Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Barrita: Water By Eddie O. Barrita Small Bites
THE Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) has turned down Ayala’s P2-billion Carmen bulk water project due to high water rights transfer cost.
Almost a decade of negotiations between MCWD and Ayala and not a single drop of water from Carmen.
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MCWD General Manager Armando Paredes said Malacañang can still save the project and help solve Metro Cebu’s water shortage if it can shoulder the cost of the water rights transfer.
The water lack problem in Metro Manila was simpler.
They simply prayed for rain and were given typhoons.
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MCWD is now looking for other water suppliers.
They need not look far.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has said he can supply MCWD with cheap desalinated water from the South Road Properties (SRP).
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Cebu City Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem welcomed MCWD’s decision to drop the Carmen water project as this would allow other suppliers to sell the district water at a lower price.
I also hope this will not result in a costly suit from Ayala which seeks a refund of its P150-million project development cost.
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SRP will have enough water for investors and extra water to sell to MCWD.
Talks of SRP having no water was only “scare tactics,” Mayor Osmeña said.
Yet, they have to build an P8.2-million four-story-high sign and welcome area landscaping to lure investors.
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Rep. Eduardo R. Gullas has revived plans to build Metro Cebu’s first light rail transit (LRT) system.
The $1-billion Metro Cebu Mass Transportation System (MCMTS) will link Talisay City to Consolacion town for the first phase and from Talisay to Carcar City and Consolacion to Danao City for the second phase.
If this pushes through, we’ll get the chance to ride trains without having to go to Metro Manila.
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Ordinary citizens who fall victims to police abuse may now easily identify them after the National Police Commission 7 launched an e-photo gallery of all the 6,230 police personnel in Central Visayas including members of national support units.
Now they have galleries for rogues and rogue cops.
