,000 cubic meters of water a day to MCWD from the Luyang-Cantumog River in the northern Cebu town of Carmen.
The project will be implemented under the build-operate-transfer scheme and the entity that will implement it will be determined through a price challenge.
The CCCI, following reports that some of its officers have supported and endorsed the Ayala-led consortium, issued a position paper emphasizing the group’s neutrality on the issue.
The MCCI also stressed its impartiality on the selection of the contractors. (JBN)
